Why did the First Crusade Begin?
- Davit Grigoryan
- Feb 1
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 19
In 1096, Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade at the request of Byzantine Emperor Alexios I. The initial goal was to assist Eastern Christians in defending Anatolia from the advancing Seljuk Turks. However, as the campaign progressed, a new objective emerged: reclaiming Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim control. Initially, the Pope's appeal was directed solely at French knights, but it quickly grew into a large-scale military campaign that attracted forces from Christian states across Western Europe. By the end of the Crusade, not only had the Kingdom of Jerusalem been established, but several other Christian states had also taken shape.
Why did the First Crusade Begin?
One of the key reasons for the First Crusade was the appeal for help made to Pope Urban II by Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. In 1071, Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes suffered a decisive defeat against Sultan Alp Arslan at the Battle of Manzikert. This loss triggered a prolonged civil war in Byzantium, which lasted until 1081 when Alexios I Komnenos seized the throne. By then, the Seljuk Turks had taken control of a vast portion of Anatolia. Alexios was forced to fight on two fronts—against the Normans in the west and the Seljuk Turks in the east—while also dealing with raids by the Pechenegs and Cumans in the Balkans.
In this situation, Alexios frequently relied on mercenaries from Western Europe, whom the Byzantines referred to as Franks or Celts. Byzantine commanders valued the combat effectiveness of European cavalry, often deploying them as shock troops. However, there was a constant need to replenish these forces. In 1093 or 1094, Alexios likely appealed to the Pope for assistance in recruiting more mercenaries—a request that may have played a role in prompting the call for the Crusade.
Another possible reason for the Crusade was the spread of rumors about atrocities in Palestine. At the time, the Middle East was a battleground between the Seljuk Sultanate, which controlled much of present-day Iran and Syria, and the Fatimid Caliphate of Egypt. The Seljuks were primarily supported by Sunni Muslims, while the Fatimids were backed mainly by Shia Muslims. Christian minorities in Palestine and Syria were left unprotected and often suffered from looting and violence amid the ongoing conflicts. These conditions may have fueled reports of brutal atrocities committed by Muslims in Palestine, further stirring outrage in the Christian world.
It is also worth noting that Christianity originated in the Middle East, where the first Christian communities emerged and many significant Christian shrines are located. In the late 11th century, between roughly 1078 and 1081, Turkish forces began establishing small states in Asia Minor, as well as in cities like Damascus and Aleppo. As a result, Christians increasingly felt the need to protect their fellow believers from persecution and reclaim lost lands and sacred sites.
Meanwhile, the Muslim world was plagued by internal conflicts, with constant wars between the rulers of various territories and deep divisions within Islam, which had fractured into multiple sects and movements. Christian states seized this opportunity to advance their interests.
Who fought in the First Crusade?
Organizing a large-scale military expedition required extensive preparation. The First Crusade is traditionally divided into two stages, the first of which is known as the "People's Crusade." This phase primarily consisted of poor peasants and knights who set out on the journey. The composition of their armies was diverse, and the campaign began in the spring of 1096.
On April 12, a group led by Peter the Hermit departed from Berry, later joined by the army of Knight Walter the Penniless. As the Crusaders made their way to the Holy Land, their movement was marked by pogroms, looting, and robbery. The plundered goods were used to secure provisions and other necessities.
By mid-July, Walter the Penniless's army reached Constantinople, followed by Peter the Hermit and his followers on August 1. Seeing the disorderly masses causing unrest, Emperor Alexios I Komnenos swiftly arranged for their transport to Asia Minor. However, due to internal conflicts and a lack of unified leadership, the crusader force split into two factions—one French and the other German-Italian.
Soon after, the Seljuk Turks launched an attack, decisively defeating the Crusaders. Walter the Penniless was killed in battle, while Peter the Hermit and his remaining followers managed to escape. He later joined the "Crusade of the Nobles."
The second phase of the First Crusade, known as the "Crusade of the Nobles" or the "Crusade of the Barons," was carefully planned and executed. Unlike the common people, the noble leaders spent an additional year preparing. As a result, the Crusaders were well-armed and highly organized.
