Introduction
“Gates of Empire” by Robert E. Howard is a rousing tale that weaves together the themes of betrayal, war, and redemption against the backdrop of the Crusades. Set in a time when the balance of power constantly shifted between the Christian and Muslim worlds, Howard introduces us to a motley crew of characters, from a drunken Englishman to the lords of the Crusader states, who are all caught in the whirlwind of historical events.
Supposed to have been published in The Magic Carpet Magazine Volume 4 Number 2. In the last magazine, it says “on sale Feb. 1”. Unfortunately Magic Carpet folded, and it was first published in GOLDEN FLEECE volume 2, number 1 in January 1939, almost 5 years after. Set during the Crusades. It is a unique story as it is the only comic historical he wrote.
The story
The story begins in the castle of Godfrey de Courtenay, where a group of revelers, led by the rapscallion Giles Hobson, partakes in unauthorized merriment. Their drunken escapades lead them to mistakenly confront Sir Guiscard de Chastillon, Godfrey’s brother-in-law, resulting in a chaotic and humorous misunderstanding. This event sets the tone for Giles’ adventure, as his knack for finding trouble pulls him into the larger conflicts of the era.
Giles, through a series of misadventures, ends up stowing away on a ship headed for the Holy Land, where he is captured by Saracens. His fate takes a turn when he falsely claims royal blood, hoping for ransom but instead finding himself embroiled in the political machinations between the Muslim emir Shirkuh and the Christian forces.
As Shirkuh’s forces and the Crusaders, led by King Amalric of Jerusalem, maneuver around each other, Giles’ falsehood about a supposed bridge of boats becomes a pivotal piece of misinformation, leading to a climactic battle near El Kahira (Cairo). Despite his initial cowardice and deception, Giles plays a heroic role in the battle, contributing to the safety of King Amalric and receiving begrudging respect from his enemies.
In the end, Giles’ journey is one of redemption. From a bawdy liar and drunkard, he emerges as a figure of unexpected courage, demonstrating that heroism can arise in the most unlikely of individuals.
Characters
- Giles Hobson: The central character, a drunken Englishman who inadvertently becomes entangled in the Crusades and the politics of the Middle East. Despite his flaws, Giles displays unexpected bravery and loyalty.
- Godfrey de Courtenay: Lord of the castle where the story begins, his absence sets the stage for the initial revelry.
- Sir Guiscard de Chastillon: A formidable knight and brother-in-law to Godfrey de Courtenay. His initial encounter with Giles sets off a chain of events that intertwines their fates.
- Shirkuh: A Muslim emir, ambitious and cunning, seeking to extend his influence over Egypt. His actions drive much of the political intrigue in the story.
- King Amalric of Jerusalem: The Christian king leading the Crusader forces. His strategic decisions impact the course of the battle and the fate of the characters.
- Salah ed din (Saladin): Though not a central character in this tale, his presence looms over the events, signaling the rise of a formidable leader in the Muslim world.
Alternate title:
THE ROAD OF THE MOUNTAIN LION.
Published in:
- GOLDEN FLEECE Volume 2 Number 1, Sun Publications, January 1939
- GOLDEN FLEECE, Odyssey Publications, 1975
- ROBERT E. HOWARD OMNIBUS, Orbit, 1977
- THE ROAD OF AZRAEL, Grant, 1979 (Regular edition)
- THE ROAD OF AZRAEL, Grant, 1979 (Limited edition)
- THE ROAD OF AZRAEL, Bantam, July 1980
- LA ROUTE D’AZRAËL, NeO, May 1986 (French)
- LA ROUTE D’AZRAËL, Fleuve Noir, March 1993 (French)
- BRAMY IMPERIUM, Wydawnictwo GEA, 1994 (Polish)
- GATES OF EMPIRE, North-West, 1998 (Russian)
- 2ND ANNUAL WINDY CITY PULP & PAPERBACK SHOW, Pulp Vault/Black Dog Books, March 2002
- GATES OF EMPIRE AND OTHER TALES OF THE CRUSADES, Wildside Press, 1st, June 2004
- GATES OF EMPIRE AND OTHER TALES OF THE CRUSADES, Wildside Press, 2nd, 2004
- LORD OF SAMARCAND AND OTHER ADVENTURE TALES OF THE OLD ORIENT, Bison Books, April 2005
- ISAACSON’S LEGACY, VOLUME 1 NUMBER 20, Danny Street, June 2006 (Brief excerpt only) [Distributed in REHUPA #199]
- GATES OF EMPIRE AND OTHER TALES OF THE CRUSADES, Wildside Press, September 2006
- THE EXOTIC WRITINGS OF ROBERT E. HOWARD, Girasol Collectables, October 2006
- PULP REPLICA: GOLDEN FLEECE V2N1, Girasol Collectables, December 2007
- LE SEIGNEUR DE SAMARCANDE, Bragelonne, July 2009 (French)
- LORD OF SAMARCAND AND OTHER ADVENTURES, Halcyon Press, Ltd., December 2009
- THE ROBERT E. HOWARD OMNIBUS: 99 COLLECTED STORIES, Halcyon Press, Ltd., May 2010
- THE SOWERS OF THE THUNDER AND OTHER STORIES, Benediction Classics, June 2010
- CONAN’S BRETHREN, Gollancz, January 2011
- SWORD WOMAN AND OTHER HISTORICAL ADVENTURES, Del Rey, January 2011
- THE SOWERS OF THE THUNDER AND OTHER STORIES, Benediction Classics, February 2012
- THE SOWERS OF THE THUNDER AND OTHER STORIES, Oxford City Press, February 2012
- ORIENTAL STORIES, VOLUME 2, Nuelow Games, May 2012
- WEIRD TALES: 101 WEIRD, STRANGE, AND SUPERNATURAL STORIES VOLUME 2, Civitas Media, May 2012
- THE DARK AGNES SERIES: MISTRESS OF DEATH, Paradox Entertainment, Inc., June 2012
- SOLOMON KANE AND OTHER STORIES, Jame-Books, August 2012
- ROBERT E. HOWARD’S COLLECTED WORKS, Jame-Books, February 2013
- LE SEIGNEUR DE SAMARCANDE. L’OMBRE DU VAUTOUR, Bragelonne, March 2013 (French)
- WEIRD TALES: 101 WEIRD, STRANGE, AND SUPERNATURAL STORIES VOLUME 2, Civitas Media, April 2013
- THE SAGA OF KING KULL & THE HISTORICAL ADVENTURES, Business and Leadership Publishing, July 2014
- DIE TORE DES REICHES: ODER DER WEG DES BERGLÖWEN, Thorsten ReiB Verlag, 2015 (German)
- HISTORICAL ADVENTURES, Ozymandias Press, August 2016
- IL SIGNORE DI SAMARCANDA E ALTRE STORIE ORIENTALI, Elara, January 2018 (Italian)
- ROBERT E. HOWARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER V12N3, Robert E. Howard Foundation, Fall 2018 (Part 1 of 2)
- ROBERT E. HOWARD FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER V12N4, Robert E. Howard Foundation, Winter 2018-2019 (Part 2 of 2)
- LE SEIGNEUR DE SAMARCANDE, Le Livre de Poche, April 2020 (French)
- PULP FACSIMILE: GOLDEN FLEECE V2N1, Adventure House, May 2020
- PULP FACSIMILE: GOLDEN FLEECE V2N1, Fiction House Press, September 2020