Basil's oration was incorporated into the chronicle of Gregory the Priest. According to the 13th-century Armenian historian Sempad the Constable, Basil himself distributed copies of his poem to the Franks of northern Syria, especially Antioch. This probably contributed to Baldwin's subsequent fame. Scholars are divided on whether the oration should be seen as expressing strong affinity of the Armenians for the Frankish rule, or as a rebuke of the Franks for oppressing the Armenians. Basil's depiction of Baldwin's death in battle as cleansing him of sin is consistent with the theology of the Crusades and represents western influence. In other areas of theology, it appears that Basil had a strong eastern influence on Baldwin.
