Post-classical history

GLOSSARY

Abbasids

‘Dynasty’ at the head of Sunni Islam; centred on Baghdad

Atabeg

Military and governmental office of general

Basilica

Early form of church

Byzantium

Continuator of the eastern Roman Empire

Emir

Semi-independent Muslim ruler

Fatimids

‘Dynasty’ at the head of Shi’a Islam; centred on Cairo

Fideles beati petri

The faithful/vassals of St Peter; supporters of Popes Gregory VII and Urban II

Franks

Generic term for the First Crusaders

Holy Lance

The spear that pierced the side of Christ while on the cross

Indulgence

Remission of sin in return for participation in the First Crusade

Jihad

Islamic ideal of Holy War

Latins

Generic term for western European Christians

Relic

Physical remnant from the life of a revered Christian

Seljuqs

Turcoman tribesmen who seized control of much of the Near East in the second half of the eleventh century

CHRONOLOGY

1095

1–7 March

Council of Piacenza

July–November

Pope Urban II tours France

18–28 November

Council of Clermont

27 November

Pope Urban proclaims the First Crusade

December–September 1096

Urban carries out an extensive preaching tour across France to publicise the First Crusade

December

Peter the Hermit starts preaching the crusade

1096

March

First contingents of the People’s Crusade set out

May–June

Jewish pogroms in the Rhineland

1 August

Peter the Hermit reaches Constantinople

c. 7 August

People’s Crusade crosses over to Asia Minor

August–December 

Main armies of the crusade set out for the East

21 October

Annihilation of the People’s Crusade at Civetos

November–May 1097

Main armies reach Constantinople

1097

February

Godfrey of Bouillon crosses the Bosphorus

May–June

Siege of Nicaea

16 May

First battle against Kilij Arslan

19 June

Surrender of Nicaea

1 July

Battle of Dorylaeum

July–September

Crossing of Asia Minor

September–October

Tancred and Baldwin of Boulogne in Cilicia

c. 10 October

Main army reaches Marash

20 October

Siege of Antioch begins

17 November

Genoese ships arrive at St Simeon

31 December

Foraging Battle against Duqaq of Damascus

1098

January

Attempted flight of Peter the Hermit Departure of Taticius

9 February

Battle against Ridwan of Aleppo

February

Fatimid embassy arrives in the crusader camp

4 March

English fleet arrives at St Simeon

10–14 March

Construction of La Mahomerie

2 June

Stephen of Blois leaves Antioch

3 June

Betrayal and sack of Antioch

4–5 June

Kerbogha’s army arrives at Antioch Second siege of Antioch begins

14 June

Discovery of the Holy Lance

25 June

Peter the Hermit leads an embassy to Kerbogha

28 June

Great Battle of Antioch

1 August

Death of Adhémar of Le Puy

September

Capture of Albara

November–December

Siege of Marrat an-Numan

1099

c. 4 January

Council at Rugia

13 January

Raymond of Toulouse sets out from Marrat

February–May

Siege of Arqa

April

Peter Bartholomew undergoes ordeal by fire

16 May

Main armies set out from Arqa for Jerusalem

3–6 June

Crusade at Ramleh

7 June

First Crusade reaches Jerusalem

13 June

First assault on Jerusalem fails

17 June

News arrives of six Genoese ships docked at Jaffa

15 July

First Crusade captures Jerusalem

12 August

Battle of Ascalon

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