Why was the First Crusade successful?

Question 1

The unity and military skill of the Crusaders: What was a significant event that demonstrated Crusader cooperation?

Answer 1

The eight-month siege of Antioch would have been impossible without cooperation and The fight with Fatimids for Ascalon in August 1099.

Question 2

The unity and military skill of the Crusaders: What military skill did Bohemond demonstrate at Dorylaeum (July 1097)?

Answer 2

Bohemond kept the vanguard together while awaiting reinforcements, aided by Adhemar.

Question 3

The unity and military skill of the Crusaders: What tactic did Bohemond use against Kerbogha’s forces at Antioch (June 1098)?

Answer 3

Bohemond used the unwieldy numbers of Kerbogha’s forces against him.

Question 4

The unity and military skill of the Crusaders: What was the role of Godfrey and Baldwin in the siege of Jerusalem?

Answer 4

Godfrey and Baldwin attacked from the North while Raymond attacked from the South.

Question 5

The unity and military skill of the Crusaders: What was Robert of Normandy’s contribution at the Battle of Ascalon?

Answer 5

Robert of Normandy played a significant role in the Battle of Ascalon.

Question 6

The unity and military skill of the Crusaders (limitations): What rivalry limited the Crusaders’ effectiveness in Cilicia?

Answer 6

The rivalry between Tancred and Baldwin over Cilicia.

Question 7

The unity and military skill of the Crusaders (limitations): What was the conflict over Antioch following Adhemar’s death?

Answer 7

The argument over possession of Antioch between Raymond and Bohemond from August 1098 to January 1099.

Question 8

The unity and military skill of the Crusaders (limitations):
What was a failure of the Crusaders in 1099?

Answer 8

The failure to capture Arqah.

Question 9

The unity and military skill of the Crusaders (limitations):
What issue caused disunity among the Crusaders regarding Jerusalem?

Answer 9

Rivalry over the rulership of Jerusalem.

Question 10

The religious zeal of the crusaders: How did religious conviction affect the morale of the Crusaders in battle?

Answer 10

Religious conviction allowed the Crusaders to maintain morale in battle even in desperate situations.

For example, the vanguard at Dorylaeum sang hymns whilst waiting for reinforcements.

Question 11

The religious zeal of the crusaders: What event restored the morale of the army at Antioch?

Answer 11

The discovery of the ‘Holy Lance’ in June 1098 restored the morale of the army at Antioch despite starvation and overwhelming Muslim numerical advantage.

Question 12

The religious zeal of the crusaders: What role did Bishop Adhemar play in the Crusaders’ journey?

Answer 12

Bishop Adhemar acted as a conciliator until his death at Antioch in August 1098.

Question 13

The religious zeal of the crusaders: What action did ordinary Crusaders threaten regarding their leadership?

Answer 13

Ordinary Crusaders threatened to elect a new leader when their leaders were bickering over possession of Antioch.

Question 14

The religious zeal of the crusaders: What drastic measure did the Crusaders take at Ma’arrat?

Answer 14

The Crusaders pulled down the walls at Ma’arrat to prevent further delays in their journey to Jerusalem.

Question 15

The religious zeal of the crusaders (limitations): What was a limitation of the religious zeal among the Crusaders?

Answer 15

The failure of the People’s Crusade occurred even though its participants were highly religiously motivated.

Question 16

The religious zeal of the crusaders (limitations): What suspicion arose regarding the ‘Holy Lance’?

Answer 16

There was growing suspicion among the Crusaders that the ‘Holy Lance’ was a fraud, supposedly discovered by one of Raymond of Toulouse’s followers, Peter Bartholomew, to enhance his authority.

Question 17

The religious zeal of the crusaders (limitations): What was the outcome for Bohemond and his Norman followers?

Answer 17

Bohemond and many of his Norman followers did not complete their pilgrimage.

Question 18

The aid of Byzantium: What vital intelligence did the Byzantines provide to the crusaders?

Answer 18

Alexius informed crusaders of the Sunni-Shia split and suggested alliance with the Fatimids.

Question 19

The aid of Byzantium: How did Byzantine strategy influence the timing of the crusade?

Answer 19

The timing of the crusade was partly a consequence of Byzantine strategy.

Question 20

The aid of Byzantium: What battle tactics did Alexius and Taticius inform the crusaders about?

Answer 20

They informed the crusaders of Turkish battle tactics.

