Prior to the Christian siege of Jerusalem of 1099, Pope Urban II gave a speech while on a visit to France.
Feeling a threat from the Muslim world, The Pope commanded the Christian Knights to liberate Jerusalem. Pope Urban II was able to convince some Christians who were fighting each other at the time, to join together in order to fight the disbelievers. Though one should note that not all Christians were united for the first Crusade.
Pope Urban II said that it was the right of the Christians to remove the disbelievers from Jerusalem in the act of a "holy war". The justification of the holy war was in part due to the 5th century Christian thoughts of Just war in which Christians are allowed to fight defensive wars, or wars to restore Christian rights.
In October of 1097 the Crusaders arrived at Antoich(modern day Turkey) for what would later be known as the Siege of Antoich. During the siege an event known as the Barefoot procession occurred. In an incredible fashion the Christians decided to fast/pray in preparation for the battle. Keep in mind that the Christians had already marched for almost 2 years along with a poor diet.
Faced with a seemingly impossible task, their spirits were raised when a priest by the name of Peter Desiderius claimed to have a divine vision in which the ghost of Adhemar instructed them to fast for three days and then march in a barefoot procession around the city walls, after which the city would fall in nine days, following the Biblical example of Joshua at the Battle of Jericho. Although they were already starving, they fasted, and on July 8 they made the procession, with the clergy blowing trumpets and singing psalms, being mocked by the defenders of Jerusalem all the while. The procession stopped on the Mount of Olives and sermons were delivered by Peter the Hermit, Arnulf of Chocques, and Raymond of Aguilers.
About 9 months into the siege of Antoich, a Muslim traitor suspended a rope ladder for the Crusaders which allowed them into the city. It was said this Muslim traitor changed history forever.
In the summer of 1099, the siege of Jerusalem would start. After about a month the crusaders took Jerusalem. Christian accounts from the time suggest that a massacre occurred during this time. Although historical accounts do disagree, one Christian chronicle claims 10,000 Muslims dead while a Muslim chronicle claims 3000 dead. Jews and Muslims fought side by side during the siege as well. During the siege it was said( Christian sources) that Crusaders cannibalized their enemies, including children. In any event after the battle the Christians would go on to pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. During the Christian rule of Jerusalem there were cases of Muslim natives and Christian settlers getting along well, although it is debated that this feeling was not widespread.
About 100 years later Saladin would retake Jerusalem from Crusaders. Saladin was one of the greatest figures to come out of the Middle East. Richard the Lionheart and Saladin held great respect toward each other. Saladins victory was followed by 7 centuries of Muslim rule of Jerusalem.
Anyone with additional info on Pope Urban II, Saladin or the crusades is welcome
****Faced with a seemingly impossible task, their spirits were raised when a priest by the name of Peter Desiderius claimed to have a divine vision in which the ghost of Adhemar instructed them to fast for three days and then march in a barefoot procession around the city walls, after which the city would fall in nine days, following the Biblical example of Joshua at the Battle of Jericho. Although they were already starving, they fasted, and on July 8 they made the procession, with the clergy blowing trumpets and singing psalms, being mocked by the defenders of Jerusalem all the while. The procession stopped on the Mount of Olives and sermons were delivered by Peter the Hermit, Arnulf of Chocques, and Raymond of Aguilers.
****It should be noted the Barefoot procession occurred during the Siege of Jerusalem(1099), not the Siege of Antoich.
