The First Crusade The First Crusade marked on of the first times in history that the Christian religion considered violence and war against non-believers to be justified. There were a few reasons behind the pope calling the Crusade, and a lot more which explain why there was so much support for it within the Christian community In addition, the success of the First Crusade can be attributed to a variety of factors, but the religious and political climate at the time within the Muslim world provided the perfect opportunity for success. Pope Urban II had two main justifications behind calling the First Crusade. The first was to save the Christians living in the East who were being persecuted by the Muslims. The second was to regain control
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However, the costs to properly equip so many fighters with weapons, armor, or other war technologies of the time was extremely expensive, and most of the fighters could not afford to pay for their own equipment. The first few expeditions to arrive had the fewest trained knights and many of the poor or less well equipped fighters. A mix of anger towards unbelievers and a need for money caused them to massacre Jewish communities on their way to Constantinople and plunder their possessions. “Those who remained in their homes were set upon by the steppe-wolves who pillaged men, woman and infants, children and old people. They pulled down the stairways and destroyed the houses, looting and plundering” (Phillips 217). Shortly after reaching Constantinople these first expeditions of crusaders were defeated by the Turks, and very few escaped. However, once the later expeditions of the Crusade, which were much more organized, arrived in Constantinople they eventually made a deal with Alexios Komnene, the Byzantine Emperor. This agreement meant the Byzantines would supply the Crusaders expedition by sea which was extremely important to ensure the best chance of …show more content…
Jerusalem was a very well protected city with only the west side vulnerable to attack. They were able break into the city using siege towers, catapults, a ram, and the cover of nightfall. However, upon entering the city the Crusaders were brutal in their attacks. “It was impossible to look on the vast numbers of the slain without horror; everywhere lay fragments of human bodies, and the very ground was covered with the blood of the slain. Still more dreadful was it to gaze upon the victors themselves, dripping in blood from head to foot” (Phillips 32). Shortly after their victory, Egyptian relief forces arrived, but they were quickly defeated by the Crusaders. This marked the end of the First Crusade, and the successful capture of Jerusalem caused them to believe that God must have blessed their expedition for it to succeed. This success inspired many volunteers to go to the Holy Land which strengthened the military ranks of the Crusader States and allowed them to hold off the nearby Muslim forces and retain control of recently conquered
However, the costs to properly equip so many fighters with weapons, armor, or other war technologies of the time was extremely expensive, and most of the fighters could not afford to pay for their own equipment. The first few expeditions to arrive had the fewest trained knights and many of the poor or less well equipped fighters. A mix of anger towards unbelievers and a need for money caused them to massacre Jewish communities on their way to Constantinople and plunder their possessions. “Those who remained in their homes were set upon by the steppe-wolves who pillaged men, woman and infants, children and old people. They pulled down the stairways and destroyed the houses, looting and plundering” (Phillips 217). Shortly after reaching Constantinople these first expeditions of crusaders were defeated by the Turks, and very few escaped. However, once the later expeditions of the Crusade, which were much more organized, arrived in Constantinople they eventually made a deal with Alexios Komnene, the Byzantine Emperor. This agreement meant the Byzantines would supply the Crusaders expedition by sea which was extremely important to ensure the best chance of …show more content…
Jerusalem was a very well protected city with only the west side vulnerable to attack. They were able break into the city using siege towers, catapults, a ram, and the cover of nightfall. However, upon entering the city the Crusaders were brutal in their attacks. “It was impossible to look on the vast numbers of the slain without horror; everywhere lay fragments of human bodies, and the very ground was covered with the blood of the slain. Still more dreadful was it to gaze upon the victors themselves, dripping in blood from head to foot” (Phillips 32). Shortly after their victory, Egyptian relief forces arrived, but they were quickly defeated by the Crusaders. This marked the end of the First Crusade, and the successful capture of Jerusalem caused them to believe that God must have blessed their expedition for it to succeed. This success inspired many volunteers to go to the Holy Land which strengthened the military ranks of the Crusader States and allowed them to hold off the nearby Muslim forces and retain control of recently conquered