- Crusade
- A holy war called by the pope, offering spiritual rewards (including remission of sins) to participants.
- Remission of sins
- Forgiveness of sins — Urban II offered crusaders a guarantee of heaven if they died on the crusade. This was extraordinary — no pope had offered this before.
- Seljuk Turks
- A Sunni Muslim Turkish dynasty that had conquered much of the Middle East by the 1070s, defeating Byzantium and seizing Anatolia and parts of the Holy Land.
- Fatimid Caliphate
- A Shia Muslim dynasty based in Egypt, rivals of the Seljuk Turks. They seized Jerusalem from the Turks in 1098 — just before the crusaders arrived.
- Byzantine Empire
- The eastern continuation of the Roman Empire, based in Constantinople. Christian but Orthodox (not Catholic). Their emperor Alexios I Komnenos requested military help from the pope that triggered the crusade.
- Holy Lance
- The relic claimed to be the spear that pierced Christ's side. Its "discovery" at Antioch in 1098 electrified the crusaders and restored morale at a critical point. Its authenticity was disputed even at the time.
- Crusader States
- The four Christian territories established in the Levant after the First Crusade: Kingdom of Jerusalem, Principality of Antioch, County of Edessa, County of Tripoli. They lasted from 1098 to 1291.
- People's Crusade
- The disorganised mass movement of mostly poor pilgrims led by Peter the Hermit (1096). It set out before the main armies, was poorly organised, and was massacred by the Seljuk Turks in Anatolia.
This definitions covers Key Terms within The First Crusade, c.1070-1100 for GCSE History. Revise The First Crusade, c.1070-1100 in Component Group 5 — World Depth Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 9 of 14 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
Practice questions for The First Crusade, c.1070-1100
Describe two features of the People's Crusade (1096).
Describe two features of Pope Urban II's speech at Clermont in November 1095.
Quick recall flashcards
Who were the four main leaders of the First Crusade?
1. Godfrey of Bouillon (Lorraine/Germany) — later became Defender of the Holy Sepulchre. 2. Raymond IV of Toulouse (southern France) — the wealthiest and most prestigious leader. 3. Bohemond of Taranto (Norman from southern Italy) — the best military commander; kept Antioch. 4. Hugh of Vermandois (brother of French king) — provided royal prestige.
What was the People's Crusade (1096) and why did it fail?
Led by Peter the Hermit, the People's Crusade was a disorganised mass of mostly poor pilgrims who set out before the main armies. Lacking military discipline and supplies, they sacked Christian villages in Hungary and the Byzantine Empire. When they crossed into Anatolia in October 1096, the Seljuk Turks ambushed and massacred them near Nicaea. Only a handful survived. It shows that enthusiasm without military organisation is fatal.