May – The People's Crusade, under Peter the Hermit, arrives at
Sopron. King
Coloman (the Learned) gives them permission to pass through
Hungary, and to use the markets. Peter and his followers (some 20,000 men and women) travel from
Budapest southwards supported by knights, while lumbering wagons carry stores and a chest of money that he has collected for the journey.
May – The
Rhineland massacres: Members of the People's Crusade led by Count
Emicho destroy most of the Jewish communities along the
Rhine in a series of large
pogroms in
France and Germany. Thousands of Jews are massacred, driven to suicide, or forced to convert to
Christianity. Estimates of the number of Jewish men, women and children murdered are 2,000 to 12,000.[2]
May 8 – French members of the People's Crusade led by
Walter Sans Avoir enter Hungary, without incident they arrive at
Semlin, and cross the
Sava into Byzantine territory at
Belgrade. Meanwhile, Walter demands food but he is refused entry, and the crusaders are forced to pillage the countryside. Eventually Walter is allowed to carry on to
Niš, where he is provided with food.[3]
May 18–
26 – The
Worms massacre: Members of the People's Crusade under Emicho besiege
Worms in the
Rhineland before killing at least 800 Jews, despite the intervention of Bishop
Adalbert II. He tries to hide some of them in the bishop's palace, others chose to remain outside its walls. One of the victims is
Minna of Worms, an influential Jew among the Christian nobility.[4]
May 27 – Members of the People's Crusade under Emicho massacre at least 1,000 Jews in
Mainz. Archbishop
Ruthard tries to hide some of them in the cellars of
Mainz Cathedral but the crusaders learn of this – and murder most of the Jews. Men, women, and children of all ages are slaughtered indiscriminately.
May 30 – Members of the People's Crusade led by the priest Folkmar from
Saxony persecute Jews in
Prague, despite the opposition of the local Catholic hierarchy. Local citizens try to hide them in their own houses. Later the Jews manage to escape to safety in neighboring villages, but are slaughtered by the hundreds.
June – Members of the People's Crusade under Emicho set out up the
Main towards Hungary. Some followers break off from Emicho's army at Mainz and travel to
Metz – where many Jews are persecuted and murdered. They proceed down the Rhine, massacring the Jews at
Neuss,
Wevelinghofen, and
Xanten.[5]
June – The People's Crusade under Emicho are refused entry to Hungary on orders of Coloman, who sends troops to defend the bridge at
Wieselburg. Emicho decides to build an alternative bridge and crosses the
Danube. He besieges the fortress of Wieselburg, but is defeated and routed by the Hungarian army.[6]
June –
Siege of Semlin: The People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit arrives at Semlin. Hearing rumors of an attack from the Hungarian count Guz of Semlin on the rearguard, Geoffrey Burel assaults the castle, captures it by surprise, and defeats the Hungarian army. He plunders its supplies, herds and horses.
June 26 – The People's Crusade (some 30,000 men) led by Peter the Hermit crosses the Sava (stealing boats from the local fishermen) but are attacked by
Pechenegs and Hungarian forces. The citizens of Belgrade flee and the crusaders pillage and burn the city. Peter travels for seven days, and arrives at
Niš.[7]
July – The People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit is defeated by the Byzantine army (mostly Hungarian and Bulgar mercenaries) in battle near Niš. The crusader supply train of some 2,000 wagons and Peter's treasury chest is captured by the Byzantines. About a quarter of the People's Crusade is lost.
July 12 – The People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit reaches
Sofia, where they meet envoys from
Constantinople with orders to keep them supplied along the road. At
Philippopolis the Greeks are so deeply moved by the suffering of Peter and his followers that the locals give them money, food and horses.[8]
August 1 – The
People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit arrives at
Constantinople. He is received by Emperor
Alexios I (Komnenos), who gives him financial support. The crusaders commit endless thefts in the suburbs. Peter combines his forces with Walter Sans Avoir and camps outside Constantinople.
