The 1st Crusade 1096

The 1st crusade to the Holy Lands was led by Bishop Adhemar

There was a total of five armies for the first crusade and each army was led by a nobleman.

There were many wealthy nobleman across Europe that were sympathetic to the Christian cause of re-claiming the Holy Lands from Muslim Turk rule.

It was easy to recruit armies to fight for the Christian cause during the first crusade.

First crusade army

Many people wanted to be soldiers in the first crusade and there were many volunteers. The Pope had told criminals and ex-communicated people that they would be given a pardon and made free if they came back alive from fighting the Muslims armies in the first crusade.

First crusade main battle

The armies of the 1st crusade were truly heroic and fought against almost impossible odds. Just 30,000 crusaders troops were commanded by a warrior named Bohemond, under his direction these first crusade armies were able to keep at bay an army of 360,000 Muslim Turks.

The Crusader armies were very disciplined and organized and fought as one, however the Turkish armies were disorganized and undisciplined and there was much infighting within the Muslim armies ranks.

Map showing information on the Crusade routes

The first crusade and the holy lance

During the first crusade the Crusader armies were under immense pressure from the sheer numbers of Muslim Turk soldiers, and at one point they were struggling to hold them back.

this was considered to be a miracle among the Christian troops and this renewed and strengthen their resolve to win the battle.

The 1st crusade and the holy lance

There was a lot of rivalry and infighting among the Muslim armies who throughout history have never trusted one another.

Before the Christian crusaders could even reach the walls of Jerusalem, the Muslim Turks who were in control of Jerusalem at that time had been defeated in battle by Fatimid Muslims

The first crusade and the Fatimid Muslims

The 1st crusade had been started to reclaim the Holy lands from Muslim Turks, it had not been decided to fight all Muslims many of whom had very different views on the world, and in fact the Fatimid Muslims were quite tolerant of Christian people are more willing to share the Holy city with the crusaders and give them safe passage to Jerusalem and Mount Zion Fatimid Muslims.

The battle hardened crusaders however were in no mood for negotiation and decided that they would capture the Holy lands of Jerusalem for the Christian faith against all Muslims, this would escalate the first crusades into a Holy war against all Muslims and the Islamic religion.

First Crusade | the taking of Jerusalem

In 1099 the Christian crusaders were finally at the walls of Jerusalem and were in no mood to take any prisoners .

The crusaders used battering Rams and Siege towers to break through and scale the walls of Jerusalem.

Once inside the walls the crusaders went on a rampage slaughtering everyone in their path, it is described as being a bloodbath with bodies knee deep and blood everywhere.

At the end of the battle over 70,000 Muslims and Jews had been killed and Jerusalem was now officially a Christian city.

Saladin the Great Muslim leader

The first crusade facts:

Learn More about the First Crusades at Wikipedia

The First Crusade: A Brief History with Documents (Bedford Series in History and Culture) 1st Edition Edition

First Crusade Fast Facts

• Five armies that numbered 30,000 troops gathered for the 1st crusade
• Criminals were allowed to join the 1st crusade armies in return for their freedom
• 30,000 Crusader soldiers fought against and defeated 360,000 Muslim soldiers in the 1st crusade
• The Christian army in the 1st crusade was led by Bohemond
• There was a lot of infighting within the Muslim armies ranks during the 1st crusades
• It is believed the holy lance which pierced Jesus body was found in battle during the 1st crusades
• The first crusades original purpose was to reclaim the Holy lands from Muslim Turks
• The first crusade eventually escalated into a Holy war against all Muslims and the Islamic religion
• In 1099 Christian crusaders used battering Rams and siege towers to penetrate the walls of Jerusalem
• In 1099 Christian crusaders recaptured Jerusalem after a bloody battle