The First Crusade: The Bloody Road to Jerusalem (1/2)

In the Middle Ages, Europe and the Middle East were divided between Christian states and Muslim states. They were uneasy neighbors and frequently at war. On the frontline was the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire, the major Christian power in the eastern Mediterranean. However, in the 11th century, a powerful new force emerged that threatened its very survival: the Seljuk Turks. Originally from Central Asia, they migrated south, converted to Sunni Islam, and established a significant empire.

In 1071, at the Battle of Manzikert, the Seljuk Turks inflicted a crushing defeat on the Byzantine Empire, subsequently conquering most of Anatolia. Cities rich in Christian history, such as Nicaea and Antioch, fell to the Seljuk Turks. After the death of Great Seljuk Sultan Malik Shah in 1092, his empire began to fragment, leading to renewed attacks on the Byzantine Empire by local warlords seeking territory and plunder.

In 1095, Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Comnenus made a desperate appeal for military aid to Pope Urban II. This appeal was not the first, but it would have unprecedented results. Pope Urban saw this as an opportunity to heal the rift between Western and Eastern churches and to assert his papal authority over the barons and bishops of Western Christendom. He aimed to drive back the Muslim forces and reclaim Christianity’s most holy sites, particularly Jerusalem, which had been under Muslim rule for 400 years.

At Clermont in France, Pope Urban preached a sermon to clergy and nobles, calling on Christian knights and foot-soldiers to aid their fellow Christians and free Jerusalem from Muslim control. He offered a unique spiritual incentive: those who went to Jerusalem for devotion alone could substitute this journey for all penance. This offer exhilarated his audience, leading to cries of “Deus vult!” (God wills it!). The Pope’s appeal sparked a wave of religious fervor across Europe, with thousands vowing to travel to the Holy Land and fight for Christ. They identified themselves by wearing a cross, later known as crusaders.

While some sought fame and fortune, the majority were motivated by spiritual salvation, willing to undertake a long and perilous journey to save their souls. Pope Urban had intended for the crusade to be led by nobles and experienced soldiers, but the success of his appeal led many ordinary townsfolk and peasants to take up the cross, inspired by a French priest named Peter the Hermit, who became the leader of the People’s Crusade.

In the Rhineland, some crusaders, fueled by old prejudices, attacked local Jewish communities, resulting in the slaughter of around 5,000 individuals. These actions were condemned by the church but had little effect. In the summer of 1096, the People’s Crusade, numbering between 20,000 and 40,000, made its way east. However, they were ill-disciplined and poorly prepared, leading to attacks on Christian settlements in Hungary when they ran out of food. Upon reaching Constantinople, the Byzantine Emperor quickly ferried them to Anatolia to be rid of them. Lacking discipline, the main force was soon ambushed and slaughtered by the Turks.

Meanwhile, powerful feudal lords were departing for the Holy Land with their own contingents, better armed and organized than the People’s Crusade. Notable leaders included Godfrey of Bouillon, Hugh of Vermandois, Count Robert of Flanders, and Duke Robert of Normandy. They formed a large army, possibly 60,000 strong, the largest seen in Europe since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The Byzantine Emperor Alexius, expecting a small force of Western mercenaries, became nervous and distrustful of the massive Crusader force, particularly due to the presence of Bohemond of Taranto, who had previously attacked the Byzantine Empire.

Alexius provided the Crusaders with money, supplies, and guides, but only after their leaders swore oaths of fealty and promised to return all Byzantine territory. Once across the Bosphorus into Anatolia, the Crusaders, particularly the armored knights, formed a mighty military force. They had to adapt quickly to the heat, terrain, and tactics of their Turkish enemy. The Islamic world was divided, with Turkish governors engaged in conflicts with one another and the Shia Fatimids of Egypt, leaving them unprepared for the First Crusade.

The Crusaders achieved their first success at Nicaea after a six-week siege, but the city surrendered to the Byzantine forces, causing tension between the Crusaders and Byzantines. They continued their march inland through intense summer heat, with Bohemond leading the vanguard and Godfrey in the rearguard. Near Dorylaeum, Bohemond’s forces were ambushed by the main Turkish army.

As the battle unfolded, Bohemond requested assistance from the rearguard while forming a defensive position. The Crusaders faced attacks from all sides, but their line held. Godfrey’s rearguard joined the battle, and when the Christian knights charged together, the Turks panicked and fled. This victory allowed the Crusaders to continue their advance across Anatolia.

After defeating a small Turkish force at Heraclea, the main force struggled through the mountains of Cappadocia, losing many supplies. Meanwhile, Baldwin of Boulogne and Tancred captured the city of Tarsus and other settlements. Baldwin was later invited by local Armenian Christians to Edessa, where he became the ruler of the first “Crusader state.”

In October 1097, the remaining Crusaders reached Antioch, but they faced dire conditions, including disease and starvation, encircled by enemies. It would take a miracle to save them from annihilation.

Research and artwork for this video come from Osprey Publishing’s extensive range of books on medieval history. Each book examines a particular battle, campaign, or combat unit in detail. Thank you to all the supporters who made this video possible. If you’d like to find out how you can support the channel and vote on future topics, please visit our support page.