The Medieval Crusades Timeline Explained

The religious fervor raised by Urban's plea affected more than just warrior knights. As the World History Encyclopedia explains, the first military action of the Crusades was the so-called "People's Crusade," in which a ragtag group of knights and peasants led by a preacher named Peter the Hermit crossed the Bosporus in 1096 only to

The religious fervor raised by Urban's plea affected more than just warrior knights. As the World History Encyclopedia explains, the first military action of the Crusades was the so-called "People's Crusade," in which a ragtag group of knights and peasants led by a preacher named Peter the Hermit crossed the Bosporus in 1096 only to be slaughtered by the Turks. Following another failed People's Crusade also inspired by Peter's preaching, the main Crusader force arrived in Constantinople later that year. 

The earliest wave of holy warriors would comprise some 60,000 fighters, of which 10% were knights. Key figures of the First Crusade would include Godfrey of Bouillon, Raymond de Saint-Gilles, and Bohemund of Taranto, a Norman duke who had formerly waged war on the Byzantine. Despite their different backgrounds and lack of a common language, they all swore loyalty to Emperor Alexios and found a way to work together. Notably, no kings took part in the First Crusade.

Over the next year, the Crusader forces, combined with the Byzantine army, managed to recapture a number of cities from the Seljuks, including Nicaea and Dorylaion, but their main target was Antioch, a key Christian city, the site of a major church, and former home to Saints Peter and Paul. From late 1097 to mid-1098, the Crusaders led a siege against Antioch, during which they suffered from famine and plague. Ultimately, they were besieged by Muslim forces from the outside and lost support from the Byzantines due to miscommunication.

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