August 2–
6 – The People's Crusade reorganize their forces and gather supplies. Alexios I advises Peter the Hermit to wait for reinforcements but he ignores the advice. The People's army (some 30,000 men) is transported across the
Bosporus – by the Byzantine fleet to
Civetot (modern
Turkey).
August –
Hugh (the Great), count of
Vermandois (a brother of King
Philip I), departs to join the First Crusade. He travels with a
small army via the
Alps to
Rome. While sailing the
Adriatic Sea from
Bari to
Dyrrachium his fleet is reduced by shipwreck. Hugh's own ship is stranded on the shore near
Epirus.
August –
Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of
Lower Lorraine, accompanied by his younger brother
Baldwin, sets off to join the First Crusade (called by Pope
Urban II) at the head of an army of some 40,000 men. He pledges his
allegiance to Emperor
Henry IV who issues an order not to harm Jewish communities.
September – French forces (7,000 infantry and 300 knights) led by
Geoffrey Burel raid around
Nicaea (the capital of the Rum
Seljuk Turks), plundering livestock and villages in the suburbs. They commit atrocities against local Christian peasants. Children are tortured and dismembered by the crusaders.[9]
September – German forces (5,000 infantry and 200 knights) led by Rainald of Breis raid the region of Nicaea. They advance eastward and assault the Seljuk garrison in the castle of
Xerigordos. They manage to capture; and, find it well stocked with provisions. The Greek Christians inside are spared.
September 29 –
Siege of Xerigordos: Sultan
Kilij Arslan I sends a Seljuk expeditionary force to assault and recapture the castle of Xerigordos. They cut off the water supply, and Rainald of Breis is forced to surrender. Many of the crusaders are killed but others convert to
Islam and become slaves.
October –
Robert II (Curthose), duke of
Normandy (a brother of King
William II), sets off to join the First Crusade. He assembles his army at
Pontarlier – and travels through
Italy to Rome. To raise money for the Crusade Robert
mortgages the Norman duchy to William, for the sum of 10,000 pennies.
October –
Raymond IV (Saint-Gilles), count of
Toulouse, sets off to join the First Crusade. He travels with his army, accompanied by his wife
Elvira and Bishop
Adhemar of Le Puy, via
Provence through the
Balkan route (along the coast of
Croatia). He arrives at Dyrrachium to march to
Thessaloniki.
October –
Bohemond I, Italo-Norman prince of
Taranto (the son of Duke
Robert Guiscard), departs to join the First Crusade. He crosses the Adriatic Sea from
Brindisi with his army (some 4,000 men), and arrives in
Vorë. While traveling, Bohemond gives strict orders not to plunder Byzantine villages.
October 21 –
Battle of Civetot: The Seljuk Turks led by Kilij Arslan I defeat the People's army (20,000 men) near Nicaea. The crusaders are slaughtered, and the camp at Civetot is captured. Only children are spared and sent into slavery. Around 3,000 manage to escape back to Constantinople.[10]
December – The last of the four planned Crusader armies arrives at Constantinople, bringing the total numbers to 60,000 infantry and knights. Curiously there isn't a single king among the Crusaders' leaders. At this time Philip I, William II, and Henry IV are all under
excommunication by Urban II.
December 25 – Godfrey of Bouillon is appointed the primary leader of the First Crusade, making it a largely French war in practice and causing the inhabitants of the
Holy Land to refer to Europeans generally as "Franks". Godfrey and the other leaders agree to take an oath of loyalty to Alexios I.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 101.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Gerd Mentgen. Crusades in Antisemitism: A Historical Encyclopedia of Prejudice and Persecution (Vol 1), ed. Richard S. Levy, pp. 151–53.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 102.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Chazan, R. (1996). European Jwery and the First Crusade, p. 122. University of California Press.
