Peter the Hermit

Peter the Hermit was a French preacher whose appeals helped inspire popular participation in the First Crusade. In 1096, he led one of its early, largely non-noble expeditions, known as the People’s Crusade.

People's Crusade: The popular, poorly organized expedition that traveled toward the eastern Mediterranean in 1096 before the main First Crusade armies. Peter led this early expedition, whose rapid collapse exposed the dangers of an unsupplied popular movement.
Council of Clermont: The 1095 church council at which Pope Urban II called for an armed expedition to aid Eastern Christians and recover Jerusalem. Urban’s appeal preceded the popular crusading movement Peter helped mobilize.
Walter Sans Avoir: A French knight who led a contingent of the People’s Crusade toward Constantinople in 1096. He commanded a separate contingent, showing that Peter was not the expedition’s only leader.
Godfrey of Bouillon: A Lotharingian noble who led one of the principal armies of the First Crusade and became ruler of Jerusalem in 1099. His princely army contrasts with Peter’s less organized popular following.
Siege of Civetot: The 1096 battle near Nicaea in which Seljuk forces destroyed much of the People’s Crusade. Its defeat ended the expedition Peter had helped lead.
Pope Urban II: The pope from 1088 to 1099 who called for the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont. His call launched the campaign to which Peter’s preaching gave a popular dimension.
Alexios I Komnenos: The Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118 who sought western military aid against the Seljuk Turks. Peter’s followers reached Byzantine territory, where Alexios arranged their passage across the Bosporus.
Raymond IV of Toulouse: A powerful southern French noble who commanded one of the largest armies of the First Crusade. His wealth and military resources differed from those available to Peter’s followers.
Siege of Nicaea: The 1097 siege in which First Crusade forces captured the Seljuk-held city of Nicaea. Peter joined the princes’ expedition after the People’s Crusade was destroyed.
First Crusade: The western European military expedition that captured Jerusalem in 1099 after beginning in 1096. Peter’s preaching and expedition formed an early, distinct part of this larger campaign.

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People's CrusadeRelated: His preaching helped mobilize the expedition, though he did not command every group that joined it.