1054: 1054 marked the final break between the Churches of East and West.

1071: In 1071 the Turks burst into Asia Minor after the battle of Manzikert where the Byzantines are defeated.


1095: In 1095, during a stay in France, Pope Urban II took note of the exasperation of pilgrims to whom the Turks henceforth barred the road to Jerusalem and responded to the request of Alexis I. Thus, on November 27, 1095, during the Council of Clermont which he had assembled, the pope launched an appeal to the crusade, 4 and preached to rescue the Byzantine emperor and the liberation of the Holy Land in Jerusalem. In exchange for their participation in the crusade, he promised forgiveness of their sins to the knights who would go to help Christians in the East5.

1099: The Crusader army took the road to Jerusalem (January 13, 1099), going up the Orontes valley, without being worried by the Arab emirs of the region. Joining the coast, it seizes Tortose and Maraclée (in). Under pressure from his soldiers, Raymond of Toulouse had to abandon the siege of Arqa, which he intended to make the center of his future possessions. Following the coast to Jaffa, the Crusaders entered Bethlehem on June 6 and laid siege to Jerusalem the next day.

Alexios Komnenos:
Alexius Comnenus, also known as Alexios Komnenos, is perhaps best known for seizing the throne from Nicephorus III and founding the Comnenus dynasty. As emperor, Alexius stabilized the government of the empire. He was also Emperor during the First Crusade.17 juil. 2017

Pope Urban II:
Pope Urban II orders first Crusade. On November 27, 1095, Pope Urban II makes perhaps the most influential speech of the Middle Ages, giving rise to the Crusades by calling all Christians in Europe to war against Muslims in order to reclaim the Holy Land, with a cry of “Deus vult!” or “God wills it!”

Peter the Hermit:
Peter the Hermit was present at the Council of Clermont, according to certain historians and started supporting the First Crusade immediately after. He became the biggest proponent of the Crusade and used his blistering sermons to rouse the public support in for the First Crusade.

Godfrey of Bouillon:
Because he had been the first ruler in Jerusalem, Godfrey of Bouillon was idealized in later accounts. He was depicted as the leader of the crusades, the king of Jerusalem, and the legislator who laid down the assizes of Jerusalem, and he was included among the ideal knights known as the Nine Worthies.

motivation for the First Crusade
While the primary motivation of the First Crusade was religious, there were economic benefits in controlling the holy land. Having a foothold in the East would allow for more trading potential with out the same trade taxing burdens. It opened a new part of the world to the Western Christians. holy relics in the city.

the First Crusade