Chapter XIV: The First Crusade

The Institution of Chivalry--Affairs in the Holy
Land--Pilgrimages--Persecution of Christians--Peter the
Hermit--Crusade Decided on--Progress of Peter's Mission--The
Council of Clermont--Attitude of Pope Urban--The Truce of
God--Expedition of Walter the Penniless--Excesses of the
Crusaders--Defeat of the Christians by the Turks--Conduct
of the Emperor Alexius--Disaster in Hungary--Geoffrey de
Bouillon--March of his Army--Robert of Normandy and his
Troops--Imprisonment of Hugh of Vermandois--Arrival of Godfrey
before Constantinople--The Byzantine Court--The Church of Santa
Sophia--Scenes of Magnificence--Reception of Godfrey by the
Emperor--Tancred's Army leaves Italy--Bohemond's Submission--Count
Raymond at Constantinople--Arrival of Robert of Normandy--Siege
of Nicæa--Treachery of the Emperor--Severe Struggle with the
Turks--Bravery of Robert--Flight of the Turks--Crusaders'
Sufferings on their March--Siege and fall of Antioch--Defeat
of the Persians--Pestilence at Antioch--Arrival of the
Crusaders before Jerusalem--Fall of the City--Vengeance of the
Crusaders--Godfrey elected King of Jerusalem--Hospitallers and
Templars--Close of the First Crusade 132