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First Crusade

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

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(1095-1101) For centuries, thousands of pious Christians had been making pilgrimages to Jerusalem where the Holy Sepulcher, the most venerable of relics was preserved. In 1070 the city was captured by the Seljukian Turks, the Greek emperor Diogenes defeated, 1091, and Asia Minor and all Syria became the prey of the heathens. The idea of sending an army to rescue the Holy Sepulcher, first conceived by Pope Gregory VII, was taken up by Urban II who commissioned Peter the Hermit, a recluse of Picardy, to preach the crusade. Urban convoked a council at Clermont-Ferrand, in France, November, 1095, and a vast and enthusiastic throng of clergy, knights, and laymen pledged themselves by vow to depart for the Holy Land, crying "God wills it." Several disorganized and undisciplined bands set out, one led by Peter the Hermit and Walter the Penniless, but were scattered or slain before ever reaching Palestine. The regular crusade, however, was well organized, and contained four principal armies, under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon, Hugh of Vermandois, brother of King Philip I of France; Raymond of Saint-Gilles, and Tancred. After enduring many misfortunes, they finally captured and plundered Jerusalem, July 15, 1099, and crowned Godfrey of Bouillon, king of the new conquest, and "Defender of the Holy Sepulcher." During the first half of the 12th century, four Christian States were completely organized, Jerusalem, Tripoli, Antioch, and Edessa.