Question 21

The aid of Byzantium: What practical aid did the Byzantines provide to the Crusaders?

Answer 21

Taticius brought a force of 2000 skirmish fighters and the Byzantine fleet blockaded Nicaea.

Question 22

The aid of Byzantium: What role did Taticius play in aiding the crusaders?

Answer 22

Taticius acted as a guide to lead them across Anatolia and as a liaison with local Armenian Christians.

Question 23

The aid of Byzantium: How did the Byzantine fleets support the Crusaders at Antioch?

Answer 23

The Byzantine fleets supplied the Crusaders at Antioch from Cyprus.

Question 24

The aid of Byzantium: What assistance did the Byzantines provide for siege weaponry at Antioch?

Answer 24

Byzantines provided supplies and designs for siege weaponry at Antioch.

Question 25

The aid of Byzantium (limitations): What was a limitation of Byzantine aid to the crusaders?

Answer 25

The crusaders ignored the advice of the Byzantines to form an alliance or understanding with the Fatimids.

Question 26

The aid of Byzantium (limitations): What happened to Taticius during the siege of Antioch?

Answer 26

Taticius left the siege of Antioch in February 1098.

Question 27

The aid of Byzantium (limitations): What was Alexius I’s response to the crusaders after the siege of Antioch?

Answer 27

Alexius I largely refused further aid to the crusade after they failed to return Antioch to him in Autumn 1098.

Question 28

The disunity of the Muslims: What was the rivalry between Sunni and Shia Muslims before the First Crusade?

Answer 28

The rivalry was over 400 years old at this point.

Question 29

The disunity of the Muslims: What conflict was occurring in Palestine during the First Crusade?

Answer 29

The Crusade arrived in the middle of the conflict between Seljuks (Sunnis) and Fatimids (Shia) over Palestine.

Question 30

What significant event occurred in 1071 related to Jerusalem?

Answer 30

The Seljuks captured Jerusalem and the Fatimids sought to recapture it.

Question 31

The disunity of the Muslims: What happened after the death of Suleiman in 1086?

Answer 31

It led to the splintering of Seljuk rule in Anatolia.

Question 32

The disunity of the Muslims: Which prominent Muslim leaders died in the early 1090s?

Answer 32

Malik Shah, Nizam al-Mulk (1092), Tutush (1095), and Abbasid Caliph al-Muqtadi (1094) from the Seljuk Turks

Al-Mustansir and Badr al-Jumali (1094) from the Fatimids.

Question 33

The disunity of the Muslims: What was the outcome of Malik Shah’s death?

Answer 33

The Seljuk Empire began to disintegrate, with his successor Barkiyaruq struggling.

Question 34

The disunity of the Muslims: What was Kilij Arslan’s situation during the Nicaea attack in 1097?

Answer 34

He was attacking the Danishmends at the time.

Question 35

The disunity of the Muslims: What was the issue with Ridwan of Aleppo and Duqaq of Damascus during the First Crusade?

Answer 35

They were unwilling to coordinate to defeat the crusaders at Antioch.

Question 36

The disunity of the Muslims: What happened to Kerbogha’s forces during the First Crusade?

Answer 36

There was disunity and division within his large force, leading to failure at Antioch.

Question 37

The disunity of the Muslims: Who betrayed the garrison at Antioch?

Answer 37

The Muslim convert, Firuz, betrayed the garrison, allowing the Crusaders to enter the city.

Question 38

The disunity of the Muslims: What was the attitude of many Muslim coastal leaders towards the Crusaders?

Answer 38

They were willing to pay tribute to the crusaders, effectively helping the crusade.

Question 39

The disunity of the Muslims: What offer did the Fatimids make to the Crusaders in April 1098?

Answer 39

They offered to ally with the Crusaders.

Question 40

The disunity of the Muslims: What was the response of the Turks to the Fatimids after they recaptured Jerusalem?

Answer 40

The Turks were unwilling to aid the Fatimids when they were subsequently attacked.

Question 41

The disunity of the Muslims limitations: What was the outcome of the alliance between Kilij Arslan and the Danishmends at Dorylaeum?

Answer 41

They allied together against the crusaders but were still defeated.

Question 42

The disunity of the Muslims limitations: What does Jotischky claim about Ridwan’s army (1098) at Antioch and the Fatimid army (1099) at Ascalon?

Answer 42

He claims that both should have been able to defeat the crusaders on their own, indicating that unity was not necessary.