Main Events of the First Crusade

Question 1

What was the primary goal of the First Crusade? (2)

Answer 1

To reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land (1) from Muslim control (1)

Question 2

Who called for the First Crusade and when and where did this occur? (3)

Answer 2

Pope Urban II (1) called for the Crusade on November 27th 1095 (1) at the Council of Clermont (1)

Question 3

Who appealed for help, when and why? (4)

Answer 3

Byzantine Emperor (1) Alexios I Komnenos (1) against the Seljuk Turks (1) in 1095 (1)

Question 4

What role did the People’s Crusade play in the overall First Crusade? (5)

Answer 4

It was an earlier, informal movement (1), led by Peter the Hermit (1) that began in 1096 (1) but ended in disaster in Anatolia (1) when they were crushed (1)

Question 5

What was the first major city that the Crusaders captured during their journey to Jerusalem? When was this? (2)

Answer 5

Nicaea (1), June 19th 1097 (1)

Question 6

What was the significance of the capture of the first city? (4)

Answer 6

Nicaea -
- first major victory for the Crusaders, boosting their morale (1)
- secured a strategic foothold in Anatolia (1).
- improved relations with the Byzantine Empire (1)
- disruption of Seljuk Turkish influence (1)

Question 7

Who were the main leaders of the First Crusade? (3)

Answer 7

Godfrey of Bouillon (1), Raymond IV of Toulouse (1), and Bohemond of Taranto (1)

Question 8

What was the second major battle of the First Crusade, and when did it happen? (2)

Answer 8

Battle of Dorylaeum (1), July 1st, 1097 (1)

Question 9

Why was victory for the Crusaders in this second major battle important? (4)

Answer 9

Dorylaeum
- strategic victory for the Crusaders showing their strength
- control of supply lines
- opened up the path to Antioch
- psychological victory over the Seljuk Turks

Question 10

What was the third major city the Crusaders captured? (1)

Answer 10

Antioch

Question 11

How long did it take to capture the third major city? (3)

Answer 11

The siege of Antioch (1) lasted from October 20th 1097 (1) to 28th June 1098 (1)

Question 12

What miraculous event did the Crusaders claim to have witnessed at the third major city? (4)

Answer 12

They claimed that a man called Peter Bartholomew (1) found the Holy Lance (1) on June 14th, 1098 (1), believing it gave them divine favour (1)

Question 13

When did the Crusaders finally arrive at Jerusalem? (2)

Answer 13

They arrived in June 1099 (1) , with the siege beginning on June 7th 1099 (1)

Question 14

Who was ruling Jerusalem when the Crusaders arrived? (1)

Answer 14

The Fatimid Caliphate

Question 15

What defensive strategies did the Muslim forces use during the Siege of Jerusalem? (2)

Answer 15

They fortified the city walls (1) and sought reinforcements from surrounding regions (1)

Question 16

How long did the Siege of Jerusalem last? (3)

Answer 16

The siege lasted about five weeks (1), from June 7th (1) to July 15th 1099 (1)

Question 17

What was the outcome of the Siege of Jerusalem? (3)

Answer 17

The Crusaders captured the city (1) on July 15th 1099 (1), leading to widespread slaughter of its inhabitants (1)

Question 18

What was the significance of the capture of Jerusalem for the Crusaders? (4)

Answer 18

• fulfilled Pope Urban’s ultimate goal
• established the Kingdom of Jerusalem
• led to a re-evaluation of Muslim strategy
• led to the slaughter of Muslims and Jews in Jerusalem

Question 19

Who was elected as the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem after its capture? (3)

Answer 19

Godfrey of Bouillon (1) was elected as the Defender of the Holy Sepulchre (1) on July 22th 1099 (1)