Key Terms
- Crusade: Holy war called by the pope with offer of remission of sins
- Remission of sins: Forgiveness, Urban II's powerful incentive
- Seljuk Turks: Sunni Muslim dynasty, defeated Byzantium at Manzikert 1071
- Fatimids: Shia Muslim Egyptians, rivals of the Seljuks, took Jerusalem 1098
- People's Crusade: Peter the Hermit's disorganised mass (1096), destroyed
- Holy Lance: Relic "found" at Antioch 1098; lifted crusader morale
- Crusader States: Four Christian territories established 1098 to 1109
Key Dates
- 1071: Battle of Manzikert, Seljuks defeat Byzantium
- Nov 1095: Urban II's speech at Clermont
- 1096: People's Crusade destroyed; main armies set out
- June 1097: Nicaea falls; July: Battle of Dorylaeum
- Oct 1097 to Jun 1098: Siege of Antioch
- 15 July 1099: Jerusalem captured
Key People
- Pope Urban II: Launched crusade at Clermont 1095; died July 1099
- Alexios I Komnenos: Byzantine emperor who requested help
- Peter the Hermit: Led People's Crusade, a disaster
- Godfrey of Bouillon: First ruler of Jerusalem, "Defender of the Holy Sepulchre"
- Bohemond of Taranto: Experienced commander; kept Antioch
- Raymond of Toulouse: Wealthy crusader leader; led the southern French
- Kilij Arslan: Seljuk sultan defeated at Dorylaeum
- Kerbogha: Besieged crusaders in Antioch; defeated June 1098
Must-Know Facts
- Crusaders massacred Jerusalem's Muslim and Jewish inhabitants after taking the city on 15 July 1099
- Muslim disunity (Seljuks vs Fatimids) was a very important reason for success
- The Holy Lance's "discovery" at Antioch lifted morale before the battle against Kerbogha
- Four Crusader States were established: Edessa, Antioch, Tripoli, Jerusalem
- Tens of thousands set out; only a fraction reached Jerusalem
- MUDRL: Muslim disunity, Urban's incentive, Discipline, Religious motivation, Luck
Common Mistakes
- Ignoring Muslim disunity: This is one of the most important reasons for crusader success. Explain that the Seljuk Turks and Fatimid Egyptians were rivals who did not coordinate, so the crusaders faced separate opposition at each siege.
- Listing causes without explaining the links: Don't just state "religious motivation helped." Explain HOW: "Crusaders endured starvation at Antioch because many believed dying on crusade brought salvation, so Urban II's offer of remission of sins gave them great endurance."
- Omitting specific named leaders and battles: Use Godfrey of Bouillon, Bohemond, Raymond of Toulouse, Kilij Arslan, and Kerbogha by name, and cite specific battles (Dorylaeum, July 1097; Antioch, October 1097 to June 1098) with dates.
- Writing only one side in essay questions: "How far did Muslim disunity cause success?" requires argument AND counter-argument. Counter-argue that crusader military skill and religious motivation were also essential, then reach a supported judgement.