Crusades

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Why was the first crusade successful?

Appeal of crusade to common people and military classes

-Pope Urban envisioned knights from France and he understood the aristocratic world very well. Yet the problem of primogeniture meant he had to promise them any land they conquered, appealing especially to the younger sons of noble families. N. Europe was experiencing rising population and food shortages at the time: they needed purpose

-Urban also targeted these men since when a feudal lord took the cross, al of his armed followers had no choice but to go with him

-however, land could not have been the only incentive since the cost to provide the lord's followers with armour, weapons and supplies was several years' income. Family networks of brothers, fathers and sons would ease the cost, such as the Montlhery family (father, son, brother in law, 5 nephews including Baldwin II of Jerusalem)

-also danger to home, lands and family: church would protect a crusader's property but lands were often seized and property/family attacked

-wives were also vulnerable when women were seen as possessions, marriage=property (abduction was not uncommon when a crusader died)

-the journey was also dangerous and arduous, therefore it is probably the remission of sins which appealed to many, as proved by the People's Crusade

Military Victories

NICAEA, May 1097- the capital of the Seljuk ruler Kilij Arslan, it was essential the city was captured to gain access to the main land route through Asia Minor to Syria. Emperor Alexius negotiated a deal with the Turks behind the crusaders' backs and he gained the city (DISUNITY) - also crusaders only allowed in city in small, supervised groups. Alexius distributed plunder to the crusaders to appease them, but many were still unhappy with the lack of military success. They wanted to at least kidnap a rich Turkish prince for money, but Byzantines escorted them to Constantinople. Tancred is asked to take the oath, but he will only comply if he receives a tent full of money.

DORYLAEUM, 30th June 1097- Crusaders split in 2, Bohemund leads a smaller group of a few thousand when they encounter Kilij at the battle of Dorylaeum. Bohemund knows he is outnumbered and sees his chance of martyrdom, but Kilij thinks his army I the only crusading force. Godfrey arrives with reinforcements, as well as Raymond and Hugh. The Crusaders gained experience fighting Turks

ARMENIAN INTERLUDE- Tancred leaves Heraclea towards Cilician gates to reach Anatolian Plateau and gains Tarsus. Baldwin arrives and there is a power struggle- Tancred has been there for 3 days, however Baldwin had a bigger army. Tancred leaves for Adana, whilst 300 Normans want to meet Tancred. Tancred refuses entry - scared of invasion. Normans are massacred, Baldwin lets Turks murder them- DISUNITY. Tancred gains Mamistra when Baldwin arrives hoping to advance to Edessa. Tancred rejects entry and even attacks after what happened at Tarsus. Tancred rejoins crusaders and Baldwin goes to Edessa, opposite direction of Jerusalem (NOT RELIGIOUS)