Why Did the First Crusade Start?
The First Crusade was launched after a series of events that shocked and angered the Christians of Europe. Here are the main reasons:
- Massacre of Christian Pilgrims: In Jerusalem, 3,000 Christian pilgrims were killed by Muslims, prompting calls for action.
- Religious Conviction: Crusaders believed they were fighting for God.
- Instinct to Fight: In medieval Europe, knights and warriors were always ready to fight for a cause.
- Preaching of Peter the Hermit: A monk named Peter the Hermit traveled through France, preaching passionately and encouraging people to join the Crusade.
- The Threat of the Turks: The Muslim Turks were expanding their territory, threatening Christian lands and the safety of pilgrims.
- Council of Clermont: In 1095, Pope Urban II held a meeting at Clermont, urging Christians to go to war with the famous cry, “It is the will of God!”
The Leaders of the First Crusade
The First Crusade was led by some of the most important knights of Europe:
- Count Raymond of Toulouse led a group from southern France.
- Godfrey of Bouillon and his brother Baldwin commanded forces from France and Germany.
- Robert of Normandy, the eldest son of William the Conqueror, led a group from Normandy.
- The Normans from Italy and Sicily were led by Bohemond and his nephew Tancred.
The People’s Crusade (Peasants’ Crusade)
Before the main armies could organize, a large, unprepared group known as the People’s Crusade set out for the Holy Land. This group included poor men, women, and children, led by Peter the Hermit and a poor knight called Walter the Penniless.
Around 80,000 people followed Peter and Walter, but they were not soldiers, and they lacked weapons and discipline. Many of them died on their journey due to battles, hunger, and exposure. When they reached Constantinople, the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I sent them to Asia Minor, where they were slaughtered by the Turks. Despite this, Peter the Hermit survived and later took part in the successful capture of Jerusalem.
The Main Body of the First Crusade
While the People’s Crusade ended in disaster, the main armies of knights and soldiers were still on their way. Most of the recruits came from France, and because of this, the Muslims often referred to all Crusaders as “Franks.”
Each group set off for Constantinople by different routes, eventually meeting there before crossing into Asia Minor.
The Siege of Antioch (1097-1098)
After capturing the Turkish capital of Nicaea, the Crusaders marched towards Antioch, an important city in Syria. The Siege of Antioch lasted from October 1097 to June 1098, and the Crusaders eventually captured the city after a long and difficult battle. This was an important victory on their way to Jerusalem.
The March to Jerusalem
After the Siege of Antioch, the Crusader armies were reduced to a much smaller force. Still, they pushed on towards their ultimate goal: Jerusalem. When they finally saw the city in the distance, the Crusaders were overwhelmed with joy, embracing each other and even kissing the ground.
Before attacking, they marched around the city walls in a religious procession, led by Peter the Hermit.
The Capture of Jerusalem (1099)
The Crusaders launched their first attack on Jerusalem, but it was repelled. However, on the second attempt in July 1099, they were successful. Godfrey of Bouillon and Tancred were among the first to climb the walls and enter the city.
Once inside, the Crusaders massacred the Muslim inhabitants of Jerusalem. For seven days, the Crusaders fought and killed nearly every Muslim in the city. After the battle, the Crusaders took over the houses and property of the defeated, marking them as their own.
The Legacy of the First Crusade
The First Crusade was the most successful of all the Crusades. It led to the establishment of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, which remained under Christian control for several decades. However, the brutal methods used by the Crusaders left a legacy of mistrust and violence between Christians and Muslims that lasted for centuries.
| Timeline Key Dates | Crusades Timeline of Events |
|---|
| 1071 | The Byzantine army is defeated by the Turks. |
| 1071 – 1085 | Seljuk Turks conquer Syria and Palestine, taking Jerusalem from the Saracen caliphs. |
| 1085 – 1095 | 3,000 Christian pilgrims are massacred in Jerusalem, and Christian churches are destroyed or turned into stables. |
| 1095 | Emperor Alexius I sends a message to Pope Urban II asking for help against the Turks. |
| 1095 | Pope Urban II calls a council at Placentia, Italy, to discuss the growing threat of the Turks, but decisions are postponed. |
| November 27, 1095 | At the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II calls for a Crusade to take back the Holy Land from the Infidels. |
| Spring 1096 | Peter the Hermit begins preaching, and many ordinary people join the People’s Crusade, although most are unarmed. |
| Summer 1096 | Armed forces, led by Tancred and Godfrey of Bouillon, gather at Constantinople to start the First Crusade. |
| August 1096 | Emperor Alexius I ships the People’s Crusade across the Bosphorus. |
| October 1096 | The People’s Crusade is annihilated by the Turks in Anatolia. |
| May – June 1097 | The Siege of Nicaea takes place. |
| July 1097 | The Battle of Dorylaeum is fought. |
| Oct 1097 – June 1098 | The Siege of Antioch lasts for many months. |
| June 1, 1098 | Stephen of Blois and many French crusaders flee the siege of Antioch due to news of Emir Kerboga’sapproaching army. |
| June 3, 1098 | Bohemond I, the son of Robert Guiscard, leads the capture of Antioch. |
| June 5, 1098 | Emir Kerboga of Mosul and his army of 75,000 soldiers lay siege to the Crusaders at Antioch. |
| June 28, 1098 | The Battle of Orontes takes place. The Crusaders win and force Emir Kerboga to lift the siege of Antioch. |
| Feb 14 – June 1099 | The siege of Arqah near Tripoli occurs. |
| June 13, 1099 | Raymond of Toulouse leads the Crusaders from Antioch to Jerusalem. |
| July 15, 1099 | The soldiers of the First Crusade successfully scale the walls and capture Jerusalem. |