The First Crusade: A Journey of Faith, War, and Conquest

In the Middle Ages, Europe and the Middle East were home to two powerful religious groups: Christians and Muslims. Their worlds often collided, and they frequently found themselves at war. At the heart of this struggle was the Byzantine Empire, a Christian stronghold in the eastern Mediterranean. But in the 11th century, a new and powerful enemy emerged—the Seljuk Turks.

Trouble in the East

The Seljuk Turks, originally from Central Asia, moved southward and embraced Sunni Islam. They soon carved out a massive empire for themselves, pushing into lands that had once belonged to the Byzantine Empire. In 1071, at the Battle of Manzikert, the Byzantines suffered a devastating defeat, losing most of Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) to the Seljuks. This loss was a serious blow to Christian power in the region.

The situation worsened in 1092 when the Seljuk leader, Malik Shah, died, leading to infighting among his successors. With the empire fragmenting, different warlords fought for control, making life even more dangerous for the Byzantines. Desperate for help, the Byzantine Emperor, Alexius I Comnenus, turned to the West, writing to Pope Urban II for military aid.

The Call to Arms

Pope Urban II saw this as more than just a plea for help—he saw an opportunity. The Christian church had been divided for years between the Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox branches. A joint military effort could help heal this divide and increase the Pope’s authority over Christendom. But perhaps most importantly, he saw a chance to reclaim Christianity’s most sacred city—Jerusalem—which had been under Muslim rule for 400 years.

At the Council of Clermont in 1095, Pope Urban II delivered a fiery speech, urging knights and soldiers to embark on a holy mission to free Jerusalem. He promised them spiritual rewards, declaring that those who fought for this cause would have their sins forgiven. The crowd erupted, shouting, “Deus vult! Deus vult!” (God wills it!). The First Crusade had begun.

The People’s Crusade

Urban had intended for experienced knights and nobles to lead the campaign, but his call spread like wildfire. Thousands of ordinary people, from peasants to priests, took up the cross. One of the most famous of these early leaders was Peter the Hermit, a charismatic preacher who led a ragtag army of men, women, and children to the East.

However, the so-called People’s Crusade was a disaster. Many were poorly armed and had no real military training. Along the way, some crusaders attacked Jewish communities in the Rhineland, massacring thousands—a dark and shameful event condemned by the Church. When they finally arrived in Byzantine territory, they looted Christian towns and caused chaos. Emperor Alexius, eager to be rid of them, hurried them across the Bosphorus into Anatolia, where they were quickly ambushed and slaughtered by the Turks.

The Real Crusaders Arrive

Meanwhile, the real Crusader army—composed of Europe’s most powerful lords—began its march to the Holy Land. Among them were Godfrey of Bouillon, Hugh of Vermandois (brother of the King of France), Duke Robert of Normandy (son of William the Conqueror), and the ambitious Norman leader Bohemond of Taranto. These men, along with thousands of knights and foot soldiers, gathered at Constantinople, forming an army of around 60,000—one of the largest forces seen in Europe for centuries.

Though Emperor Alexius had asked for help, he was uneasy about this massive foreign army on his doorstep. To ensure their loyalty, he made the Crusader leaders swear an oath to return any captured Byzantine lands. The Crusaders agreed—though some, like Bohemond, had no intention of keeping their word.

March to Jerusalem

The Crusaders’ first major victory came at Nicaea in 1097, but relations with the Byzantines quickly soured when the city surrendered directly to Alexius’ forces, denying the Crusaders their chance to loot. This betrayal stoked tensions between the Eastern and Western Christians.

Next, at the Battle of Dorylaeum, the Crusaders were ambushed by the Turks but managed to hold their ground and win a decisive victory. They then endured a brutal march across Anatolia, battling starvation and the unforgiving heat. In Edessa, Baldwin of Boulogne seized power and established the first Crusader state.

In 1098, they reached Antioch, a mighty fortress city that stood between them and Jerusalem. The siege was long and grueling. As food ran out, morale collapsed, and some Crusaders even resorted to cannibalism. But in a dramatic turn of events, Bohemond bribed a guard to open a gate, allowing the Crusaders to storm the city. However, their victory was short-lived, as a massive Muslim army under Kür Bugha soon arrived. Just when all seemed lost, a Crusader claimed to have found the Holy Lance—the spear that pierced Christ’s side. Inspired by this miracle, the Crusaders fought back with renewed zeal and won a shocking victory.

The Siege of Jerusalem

Finally, in 1099, the Crusaders reached Jerusalem. The city, now controlled by the Egyptian Fatimids, was heavily fortified. Without enough men to surround it, they built two siege towers using wood from ships and nearby forests.

On July 15, after a brutal assault, Godfrey of Bouillon’s forces breached the walls. What followed was a horrifying massacre—Muslims, Jews, and even some Christians were slaughtered in the streets. The Crusaders had reclaimed Jerusalem, but at a terrible human cost.