The First Crusade
The First Crusade: "The Chronicle of Fulcher of Chartres" and Other Source Materials
Edited by Edward Peters
Series: The Middle Ages Series
Copyright Date: 1998
Edition: 2
Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press
Pages: 336
https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt3fhh0t
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The First Crusade
Book Description:

The First Crusade received its name and shape late. To its contemporaries, the event was a journey and the men who took part in it pilgrims. Only later were those participants dubbed Crusaders-"those signed with the Cross." In fact, many developments with regard to the First Crusade, like the bestowing of the cross and the elaboration of Crusaders' privileges, did not occur until the late twelfth century, almost one hundred years after the event itself. In a greatly expanded second edition, Edward Peters brings together the primary texts that document eleventh-century reform ecclesiology, the appearance of new social groups and their attitudes, the institutional and literary evidence dealing with Holy War and pilgrimage, and, most important, the firsthand experiences by men who participated in the events of 1095-1099. Peters supplements his previous work by including a considerable number of texts not available at the time of the original publication. The new material, which constitutes nearly one-third of the book, consists chiefly of materials from non-Christian sources, especially translations of documents written in Hebrew and Arabic. In addition, Peters has extensively revised and expanded the Introduction to address the most important issues of recent scholarship.

eISBN: 978-0-8122-0472-8
Subjects: History
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  1. Front Matter
    Front Matter (pp. i-iv)
  2. Table of Contents
    Table of Contents (pp. v-x)
  3. Preface
    Preface (pp. xi-xii)
    Edward Peters
  4. Abbreviations
    Abbreviations (pp. xiii-xiv)
  5. Introduction
    Introduction (pp. 1-24)

    From the pontificate of Leo IX (1049–1054) through that of Urban II (1088–1099), a series of vigorous and determined popes assumed the direction of the movement for ecclesiastical reform that had spread from small monastic and episcopal centers in Italy, Burgundy, the Rhineland, and Lorraine. The new papal influence in the reform movement contributed to the growth of the recognition of papal authority throughout western Europe and began to redirect reform toward the whole of the universal Church and Latin Christian society.¹ At the heart of the reform movement lay the two principles of the freedom of the...

  6. I. Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont, November 27, 1095
    I. Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont, November 27, 1095 (pp. 25-46)

    The Gesta (Gesta francorum et aliorum Hierosolymytanorum, “The Deeds of the Franks and Other Jerusalemers”) was written by an anonymous crusader who followed Bohemund of Antioch and later continued on to Jerusalem with other crusader contingents when Bohemund remained at Antioch. He was not present at Clermont and must have reconstructed the sermon from the accounts of others that he heard. His work was probably written by 1100–1101, no later than 1103, and it was known in northern France by 1105 at the latest, since it was a major source for a number of other accounts of the First...

  7. II. The Chronicle of Fulcher of Chartres, Book I (1095–1100)
    II. The Chronicle of Fulcher of Chartres, Book I (1095–1100) (pp. 47-101)

    I. It is especially pleasing to the living, and it is even beneficial to the dead, when the deeds of brave men (particularly of those serving as soldiers of God) are either read from writings or soberly recounted from memory among the faithful. For, after hearing of the deeds of faithful predecessors who rejected the beauties and pleasures of the world and clung to God, and in accordance with the precept of the Gospel, left their parents and wives and possessions, however great, to follow Him, those here on earth are inspired to serve Him more eagerly in that same...

  8. III. Peter the Hermit and the “Crusade of the People” (March–October, 1096)
    III. Peter the Hermit and the “Crusade of the People” (March–October, 1096) (pp. 102-151)

    Therefore, while the princes, who felt the need of many expenses and great services from their attendants, made their preparations slowly and carefully; the common people who had little property, but were very numerous, joined a certain Peter the Hermit, and obeyed him as a master while these affairs were going on among us.

    He was, if I am not mistaken, from the city of Amiens, and we have learned that he had lived as a hermit, dressed as a monk, somewhere in Upper Gaul. After he had departed from there—I do not know with what intention—we saw...

  9. IV. The Journey to Constantinople (August, 1096–May, 1097)
    IV. The Journey to Constantinople (August, 1096–May, 1097) (pp. 152-158)

    Soon they departed from their homes in Gaul, and then formed three groups. One party of Franks, namely, Peter, the Hermit, Duke Godfrey, Baldwin, his brother, and Baldwin, Count of the Mount, entered the region of Hungary. These most powerful knights, and many others whom I do not know, went by the way which Charles the Great, wonder-working king of France, long ago had made, even to Constantinople. . . .

