The First Crusade

The First Crusade is Launched

Nov 27, 1095

Roman Catholics set out with the primary goal of defending the Byzantine Empire at Constantinople. An additional goal of regaining the Holy Land of Jerusalem soon became the main focus.

The First Crusade

Period: Nov 27, 1095 to Dec 31, 1099

Arivement at Constantinople

Nov 1, 1096

The Four Main Crusader Armies took different paths to Constantinople and gathered outside its city walls between November 1096 and April 1097.

Siege Of Nicaea

May 16, 1097

A city formerly under Byzantine rule, but had become the capital of the Seljuq's.Crusaders turned their swords there after defeating them in Constantinople.

Battle of Dorylaeum

Jul 1, 1097

Two groups, the Normans and the French marched separately to Dorylaeum, and the Normans were ahead of the French. The Normans were attacked by the Turks but were quickly repeled by the fast arriving French.

Siege of Antioch

Oct 20, 1097

A siege on the city of Antioch that lasted close to 8 months. The crusaders did not have enough troops to fully surround it, and as a result it was able to stay partially supplied.Crusaders bribed an Armenian guard named Firuz to surrender his tower, and in June the crusaders entered the city and killed most of the inhabitants.

Siege of Jerusalem

Jun 13, 1099

Crusaders arrived in the Holy land deprived of food and water, but still managed to scale the north wall, a massacre soon followed.