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The First Crusade was initiated by Pope Urban II's sermon at the Council of Clermont, urging the liberation of Jerusalem. It sparked the People's Crusade and led to the Rhineland massacres. Formal crusader armies, motivated by faith and the prospect of wealth, set out in 1096. Their arrival in Constantinople and subsequent victories at Nicaea and Dorylaeum marked key moments in their journey.
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Pope Urban II's sermon at the Council of Clermont aimed to rally support for the Byzantine Empire and to reclaim holy sites in the Middle East
Call to Arms and Promise of Absolution
Pope Urban II's proclamation called for an armed pilgrimage and promised absolution and eternal glory for those who participated
"Deus vult!" - The Emblematic Cry of the Crusaders
The phrase "Deus vult!" became the rallying cry of the crusaders, encapsulating their religious zeal and fervor
Pope Urban II's proclamation sparked widespread enthusiasm for the crusading cause, leading to the formation of various crusader armies
The People's Crusade, led by untrained and undisciplined volunteers, was characterized by its spontaneous and disorganized nature
Pillaging and Clashes with Hungarians
The lack of proper command in the People's Crusade led to destructive behavior, including the pillaging of Christian lands and violent clashes with the Hungarians
Violence against Jewish Communities
The People's Crusade incited the Rhineland massacres, where Jewish communities in the Holy Roman Empire suffered horrific violence at the hands of crusaders who viewed them as infidels
The Rhineland massacres highlighted the dark and intolerant aspects of the crusading movement
The crusader armies were motivated by religious devotion, familial obligations, and the potential for wealth and land
Contingents and Leaders
The crusader armies were organized into contingents led by various nobles, such as Godfrey of Bouillon, Bohemond of Taranto, and Raymond IV of Toulouse
Shared Objective of Reclaiming Jerusalem
Despite having their own leaders, the crusader armies shared the overarching objective of reclaiming Jerusalem
The crusaders showed great commitment and sacrifice, often at personal expense, in their journey to the Holy Land
The crusader armies took diverse routes, either by land or sea, to reach Constantinople
The Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos greeted the crusaders with a mix of hospitality and caution, wary of their intentions and the presence of former adversaries
Despite initial mistrust, a pragmatic alliance was formed between the crusaders and the Byzantines, leading to their crossing into Asia Minor
Siege of Nicaea
The crusaders' ingenuity in transporting ships overland led to the surrender of the strategic city of Nicaea
Battle of Dorylaeum
The crusaders' victory over a larger Seljuk force at the Battle of Dorylaeum boosted their morale and reinforced their commitment to the crusade
00
In ______ 1095, ______ ______ II gave an influential sermon at the ______ of ______ that initiated the First Crusade.
late November
Pope Urban
Council
Clermont
01
Although the precise words of Urban's sermon are unknown, its core message was a ______ to arms, with the promise of ______ and ______ glory for the crusaders.
call
absolution
eternal
02
Leader of the People's Crusade
Peter the Hermit led untrained volunteers, lacking discipline and formal military command.
