the first crusade

Question 1

what was a just war? where did this come from?

Answer 1

-morally justified, came from parts of the Bible.
-Augustine of Hippo defined 4 key characteristics:
-must have a just cause, for defence or recover rightful possessions, sanctioned by a legitimate authority and those who fight must have the right intentions.

Question 2

why did Christians want a pilgrimage?

Answer 2

-discovery of true cross by Helena, led to the build of the church of the Holy sepulchre which was the sight of his resurrection.

Question 3

what tension was there with the papacy?

Answer 3

-the position of the church was weakened by the investiture contest and the installation of an anti-pope Clement III in 1084 which forced Gregory into exile.

Question 4

how did Gregory VII effect the papacy?

Answer 4

-his insistence of the recognition of his rights in the investiture contest led to quarrels with Henry IV, the emperor.
-this led to the pope excommunicating the emperor and creating the anti-pope Clement III, this made Gregory unpopular and he died in exile in 1085.
-the anti-pope ruled in Rome.

Question 5

what was the investiture contest?

Answer 5

-issue between the pope and the emperor as both claimed supreme power, and both wanted to be able to install bishops

Question 6

what happened in 1054 with the Christian church?

Answer 6

-the Greek and Roman churches split

Question 7

what did Pope Urban II aim to do?

Answer 7

-in a weak position so he saw the best way to secure his own position was by being the unifier of the church.
-1088 Urban ended the excommunication of Alexios.

Question 8

what did Pope Urban do in Piacenza and when?

Answer 8

-March 1095
-envoys arrived from Constantinople and brought news that the eastern empire was on the brink of collapse and needed help, Urban quickly seized the initiative and he saw that he could use this to reunify the Church and announced that he would travel to Clermont.

Question 9

what were the divisions in Islam?

Answer 9

-two main divisions of Sunni and Shia.

Question 10

who are the Abbasid caliphate?

Answer 10

-established in Baghdad, tried to build an alliance with Charlemagne.

Question 11

who are the Fatimids?

Answer 11

-set up Caliphate in north Africa, conquered Egypt in 969 and founded Cairo as their capital

Question 12

who were the Seljuk Turks?

Answer 12

-tribe from central Asia who moved west in the tenth century and converted to Sunni Islam.
-captured Baghdad in 1055 and set up Seljuk empire, under Malik Shah and Alp Arslan the extended their rule to Iran, Syria, Palestine and the Sultanate of rum.
-later pushed back by crusaders and the Mongols.

Question 13

how did the Seljuk Turk empire come to tension?

Answer 13

-after death of Malik Shah in 1092 cohesion was ruptured by the princes who fought each other for the Sultanate

Question 14

what were the threats to the Byzantine empire in the mid eleventh century?

Answer 14

-normans took over much of southern Italy
-aggressive tribe of pechenegs began to raid the Balkans

Question 15

what and when was the battle of Manzikert?

Answer 15

-1071 defeat of the Greeks near the eastern frontier.

Question 16

who was Alexios I? how did he come to power?

Answer 16

-1081 he overthrew Emperor Nikiphorus and able to do this as his wife Irene was a Doukas.

Question 17

what problems did Alexios face and how did he solve them?

Answer 17

-needed to build up support and ensure stability after a series of short reigns, so he gave appointments and positions to members of leading families to keep them loyal.
-Norman control of the Epirus, Macedonia and Thessaly, so Alexios took personal control of the army and by 1084 had driven the normans our.
-Pecheneg incursions in southern Thrace and threat to Constantinople, Alexios formed the largest army and defeated them in 1091.
-maintaining popularity, Alexios lived simply and his court was not extravagant.

Question 18

what was Urban II’s appeal like for the first crusade?

Answer 18

-made sufferings of christians a focus.
-appealed by offering a repent of sins by going on crusade

Question 19

why were Muslims interested in Jerusalem?

Answer 19

-Muhammad had made the night journey when he was taken by the angel Gabriel to pray at Jerusalem and returned to mecca in a single night and where he had descended to heaven
-shrine of the Dome of the Rock is the holiest place.

Question 20

when was Urban’s public speech at Clermont?

Answer 20

-Nov 27th

Question 21

what was the response to Urban II’s sermon?

Answer 21

-as soon as the pope stopped speaking le Puy knelt before him and begged for permission to join the crusade.
-the next day envoys came in from Raymond of Toulouse to support.

Question 22

what further instructions did Pope Urban II give for the first crusade?

Answer 22

-all those who took part would receive full remission of penance
-belongings would be protected by their bishops whilst they were were away
-the old and infirm should not go
-ready by August 15th 1096 and assemble in constantinople.

Question 23

why did people go on the first crusade?

