The Crusades, the Crescent and the Cross

Many went because they craved the life there (not Europe-
lawlessnes)
William of Tire wrote of the Crusades as he saw it
disturbing
1088 Pope Urban II
1095 Islam was taking Constantople and so the Byzantine
Alexias wanted Pope Urban to help
Perfect opportunity for Pope to extend his political power
Pope would launch crusade and put Rome back at the center
Most people joined fro prestige or honor but also riches
because they knew there was a lot of wealth in that part
Pope said if they joined they also got a ticket right to Heaven
Before they even left, any non-Christians were infidants..
jews were massacred, robbed, homes burned but it was in
the name of the Crusade so it was okay..
Duke Godfry was one of the senior leaders, great warrior,
respected
Baldwin- dukes brother- also a leader very into women
Many wives accompanied their husbands.. so basically have
a whole city/ society moving
Took about 6 months for godfrys people where they also
met with other Christian groups
Gates of Constantinople stayed closed when the Crusaders
got there though the Emperor Alexias normally opened
them for friends
The emperor did not want that huge group. when he
wanted help he wanted like 300 knights not thousands of
people and soldiers
Alexias brought Godfry and Baldwin inside because he
thought he could win them over
Bomin of Toronto- another Crusaders leader, greatest
warrior of all of them perhaps, ferocious like a lion
Alexias will provide food if they swear oath of allegiance to
Alexias so he has a rule over them and he gets the land
they win back from the Turks
 Nicaea- Turks took for 6 weeks the Crusaders fought.
The Crusaders thought they would keep it for themselves
but Byzantines no
Turks surrendered to the Byzantines because they would
rather do that than be chopped up by Crusaders.
Crusaders had be double crossed so this was very bad for
the alliance
Crusaders headed further & the Turks followed them
The battle of doralayen.. big battle Kilajarsen ambushed
them. Some Crusaders led got separated and camped in a
valley and the Turks charged them & the Crusaders were
pinned down
The Turks had archers on horseback & archers shooting
with their feet
Baldwin and Godfry came at the Turks were overwhelmed
and retreated
Afraid of being ambushed again, took a route through the
mountains & it took them 3 weeks to cross them
Gotilda, Baldwins wife died and his chance of going home
rich was done (her land went back to her family) & so he
went on and was now wanting acquisition
Edessa- wealthy city- Christian City- wanted to invite
Baldwin to come to their aid he would protect them in
return for keys to the city Faroces said yes but only after
his death and he adopted Baldwin as his own Realized
that Baldwin was plotting his death he tried to run but he
was killed
Antioch- gateway to Syria & the homeland- strategic to get
Antioch had Christians but Turk rulers (Turks let them
worship how they want) so the Crusaders wanted to the
Turks out of there
Yogisheum didnt know how the Christians would react to
the Crusaders coming to Antioch so he locked them out of
the city
After 8 months the Crusaders were no closer to getting in
the conditions were bad and they had no supplies basically
 Yogisheum attached message to pigeon for help from the
Muslim world massive Turkish army was on the way, 2
months later
Burmin found a weak link in someone at the wall. Betrayal
let the Crusaders in They flushed the Muslims out and
killed them
Finally the Turk backups were coming & the Christians
were imprisioned behind the walls
God had sent word to a Crusader in a vision... vision came to
the lowly priest & this inspired the Crusaders
Christians went out to fight the Turks said an army of
spirits also sent by God. so with Gods help they defeated
the Turks
Bowman (burmin?) was in charge of Antioch
Morack killed.. massacred cannibalism comes into play
with the dead people
Crusaders made 2 towers to attack the walls of Jerusalem,
the siege towers were rolled into place & they attacked
Brutual the Crusaders captured a Muslim, lit him on fire &
shot him over the wall
Godfry moved to a position & found a weak spot. They
moved the siege tower and broke in
Jerusalem was theirs & Godfry was in charge but he died a
year later... Baldwin came and took over
1096-1099
Pope Urban died before he heard Jerusalum was theirs