First Crusade Flashcards
What was the Council of Clermont?
A council of both laymen and members of the clergy. Called by Pope Urban II to promote First Crusade.
Why was the Council of Clermont important?
Pope called first crusade, offering remission of sins to all who went. It was held in a field due to large attendance, Crusade gained lots of support.
Why was poverty a motivation for people to crusade?
- Population increase, and land passed down generations decreasing.
- Prospect of more land. Famine and poor harvests.
- Epidemic of ergotism led to witch accusations, forcing people out, poor people had good reasons to leave villages.
why was plunder a motivation for people to crusade?
- Spanish crusades had made crusaders rich.
- Council worried money would become a motive.
- People crusading to increase wealth.
Why was Adhemar, Bishop of Le Puy important for the crusade?
- He had previously been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and had discussed possibility of crusade with others.
- He was the first to volunteer, official papal representative, provoked others to volunteer.
- Was a skilled negotiator.
Why was Bohemund of Taranto important for the first crusade?
- He was the son of an experienced soldier.
- Had personal knowledge of placement of Muslim mercenaries.
- Had military expertise Pope was asking for.
Why was the peoples crusade a failure?
- It was hard to get supplies through.
- Inexperienced crusaders that set off too early, not fought before.
- Many ill advised attacks due to leadership issues, including pillage of Jewish communities.
What were the aims of Alexius I?
- Wanted all land given back to him.
- Wanted individual leaders to swear to him and gain more control.
- Wanted to get people on board with ideas via entertainment.
Why did the march across Anatolia negatively impact the crusade?
- There was a lack of food and water, making fighting well, hard.
- The army wasn’t as strong as it should’ve been, half the army died.
- Crusading forces extremely sparse, weakened.
Why was the capture of Edessa important in the outcome of the crusade?
- The land in Edessa was very fertile.
- Large areas of land cleared of hostile forces.
- Paved a way for main crusader army approaching Antioch.
What were the key events of the battle of Antioch in 1098?
- Crusaders depleted all nearby food and water supplies through their foraging.
- Bohemund ordered attacks on Muslims and won, convinced Turks to let him into the city.
- Discovery of the ‘holy lance’ boosted morale and aided fight.
- Entire Muslim army surrendered.
- It becomes second crusader state.
Why did the crusaders win the battle of Antioch?
- Took Kerbogha by surprise.
- Fought mainly on foot.
- Clear plan of action. Kerbogha had no plan and acted late, with fragmented army.
- Only 200 defense knights left in Antioch whilst crusaders fought Muslim army outside.
- Morale boost from the discovery of the Holy Lance
Why was Muslim disunity a key factor in the success of capture of Jerusalem?
Muslim divisions hated each other more than crusaders, willing to form alliances. Crusaders never fought united opposition. Muslim weakness encouraged crusaders. Fragmented Muslim military.
What were some key features of the siege of Jerusalem?
- They were dangerously exposed, and had sparse supplies.
- They were determined by victory at Antioch.
- They moved the siege towers to access the city
- Strong but divided crusade army
- Fatimids poisoned wells outside the city
- Had two siege towers, muslim army had to divide forces
