The Prince’s Crusade and Byzantium

The Prince’s Crusade and Byzantium

HIST 30049/20/13

The People’s Crusade and Kilij Arslan

• Kilij Arslan: Seljuq Sultan of Rum• Aug. 6, 1096: Crusaders cross Bosporus• Crusader divisions: Germans and Italians vs. French• Nicaea• Sept. 29 – Oct. 6, 1096: Germans and Italians defeated by Kilij Arslan• Conversion or death• Oct. 21: French ambushed• Peter the Hermit was in Constantinople

The Prince’s Crusade

Meet the “Princes”

• Hugh of Vermandois (1057-1101)– Younger brother of Philip I, King of France– Count of Vermandois– Philip had been

excommunicated– Hugh sent as the king’s

representative

Meet the “Princes”

• Godfrey of Bouillon (ca. 1060-1100)

– Duke of Lower Lorraine– A second son with titles of his own– Baldwin of Boulogne (brother)– Sold off properties, settled disputes to disadvantage to finance crusade– Held on to most important lands and titles

Meet the “Princes”

• Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse (c. 1041-1105)– Count of Toulouse, Duke of Narbonne, Margrave of Provence, and Count of Saint-Gilles– First to join the crusade– Oldest and richest of the leadersof the First Crusade– Most outwardly religious and Urban II’s choice for unofficial commander

Meet the “Princes”

• Bohemond I of Taranto (c. 1058-1111)– Son of Robert Guiscard– Led troops in Norman-Byzantine Wars against Alexius I – Urban II had arbitrated succession dispute in Bohemond’s favor after Guiscard’s death

Meet the “Princes”

• Duke Robert of Normandy (ca. 1054-1134)– Eldest son of William the Conqueror– So poor he had to mortgage his titles to go on

crusade• Robert II, Count of Flanders (ca. 1065-1111)– Family had fought for Alexius I

• Stephen II, Count of Blois (ca. 1045-1102)– Most famous for leaving crusade early

Adhemar of Le Puy (d. Aug. 1, 1098)

• Bishop of Puy-en-Velay from at least 1087.• Most likely discussed the crusade with Urban II before Clermont• Papal legate and spiritual leader of the First Crusade• Affiliated with Raymond IV

Princes and Alexius I

• Reading Anna Comena’s Alexiad and The Deeds of the Franks…

The Princes and Alexius I

• Nov. 1096-April 1097 Prince’s gather in Constantinople

• Oath of loyalty in exchange for passage across the Bosphorus

• Would you trust Bohemond?• Crusaders would return Byzantine territory…• Request for Byzantine military support

Siege of Nicaea

• May 14 to June 19, 1097• Kilij Arslan fighting Danishmends• May 20-21 – Crusaders defeat Kilij Arslan• June 17 – Byzantine forces arrive• Negotiate surrender• June 19 – Byzantine flag flying over Nicaea

Baldwin and the County of Edessa

• Sent to seek aid from Armenian Christians• Caught up in local politics• Toros, Prince of Edessa• Adoption and assassination• Foundation of first crusader state