Answer 23

-may have been influence by the growing population which affected inheritance, as the more children bore, the more that inheritance was split and became insufficient.
-1096 several years of poor harvests in France as a result of droughts and led to famine, led to an epidemic of ergotism.
-Knightly class saw the crusade as a good opportunity for land gain, and some rich families brought up tradition of crusading.
-motive of money

Question 24

who were the main crusaders?

Answer 24

-Ademar Bishop of Le Puy
-Count Raymond of Toulouse
-Bohemond of Taranto
-Tancred
-Godfrey of Boullion
-Baldwin of Boulogne.
-Hugh of Vermandois
-Robert of Normandy

Question 25

what started the peoples crusade?

Answer 25

-the appeal of the preacher Peter the hermit

Question 26

what issue did Peter have about the first wave?

Answer 26

-he had no plan, there was no set date and anyone could go.
-he didn’t have approval of the Church
-followers were worked up by message and saw anyone who opposed them as the enemy.
-strong anti-semitism
-peter had no control over who went.
-proportion of non-combats was higher than desirable.

Question 27

what attacks did the first wave have on jewish people?

Answer 27

-May 1096 Count emrich’s forces tried to attack Jews in Speyer killing some who refused to be baptised as Christians.
-later in May Emich moved on to worms where local peasants joined in enthusiastically to kill hundreds of jews.

Question 28

events of the people’s crusade?

Answer 28

-numbered 15,000, poorly provisioned
-Walter sansavoir found getting supplies through difficult and once crossed in Byzantium further issues over food.
-Alexius was alarmed at the sight of the crusaders.
-July battle at Nish and may have lost upto 1/3 of his men and Alexios intervened and sent escorts to bring the remnants to Constantinople by the beginning of August.
-leadership fell into the hands of some captains after Peter’s role became mainly one of diplomacy and this led to ill-advised attacks on the Turks, Kiljan Arslan took command of the Turkish troops and completely defeated them on the 21st of August 1096

Question 29

how did Godfrey and Baldwin get to Constantinople to meet up?

Answer 29

-by southern Germany to the border with Hungary, Baldwin allowed himself then to be taken as a hostage for the promised good behaviour of the army and Godfrey gave strict orders against pillaging.

Question 30

how did Raymond of Toulouse and the Northern french reach Constantinople?

Answer 30

-Raymond by nothern italy.
-the northern french by France and Italy, Robert of Normandy and Stephen of Blois and then met up with friends in Norman terroritries in Italy and then sailed.

Question 31

what issues were they reaching constantinople?

Answer 31

-very few, as the result of planning by Alexios.
-Bishop of le Puy was ambushed by bandits and only escaped by his life when fellow crusaders rescued him.

Question 32

how did Alexios treat the crusaders once they were outside Constantinople? how did he treat the leaders?

Answer 32

-not allowed into the city except in small groups and at particular times
-treated the leaders lavishly and wanted to get them to agree that all land be returned to him

Question 33

what did the crusader leaders sign for alexios?

Answer 33

-all swore oath of allegiance except Tancred
-alexios agreed that Bohemond could keep lands that he might conquer around Antioch

Question 34

did Alexios go on crusade?

Answer 34

-that he would not go on crusade with the army as he might be overthrown while he was away.
-but accompanied them to Nicea.

Question 35

what happened at Nicaea?

Answer 35

-city was strongly defended as they knew the crusaders were coming.
-but eventually a combination of the skills learned by the Normans and tactical decisions made by Alexios led to the fall of Nicea in June 1097.
-Alexios prevented the defenders from bringing in supplies by calling on ships from his navy to stop relief arriving across the Ascanian Lake and archers played vital role.
-began negotiations for the surrender of the city and offered good terms to the defenders and truce with Arslan.

Question 36

who did Alexios leave as leader after he left to go back after Nicaea?

Answer 36

-Takitos, one of his experienced generals, had good local knowledge and this led to success in the march.

Question 37

what happened at Dorylaeum?

Answer 37

-July 1 1097
- army split into two sections after Nicaea.
-one section 20,000 moved ahead led by Bohemond was ambushed by Turks close to Dorylaeum and only won due to Bohemond keeping formation and tactically kept strong, won by other crusaders coming to aid.
-the Turks fought as competent bowmen and impressive horsemanship.

Question 38

what was the march to Antioch from Nicaea like?

Answer 38

-very demanding, rate of advance was very slow.
-many horses died so knights had to walk.
-hot by day and cold at night.
-inhospitable terrain by mountains.
-lack of food and greater lack of water
-half of the crusaders perished
-Takitos had chose a route which allowed for supplies to be maintained and strategic towns to be captured to safeguard the rear of the crusaders.