ISBN978-0-520-20506-2.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 115.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, pp. 116–117.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 104.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 105.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, pp. 107–108.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 109.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
May – The People's Crusade, under Peter the Hermit, arrives at
Sopron. King
Coloman (the Learned) gives them permission to pass through
Hungary, and to use the markets. Peter and his followers (some 20,000 men and women) travel from
Budapest southwards supported by knights, while lumbering wagons carry stores and a chest of money that he has collected for the journey.
May – The
Rhineland massacres: Members of the People's Crusade led by Count
Emicho destroy most of the Jewish communities along the
Rhine in a series of large
pogroms in
France and Germany. Thousands of Jews are massacred, driven to suicide, or forced to convert to
Christianity. Estimates of the number of Jewish men, women and children murdered are 2,000 to 12,000.[2]
May 8 – French members of the People's Crusade led by
Walter Sans Avoir enter Hungary, without incident they arrive at
Semlin, and cross the
Sava into Byzantine territory at
Belgrade. Meanwhile, Walter demands food but he is refused entry, and the crusaders are forced to pillage the countryside. Eventually Walter is allowed to carry on to
Niš, where he is provided with food.[3]
May 18–
26 – The
Worms massacre: Members of the People's Crusade under Emicho besiege
Worms in the
Rhineland before killing at least 800 Jews, despite the intervention of Bishop
Adalbert II. He tries to hide some of them in the bishop's palace, others chose to remain outside its walls. One of the victims is
Minna of Worms, an influential Jew among the Christian nobility.[4]
May 27 – Members of the People's Crusade under Emicho massacre at least 1,000 Jews in
Mainz. Archbishop
Ruthard tries to hide some of them in the cellars of
Mainz Cathedral but the crusaders learn of this – and murder most of the Jews. Men, women, and children of all ages are slaughtered indiscriminately.
May 30 – Members of the People's Crusade led by the priest Folkmar from
Saxony persecute Jews in
Prague, despite the opposition of the local Catholic hierarchy. Local citizens try to hide them in their own houses. Later the Jews manage to escape to safety in neighboring villages, but are slaughtered by the hundreds.
June – Members of the People's Crusade under Emicho set out up the
Main towards Hungary. Some followers break off from Emicho's army at Mainz and travel to
Metz – where many Jews are persecuted and murdered. They proceed down the Rhine, massacring the Jews at
Neuss,
Wevelinghofen, and
Xanten.[5]
June – The People's Crusade under Emicho are refused entry to Hungary on orders of Coloman, who sends troops to defend the bridge at
Wieselburg. Emicho decides to build an alternative bridge and crosses the
Danube. He besieges the fortress of Wieselburg, but is defeated and routed by the Hungarian army.[6]
June –
Siege of Semlin: The People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit arrives at Semlin. Hearing rumors of an attack from the Hungarian count Guz of Semlin on the rearguard, Geoffrey Burel assaults the castle, captures it by surprise, and defeats the Hungarian army. He plunders its supplies, herds and horses.
June 26 – The People's Crusade (some 30,000 men) led by Peter the Hermit crosses the Sava (stealing boats from the local fishermen) but are attacked by
Pechenegs and Hungarian forces. The citizens of Belgrade flee and the crusaders pillage and burn the city. Peter travels for seven days, and arrives at
Niš.[7]
July – The People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit is defeated by the Byzantine army (mostly Hungarian and Bulgar mercenaries) in battle near Niš. The crusader supply train of some 2,000 wagons and Peter's treasury chest is captured by the Byzantines. About a quarter of the People's Crusade is lost.
July 12 – The People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit reaches
Sofia, where they meet envoys from
Constantinople with orders to keep them supplied along the road. At
Philippopolis the Greeks are so deeply moved by the suffering of Peter and his followers that the locals give them money, food and horses.[8]
August 1 – The
People's Crusade led by Peter the Hermit arrives at
Constantinople. He is received by Emperor
Alexios I (Komnenos), who gives him financial support. The crusaders commit endless thefts in the suburbs. Peter combines his forces with Walter Sans Avoir and camps outside Constantinople.
