The First Crusade

What happened

In 1095 Pope Urban II called on the knights of Europe to march east and recover Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule. After a long and brutal campaign, the crusaders captured Jerusalem on 15 July 1099, massacring many of its inhabitants, and founded a set of Crusader states.

Why it matters

The First Crusade began nearly two centuries of holy war between western Christendom and the Islamic world, deepening the split with Byzantium and reshaping trade, warfare, and religious life.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. First Crusade · Reputable source