The First Crusade (1096-1099)
Click on the image to see the path of the Crusaders!
After the Byzantine emperor contacted Pope Urban II, Pope Urban II gathered together groups of people to help the Byzantine emperor. Much to Pope Urban's delight, people were excited to help defeat the Turkish Muslims.
The pope called nobles and church leaders to a council in Clermont, France. There he called for a crusade to drive the Muslims back and reclaim Jerusalem. He promised entry to heaven to all who joined the fight. French-speaking nobles quickly organized armies to fight in the Holy Land. In addition to trained knights, thousands of townspeople, craftsmen and peasants joined the crusade.
Throughout the crusades, Christian faith inspired many to put on the red cross worn by crusaders. But people joined the crusades for other reasons as well. Merchants saw the chance to earn money through trade. Younger sons of nobles hoped to gain estates in the Holy Land.
Click on the map to the left to get an interactive map of the path of the Crusaders in this battle! Check the box that says "First Crusade" to get the path.
The pope called nobles and church leaders to a council in Clermont, France. There he called for a crusade to drive the Muslims back and reclaim Jerusalem. He promised entry to heaven to all who joined the fight. French-speaking nobles quickly organized armies to fight in the Holy Land. In addition to trained knights, thousands of townspeople, craftsmen and peasants joined the crusade.
Throughout the crusades, Christian faith inspired many to put on the red cross worn by crusaders. But people joined the crusades for other reasons as well. Merchants saw the chance to earn money through trade. Younger sons of nobles hoped to gain estates in the Holy Land.
Click on the map to the left to get an interactive map of the path of the Crusaders in this battle! Check the box that says "First Crusade" to get the path.
Four nobles led the First Crusade. Close to 30,000 crusaders fought their way through Anatolia and headed south toward Palestine. In June 1098, the crusaders laid siege to the city of Antioch in Syria. After nine months, a traitor let hem through an opening in the city walls. Antioch fell to the Christians.
Next June, the crusaders surrounded Jerusalem and scaled the city walls. In July 1099, the city surrendered. THe victorious crusaders massacred Muslims and Jews throughout the city. The survivors were sold into slavery. With Jerusalem taken, most of the crusaders went home. Some, however, stayed behind. They established four crusader kingdoms in Palestine, Syria, and modern-day Lebanon and Turkey. CLICK HERE to learn about the Second Crusade. |