The First Crusade 1073 - 1105 Flashcards
Why did Alexios call for help in 1095?
- Position of the Byzantine Empire was unstable: Battle of Manzikert in 1073, Alexios had seized power in 1081 and faced a Norman invasion of the Balkans a month later.
- Nicea and Antioch had been captured by Muslims, only 60 miles from Constantinople. More Seljuk/Turkish expansion in 1080s to the West and in Anatolia.
- However by 1095 Alexios’ position was a lot stronger: death of Malik Shah and his advisor in 1092, truce with Kilij Arslan, tribes to the north of Byzantium had been defeated by mercenaries paid by Alexios in 1091.
Assess the reasons why the call of the First Crusade was answered by so many.
material gains: Anna Comnena’s claims – “cherished a desire for Byzantium”. Even if material gain was unlikely it was widely promised – by Alexios in his appeals, citing great wealth of Byzantium, and by Urban in his preaching and letters. Both Robert of Rheims and Baldric of Dol explicitly hold out the possibility of massive material gain in their versions of Urban’s speech, Baldric in particular saying: “You will get the enemies’ possessions, because you will despoil their treasuries”, which could hardly be clearer. Ergotism caused by famine and drought in 1095. However, there was a huge cost of participating. Practical difficulties in returning home laden with riches. Some gave up great wealth and position e.g. Raymond of Toulouse was already a great landowner. Most were more likely to lose than gain materially. Many first borns, with land, participated. Charters focus on spiritual motives - “remission of sins”.
religious motivation, personal piety and the remission of sin: Personal piety amongst 11th century nobility. Religious mania of 11th Century – influence of Cluny. Established importance of pilgrimage – especially to Jerusalem. Referred to as a ‘journey’ or ‘pilgrimage’. Evidence of charters – often state desire to free Jerusalem and win forgiveness for sins, remission of sin in particular would have been especially powerful. However, evidence presented mainly by partial sources e.g. Charters written by clergy as are chronicles.
social motives: Nature of Feudal society – vassal status / feudal obligation. Reputation – enhanced social status of returning crusaders. Love of fighting. Racial hatred - Anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish. “Vile race”. Anti Jewish pogroms during the People’s Crusade.
Exporting violence in EU: Peace and truce of God movement. Influence of Cluny. However, not all knights were keen to listen to the Pope, as shown by the PC.
People’s Crusade
First wave of crusaders to leave Europe numbered 30,000. Its leader, Peter the Hermit, was a preacher who travelled through northern France and Germany in the winter of 1095-96 delivering rousing sermons and urging people to take the cross. In Lorraine, he was regarded as having inspired the whole enterprise. Whatever his status, he managed to raise armies months before anyone else. Force he gathered was poorly armed but deeply convinced of God’s protection. Were some noble attendees, for example Walter Sansavoir and William Carpenter.
P’s contingent set off in April 1096, 4 months before the departure date set by the Pope who had no control over these events. To organise, equip and supply 30,000 troops and non-combatants at the end of winter and in spring, following poor harvests, suggests that Peter must have begun preaching before Clermont. It is possible that Urban appointed him to preach the Jerusalem journey weeks before Clermont: the pope had been discussing his plan with potential leaders at least as early as August 1095. Peter’s preaching itinerary avoided those areas visited by the Pope. Problem with doing this was that it was before the harvest (which was good that year) – crusaders short of food from the start.
As they crossed the Rhineland, May and June, some of these crusaders slaughtered thousands of Jews living in northern France and the Rhineland. Jews of Speyer (3 May 1096 – by Emich of Flonheim ), Mainz, Trier and Cologne massacred. Enich then proceeded to Worms.
Crusaders had no supplies, thousands killed by the armies of the King of Hungary as they raided his lands for food. Alexios was dismayed by their lack of military skill or discipline when they reached Constantinople, and so shipped them across the Bosphorus. French raiders penetrated to the walls of Nicaea - Not to be outdone contingent of Germans and Italians, under Rainaldo, seized a castle at Xerigordo near Nicaea, divisions in the ranks,
The leadership of Peter the Hermit was the most important reason for the failure of the Peoples’ Crusade. How far do you agree?
- Divided leadership; Peter established a military command under Godfrey Burel of Etampes, Reynald of Broyes from Epernay, Walter Fitz Waleran of Breteuil and Fulcher of Chartres.
- Insufficient numbers of knights; Walter Sansavoir was an experienced lord: brought with him 8 knights and as already in Constantinople by July 1096. Peter the Hermit’s captains also, including Fulcher of Chartres, who was to end his days as a lord in the county of Edessa. Emich of Flonheim was an important south German noble; also Count Hartmann of Dillingen-Kybourg, who joined forces with lords from the Ile de France, as well as some Englishmen. Other French knights joined them, such as William the Carpenter, viscount of Melun and Drogo of Nesle. Muslim spies in the crusaders’ camp were amazed to find thousands of poor men, women and children who could not possibly be part of an effective army.
- Lack of respect for the enemy; In early September, some bored crusaders ignored Alexios and left their camp, intending to capture Nicaea. They believed that God would protect them.
- Inadequate and insecure supplies of food, war materials and horses: Problem with doing this was that it was before the harvest (which was good that year) – crusaders short of food from the start.
Muslim disunity was the most important reason for the success of the First Crusade. How far do
you agree?
- Muslim disunity and a lack of a single leader to defeat the crusaders
- Crusader military tactics in battles and sieges
- Religious devotion and fervour
- Support from Byzantium in the early stages
