Pope Urban IIStep1 - The Saracens gain control of the Holy Land.
Arab conquest of the Middle East began with the rise and military expansion of Islam into North Africa and southern Europe. Saracen conquests destroyed the remainder of Roman civilization in North Africa and the Near East. Roman civilization in this area survived , with Byzantine support, the invasions of numerous Germanic and other nomadic peoples until the seventh century. The rise of Islam crushed this presence in North Africa. Muslim advances did not stop with the near east, but also conquered Spain, Sicily, Sardinia and parts of southern Italy. The conquest of the Holy Land by the Arabs and later the Seljuk Turks threatened not only the near east, but Byzantium and even Western Europe.
Step2 - Early Christian Counterattacks
The first major Chrisitian counterattack against the Muslim invasions of Europe and the near east occured in the early eighth century. Muslim invaders had conquered Spain and were making frequent incursions into southern and western France. Finally in 732, the Mayor of the Palace, the effective ruler of France, met the Muslim invaders at Tours and defeated them. Charles Martel, as he was known, had saved France from Saracen conquest. Italian naval fleets manned by Genoese and Pisan sailors conquered Sardinia and burned the Muslim fleet at Tunisia. Normans also counterattacked and captured Sicily. Finally, Chrisitians in Spain with aid by Frankish knights conquered the Spanish city of Toledo under the leadership of Alphonso VI. These events set the stage for the major accomplishments of the Chrisitian armies during the First Crusade.
Step 3- Events of the First Crusade
Despite the major counterattacks mounted by Christian countries against Saracen armies in Europe and parts of North Africa, Muslim forces still held the vast majority of Palestine. Pope Urban II called for the nobility of Europe to lead an army for the conquest of Palestine and to provide assistance to the Byzantine Empire. The message was spread by roaming monks in central and western Europe. Notable knights and nobility among the main crusading army included the son of William the Conquerer, Robert Rufus, Godfrey of Buillon, Robert II of Flanders, Duke of Lorraine, Hugh; Count of Vermandes and Raymond, Count of Toulouse. The major actions of the First Crusade were as follows. The Crusaders entered the outskirts of Constantinople in the mid 1090's and proceeded into Asia Minor where they were harassed by Turks and other tribes in the area. Crusader tactics based on a mounted knighthood and large numbers of foot soldiers were somewhat inferior to that of the Muslims at first. However, the leaders of the Crusading Army soon remedied this and captured Nicea, Antioch and Tripoli in 1097. Jersusalem fell in 1099. An Egyptian army meant to recapture the Holy City was defeated at Ascalon in the same year. This victory and the capture of the port city of Jaffa allowed the Crusaders to hold Palestine and establish four crusader kingdoms on the coast of North Africa. These were Jerusalem, Edessa, Antioch and Tripoli. The year 1099 also marked the ascension of Godfrey of Bullion as King of Jerusalem. He ruled for three months until his death when his brother Baldwin III took over the throne. The first crusade accomplished much. After its major events the Muslims only held Damascus, Emesa, Hamma and Aleppo.
Pope Urban II