Jerusalem in the First Crusade

Definition: Jerusalem was at the center of the First Crusade for the Christians, the Muslims, and the Jews. All three of these Abrahamic religions claim to have Jerusalem as their Holy Land. In the 11^th century, the Muslims had control of this coveted area, and they persecuted the Christians in the city limits. After Pope Urban II’s call to Crusade, the First Crusaders made their way to this Holy Land. There were some failed attempts along the way, specifically in Constantinople, but the Christians eventually made it to Jerusalem. The Christians finally entered the city through the Gate of Saint Stephen on July 14, 1099, and the slaughter began. The Christians would go on to win this Crusade (“Jerusalem Captured in First Crusade”).

Importance: Jerusalem had always been an area of interest and religious ties since the beginning of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; the significance of the city was not new during the First Crusade. There was, however, a heightened interest in this city after Pope Urban II drew upon the religious duties of the Christians in this particular area. The Crusaders were supposed to be combatting the ones who had shown them hostility and violence, but they do it in a manner that promotes more of these negative sentiments. It seems that the recapturing of Jerusalem could have been just one of the many motives that the Christian leaders had for spear-heading the First Crusade, and the other motives had to do with eradicating the members of the other religions.