Jacob van Maerlant is one of the major Dutch poets of the 13th century. He translated the long didactic poem Spiegel Historiael, which is an adaptation of Vincent van Beauvais's Speculum Historiale. The Speculum described the history of the world from the Creation until the year 1250, in four parts, called "Partien" by Maerlant.
The text of the Spiegel Historiael has not come down to us in full. The Hague manuscript is the only one in which all parts adapted by Maerlant himself, have survived in toto. It is, moreover, the only copy that was illuminated: it contains 19 historiated initials and 43 miniatures. The majority of the latter cover a horizontal strip over the full width of the three columns of text, at the bottom of the page.
The last miniature depicts the capture of Jerusalem by Godfrey of Bouillon in 1099. The miniature shows the knights storming Jerusalem from all sides, to the right with ingeniously made offensive equipment, and in the middle with little boats across the moat. Godfrey himself, recognizable by the Brabant lion on his apparel and shield, is forcing his way in on a ladder. To the left a group of crusaders, headed by St. George, watch the event.