August 2–
6 – The People's Crusade reorganize their forces and gather supplies. Alexios I advises Peter the Hermit to wait for reinforcements but he ignores the advice. The People's army (some 30,000 men) is transported across the
Bosporus – by the Byzantine fleet to
Civetot (modern
Turkey).
August –
Hugh (the Great), count of
Vermandois (a brother of King
Philip I), departs to join the First Crusade. He travels with a
small army via the
Alps to
Rome. While sailing the
Adriatic Sea from
Bari to
Dyrrachium his fleet is reduced by shipwreck. Hugh's own ship is stranded on the shore near
Epirus.
August –
Godfrey of Bouillon, duke of
Lower Lorraine, accompanied by his younger brother
Baldwin, sets off to join the First Crusade (called by Pope
Urban II) at the head of an army of some 40,000 men. He pledges his
allegiance to Emperor
Henry IV who issues an order not to harm Jewish communities.
September – French forces (7,000 infantry and 300 knights) led by
Geoffrey Burel raid around
Nicaea (the capital of the Rum
Seljuk Turks), plundering livestock and villages in the suburbs. They commit atrocities against local Christian peasants. Children are tortured and dismembered by the crusaders.[9]
September – German forces (5,000 infantry and 200 knights) led by Rainald of Breis raid the region of Nicaea. They advance eastward and assault the Seljuk garrison in the castle of
Xerigordos. They manage to capture; and, find it well stocked with provisions. The Greek Christians inside are spared.
September 29 –
Siege of Xerigordos: Sultan
Kilij Arslan I sends a Seljuk expeditionary force to assault and recapture the castle of Xerigordos. They cut off the water supply, and Rainald of Breis is forced to surrender. Many of the crusaders are killed but others convert to
Islam and become slaves.
October –
Robert II (Curthose), duke of
Normandy (a brother of King
William II), sets off to join the First Crusade. He assembles his army at
Pontarlier – and travels through
Italy to Rome. To raise money for the Crusade Robert
mortgages the Norman duchy to William, for the sum of 10,000 pennies.
October –
Raymond IV (Saint-Gilles), count of
Toulouse, sets off to join the First Crusade. He travels with his army, accompanied by his wife
Elvira and Bishop
Adhemar of Le Puy, via
Provence through the
Balkan route (along the coast of
Croatia). He arrives at Dyrrachium to march to
Thessaloniki.
October –
Bohemond I, Italo-Norman prince of
Taranto (the son of Duke
Robert Guiscard), departs to join the First Crusade. He crosses the Adriatic Sea from
Brindisi with his army (some 4,000 men), and arrives in
Vorë. While traveling, Bohemond gives strict orders not to plunder Byzantine villages.
October 21 –
Battle of Civetot: The Seljuk Turks led by Kilij Arslan I defeat the People's army (20,000 men) near Nicaea. The crusaders are slaughtered, and the camp at Civetot is captured. Only children are spared and sent into slavery. Around 3,000 manage to escape back to Constantinople.[10]
December – The last of the four planned Crusader armies arrives at Constantinople, bringing the total numbers to 60,000 infantry and knights. Curiously there isn't a single king among the Crusaders' leaders. At this time Philip I, William II, and Henry IV are all under
excommunication by Urban II.
December 25 – Godfrey of Bouillon is appointed the primary leader of the First Crusade, making it a largely French war in practice and causing the inhabitants of the
Holy Land to refer to Europeans generally as "Franks". Godfrey and the other leaders agree to take an oath of loyalty to Alexios I.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 101.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Gerd Mentgen. Crusades in Antisemitism: A Historical Encyclopedia of Prejudice and Persecution (Vol 1), ed. Richard S. Levy, pp. 151–53.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 102.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Chazan, R. (1996). European Jwery and the First Crusade, p. 122. University of California Press.
ISBN978-0-520-20506-2.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 115.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, pp. 116–117.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 104.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 105.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, pp. 107–108.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.
^Steven Runciman (1951). A History of the Crusades. Volume I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, p. 109.
ISBN978-0-141-98550-3.