First Crusades

  • May 15, 1071

    Byzantine Army

    Byzantine army is destroyed by Turks
  • May 15, 1071

    Mercenary Seljuk Turks

    Mercenary Seljuk Turks conquer Syria and Palestine
    The City of Jerusalem is taken from the more civilized Saracen caliphs
  • May 15, 1085

    Christian Pilgrims

    3000 Christian Pilgrims were massacred in Jerusalem and the Christian churches were destroyed or used as stables
  • May 15, 1095

    Emperor Alexius I

    Emperor Alexius I sent an embassy to Pope Urban II regarding the atrocities in Jerusalem and the growing threat of the Turks to Constantinople and the whole of Europe
  • May 15, 1095

    Pope Urban II

    Pope Urban II called a great council of the Church at Placentia, in Italy, to consider the appeal - decisions were deferred until later in the year 1095
  • May 15, 1095

    Peter the Hermit

    Spring 1096 Peter the Hermit took up the cry "God wills it!" and ordinary people join in the 'People's Crusade' - most were unarmed
  • Nov 27, 1095

    Pope Urban II

    Pope Urban II called a great council of clergy and nobles to meet at Clermont in France called the Council of Clermont. He called for a crusade against the Infidels
  • May 15, 1096

    Constantinople

    Summer 1096 Armed forces gathered at Constantinople to embark on the First Crusade
  • Aug 15, 1096

    Emperor Alexius I

    Emperor Alexius I shipped the Peoples Crusade over the Bosporus
  • Oct 15, 1096

    Anatolia May

    The Peoples Crusade were annihilated by the Turks in Anatolia May
  • May 15, 1097

    Siege of Nicaea

    Siege of Nicaea July 1097 Battle of Dorylaeum Oct 1097
  • Jun 1, 1098

    Stephen of Blois

    Stephen of Blois and numerous French crusaders flee the siege of Antioch with news of the arrival of Emir Kerboga of Mosul
  • Jun 3, 1098

    Bohemond I

    Bohemond I, elder son of Robert Guiscard, led the capture of Antioch
  • Jun 15, 1098

    Siege of Antioch

    The Siege of Antioch 1098