The First Crusade

Pope Urban II Speech

Nov 27, 1095

Pope Urban gave his speech at the Council of Clermont. He called on all Christians in Europe to unite, fight, and recapture the Holy Land of Jerusalem from Muslim control.

The siege of Nicacea

1096

In the June of 1097, the crusaders captured the Turkish run city of Nicaea. They then won against a huge army of Seljuk Turks. From this victory, the crusaders then marched on to Antioch

The siege of Antioch

1098

. A six-month battle began. Finally, on June third 1098 a Turkish traitor was persuaded to open the Antioch’s Bridge Gate. The knights flooded into the city killing thousands of enemy soldiers and citizens. The city of Antioch was surrendered to the Europeans

Egyptian army

1099

However, the first crusade did not end there. Only a few weeks after the Christians aim was met an Egyptian army marched into the Holy City to try to challenge the Christians to claim the Holy Land back. The Egyptians were outnumbered. This ended the Muslims trying to reclaim Jerusalem for the moment.

The capturing of the Holy Land

Jul 15, 1099

On June 1099, the army reached the Holy City. They found it was very protected so they began building three siege towers. Once the towers were built, they began fighting through the walls of Jerusalem. On July fourteen, the Gate of Saint Stephen was opened as the defence was penetrated. The army poured in. Tens of thousands of Muslims were killed. The Christians regained the holy city as they outnumbered the Muslims and had good tactics