Question 39

how and when was Edessa captured?

Answer 39

-1098
-Baldwin of Bolougne and Tancred both led splinter groups which captured towns like Edessa although they fell out.
-paved the way for the crusaders and supplies could be maintained.
-Baldwin was invited to become leader and was enthused, and the region was fertile allowing for supply to the crusader states.

Question 40

was was Antioch important to the crusaders?

Answer 40

-place where Saint Peter had established first church.
-to move past it would have left the crusader rear dangerously exposed to Turkish attacks.

Question 41

how was Antioch a difficult prospect for the crusaders?

Answer 41

-well defended by the mountains and the river Orontes and surrounded by huge walls.
-food supplies for the crusaders were scarce
-winter rain and snow sapped the strength of the army
-crusaders couldn’t stop supplies going in.
-by 1098 mood was low among the besiegers and peter the hermit tried to desert but was brought back.
-Takitos left the camp supposedly to get supplies from Alexios

Question 42

what advantages did the crusaders have during the siege of Antioch?

Answer 42

-turkish state unstable and control of Antioch was disputed between two newphews of the shah
-no immediate source of reinforcements for the commander of Antioch.
-able to keep some ports open and supplies came in through there
-the Turks did not unite against the crusaders and the Fatimids of egypt held aloof being shite.

Question 43

how long was the siege of Antioch and what lifted spirits?

Answer 43

-7 and a half months.
-March 1098 supplies arrived by sea with craftsmen and material for building a siege tower to help taking Antioch.
-and as the supply came in it was attacked by Yaghi Siyan and fierce fighting ensured which the crusaders won and destroyed some of the best troops.

Question 44

how did the crusaders finally manage to take Antioch?

Answer 44

-Jan 1098 Bishop Ademar decided that this was due to the army’s sinfulness and called them to pray and fast and for women to leave and urged the rich to give funds
-Bohemond hatched a plan, spurred by an agreement that for a short while he could keep the city.
-he was in touch with Firouz one of the captains on the city wall and he helped them get inside, and on June 2-3 led to a defeat of Antioch.

Question 45

what happened when the crusaders finally managed to take Antioch?

Answer 45

-June 4th Kerbogha army arrived and the besiegers became the besieged, they captured forts around the walls and grip tightened to prevent supplies coming in.

Question 46

what did the crusaders find whilst besieged which gave them hope?

Answer 46

-the holy lance which was discovered by Peter Bartholomew, and he saw it in a vision

Question 47

when was the battle at Antioch? and what happened after?

Answer 47

-28th of June 1097
-Bohemond argued that Alexios had failed his duties and they didn’t have to give all land to him especially since on June 2nd Stephen of Blois met Alexios I who was making his way to Antioch and told him off the hopelessness and he turned back.

Question 48

what were the obstacles when the crusaders reached Jerusalem?

Answer 48

-the crusaders were dangerously exposed.
-small but experienced army of 12,300 men but they were divided with Godfrey, Robert and Tancred.
-they needed to construct siege engines, but supplies of wood were sparse.
-water was sparse as well with the Fatimids having poisoned the wells around the city.
-fleet arrived from Genoa with wood and craftsmen but links to the port were cut off.
-as seige engines were being built arguments arose about who would rule Jerusalem.

Question 49

How did the Crusaders manage to take Jerusalem?

Answer 49

-key success lay in construction of two siege towers, which meant the Fatimids had to split their forces to two parts of the wall.
-overnight on the 13-14 July the crusaders moved one of the siege towers to a position less defended by the Fatimids, they also built a battering ram, many catapults ladders.
-July 14 battering ram made a breach in the walls but the Fatimids resisted fiercely, next day Godfrey led the assault from the top of one of the siege towers and men at the top reigned down arrows below Godfrey made it into the city and the Franks broke the Fatimids resistance.
-upto 70,000 muslims were killed.

Question 50

what happened on the way to Jerusalem?

Answer 50

-sqabbled over the territory, with Raymond and Bohemond arguing over Antioch.
-princes sent Hugh of Vermandois back to Constantinople to persuade Alexios to come and lead the crusade in person but he refused, so they gave up on him and Pope Urban also refused.
-feud between the two men grew worse and came short of exchanging blows and knights chose allegience based on money given, Raymond paid for Robert of Normandy and Tancred two of Bohemonds supporters focus on Jerusalem was drifting.
-Raymond took the city of Ma’arrat and in Jan 1099 a crowd of poor Franks began to tear down the walls and telling him he had to go onto Jerusalem, as they were resorted to canibalism

Question 51

how to remember order of battles of first crusade?

Answer 51

-Nice
-dreams
-end
-at
-June!