The main armies departed from northern France in August 1096 under the leadership of Hugh the Great. With a small detachment of knights, Hugh followed the traditional pilgrimage route to the city of Bari, intending to cross the sea to Dyrrhachium. From there, he planned to continue toward Constantinople via the ancient Via Egnatia.
Meanwhile, another army departed from central France under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon. Robert of Normandy led the forces from northwestern France, while the crusaders from southern France, led by Raymond IV, traveled overland through Dalmatia before stopping in Dyrrhachium. From Italy, additional troops set out for the crusade under the command of Bohemond of Taranto.
What were the key sieges of the First Crusade?
Although there were several notable skirmishes, four major sieges defined the course of the First Crusade.
Siege of Nicaea
The first target of the crusader army was the ancient Greek city of Nicaea, located just under 100 miles from their starting point in Asia Minor. The city had been captured by the Seljuk Turks in 1081. This initial engagement was somewhat disappointing, as the siege, which lasted from May to June 1097, ended with the Byzantine contingent of the Crusader army negotiating the city's surrender with the defenders. As a result, the Crusaders were forced to move on before they could plunder the city.
Continuing their march through Asia Minor, some Crusaders fell into an ambush at the Battle of Dorylaeum in July 1097 but were rescued by relieving forces.
Siege of Antioch
The most difficult moment of the Crusaders' journey came shortly thereafter at the Seljuk-held city of Antioch (modern-day Antakya, Turkey), which they besieged from October 1097 to June 1098. For much of this time, the crusader camp was plagued by hunger, and the siege was resolved not through open battle but through a mix of cunning and violence.
In the spring of 1098, one of their leaders, Bohemond of Taranto, struck a deal with an Armenian guard named Firuz. Firuz allowed Bohemond and a small detachment to enter Antioch, after which the city’s gates were opened, enabling the rest of the Crusader army to storm and capture it.
Battle of Antioch
After capturing Antioch, the Crusaders quickly found themselves in a desperate situation, as they were besieged just a few days later by Seljuk Turk forces led by Kerbogha. During this month-long siege, a priest named Peter Bartholomew claimed to have made a miraculous discovery—the Holy Lance, said to be the spear that pierced Christ’s side while He was on the cross.
In a final desperate effort, the Crusaders exited the city and, on June 28, 1098, defeated Kerbogha’s forces in battle.
Siege of Jerusalem
The final trial for the Crusaders came with the siege of the sacred city of Jerusalem in the scorching heat of July 1099. Fortune favored them, and with timber from allied supply ships stranded in a nearby harbor, the Crusaders were able to construct two siege towers and scale the city walls. Once inside, they plundered and killed many of the city's inhabitants.
The Crusaders' victory on July 15, 1099, marked the capture of Jerusalem, sparking widespread celebration in the Christian world. Meanwhile, in the Muslim world, stories and rumors of the Crusaders' conquests spread and were eventually used as propaganda, leaving lasting consequences in the centuries that followed.
What were the outcomes of the First Crusade?
The First Crusade was viewed in Western Europe as a major success. The Crusaders captured the holy city of Jerusalem, along with the sites believed to be the locations of Jesus Christ's burial, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. The Church quickly capitalized on this victory, declaring the Crusades a worthy military endeavor. In the years that followed, the First Crusade would serve as a model for all subsequent campaigns.
Geopolitical changes also took place as a result of the campaign. The Crusaders established four Crusader states: the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Principality of Antioch, the County of Edessa, and the County of Tripoli. Although Edessa was lost in 1150, the remaining three Crusader states endured for nearly 200 years, offering protection to Christian communities in the Middle East and maintaining a Western presence in the frontier regions controlled by Christians.
However, in the long term, the First Crusade created several problems. First and foremost, its success led Western Christians to believe they could capture and hold the Levant—a term describing the eastern part of the Mediterranean, including its islands and neighboring countries. In reality, the Crusader states were too far from the heart of Europe and situated on the border of a vast, militarily powerful Islamic empire.
The growing dissatisfaction of the Muslim caliphates with these Christian holdings eventually led to a rising counter-crusade, which by the 1140s had escalated into full-scale retaliation. Faced with such a threat, maintaining a Western presence in the region became an increasingly untenable campaign.
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