    The second party—to wit, Raymond, Count of St. Gilles, and the Bishop of Puy—entered the region of Slavonia. The third division, however, went by the ancient road...

  10. V. The Crusaders at Constantinople (October, 1096–May, 1097)
    V. The Crusaders at Constantinople (October, 1096–May, 1097) (pp. 159-179)

    As we said above, there were among the Latins such men as Bohemund and his fellow counsellors, who, eager to obtain the Roman Empire for themselves, had been looking with avarice upon it for a long time. Seeing an opening for their plans in the expedition which was promoted by Peter, they stirred up this huge movement; and, in order to deceive the more simple, they feigned a crusade against the Turks to regain the Holy Sepulchre and sold all their possessions. Moreover, a certain Hugh, brother of the King of France, who conducted himself with the spirit of a...

  11. VI. The Siege and Capture of Nicaea (May–June, 1097)
    VI. The Siege and Capture of Nicaea (May–June, 1097) (pp. 180-186)

    And thus Duke Godfrey went first to Nicomedia, together with Tancred and all the rest, and they were there for three days. The Duke, indeed, seeing that there was no road open by which he could conduct these hosts to the city of Nicaea, for so great an army could not pass through the road along which the others had passed before, sent ahead three thousand men with axes and swords to cut and clear this road, so that it would lie open even to the city of Nicaea. They cut this road through a very narrow and very great...

  12. VII. The Siege and Capture of Antioch, Kerbogha’s Attack, and the Discovery of the Holy Lance (October, 1097–July, 1098)
    VII. The Siege and Capture of Antioch, Kerbogha’s Attack, and the Discovery of the Holy Lance (October, 1097–July, 1098) (pp. 187-237)

    The chef body of crusaders, composed of Raymond, Count of Saint-Gilles, the most learned Bohemond, Duke Godfrey, and other leaders, entered Armenian land, inflamed and thirsting for Turkish blood. Finally they came to an impregnable castle which thwarted them. There was a native of the area named Simeon, who sought the fort so that he could defend it from falling into Turkish hands. Consequently, they gave him possession, and he dwelled there with his people. Departing this place we arrived at Caesarea of Cappadocia after a pleasant journey. Leaving Cappadocia we came to a most beautiful and rich city which...

  13. VIII. The Siege and Capture of Jerusalem (June–July 1099)
    VIII. The Siege and Capture of Jerusalem (June–July 1099) (pp. 238-282)

    Accordingly, we left the fortified town and came to Tripoli on the sixth day of the week on the thirteenth day of incoming May, and we stayed there for three days. At length, the King of Tripoli made an agreement with the leaders, and he straightway loosed to them more than three hundred pilgrims who had been captured there and gave fifteen thousand besants and fifteen horses of great value; he likewise gave us a great market of horses, asses, and all goods, whence the whole army of Christ was greatly enriched. But he made an agreement with them that...

  14. IX. Letters of the Crusaders
    IX. Letters of the Crusaders (pp. 283-297)

    The Patriarch of Jerusalem and the bishops, Greek as well as Latin, and the whole army of God and the Church to the Church of the West; fellowship in celestial Jerusalem, and a portion of the reward of their labor.

    Since we are not unaware that you delight in the increase of the Church, and we believe that you are concerned to hear matters adverse as well as prosperous, we hereby notify you of the success of our undertaking. Therefore, be it known to your delight that God has triumphed in forty important cities and in two hundred fortresses of...

  15. X. Three Problematic Texts
    X. Three Problematic Texts (pp. 298-308)

    Sergius, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to all catholic kings, archbishops, bishops, abbots, priests, deacons, subdeacons, and all other members of the clergy, dukes, marquises, counts, and greater and lesser persons having perpetual hope in almighty God, dearest greeting and apostolic blessing.

    Since we, my sons, recognize that we have been redeemed by the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, all the more we ought to bless and praise him and with constant and great humility offer him pleasing gifts. For God, dearest sons, humbly bore many thmgs on our behalf so that he might free us...

  16. Bibliographical Essay
    Bibliographical Essay (pp. 309-317)

    The historiography of the First Crusade began with the accounts written and rewritten during and shortly after the crusade itself, and it continued as a component of the works of later historians of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem between the twelfth and seventeenth centuries, especially that of William of Tyre.¹ The crusade also inspired a long line of literary works in both Latin and the vernacular languages of Europe, and it included Latin hymns as well as vernacular lyrics and epic poetic accounts beginning with the Chanson d’Antioche in the twelfth century and the additions to it made later. During...

  17. Back Matter
    Back Matter (pp. 318-318)
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