The People's CrusadeThe People's Crusade took place in 1096.This was not the ideal Crusade group this was mainly exited people going ahead before the proper Crusade men. It involved ordinary women and children, a few thousand peasants and only some knights. The leader of this unspecified group was a monk named Peter the Hermit. It was a bad idea for this group to try to travel the long distance as they were very poorly trained (some hardly trained at all) had little good weoponry, and had no idea what they were putting themselves up against. Fighting in itself was not there only worries. Soon they became short on food aswell as being exausted and impatient. Their horrible time was still not over, it was just about to get worse. When they arrived in the Holy Land they were treated horribly and were slaughtered by the Muslim Turks. The Christians were terribly embarassed. It was a very easy, quick victory for the Muslims. |
The First CrusadeThe first Crusade took place in 1097. This was the Christians first real attempt to defeat the Muslim Turks and to rule the Holy Land. Robert of Normandy was the leader of this first expedition. He was the son of William the Conqueror who was a fierce fighter and wanted to rule a lot of land. This Crusade was mainly caried out by French Knights who had been well-trained, were well-armed and had a thirst for blood. They had to travell 1,500 miles until they came to the Holy Land. They arrived exausted, hungry, thirsty, ill although some had died from sicknesses and diseases, not just from fighting. Battles took place and were won like at Nicaea, Antioch. After the Journey and fighting they finally captured Jerusalem. This was in July, 1099. This was a victory for Christians. They ruled Jerusalem for over 80 years. Fighting monks and Knights protected the Holy Land and the Christians. |