PETER TIES HERMIT, OF PETER OF AMIENS (e.1050-1115). The preacher of the First Crusade. He was horn in the city or at least in the diocese of Amiens about 1050. The stories told of his early- life, that he was a sohlier. married, and had several children. are fictitious. It is believed that he undertook a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but did not reach Jerusalem. After the Council of Clermont in 1095 (See CRUSADE; CRIIAN Ii.) Peter appeared as a preacher of the Crusade in Northern and Central France. De rode on a mule. with a crucifix in his hand. his head and feet bare: his dress was a long robe and a hermit's cloak of the coarsest stuff, girt with a cord. Be preached with the greatest earnestness in the pulpits, on the roads, and in the market places. and everywhere aroused his hearers to a high pitch of enthusiasm. and was honored as a saint inspired from heaven. As early as April. 1096, Peter reached Cologne with a followin7 of 13.000 men. and there his army received an acces sion of 15.000 more. They were mostly from the lower classes, poorly organized, and little fitted for war or the hardships before them. In dis orderly bands they made their way through Ger m my and Hungary toward Constantinople. (fsFe
Peter himself reached the city in Julv and accompanied his army across the P,os I'orus. lint, disgusted by the insubordination of his followers, he returned to Constantinople and gave up the attempt to act as leader. During the siege 01 Antioch in 1098 he made a attempt to run away, but nevertheless was soon after trusted with a difficult commission to Kerbnga, King of Mosnl, aml acquitted himself with credit. During the winter of 109S-99, when many wished to abandon the Crusade, Peter ap peared in his old ride of preacher urging its continuance. lle tried to defend the poor against the selfishness of the leaders. On the 8th of July, 1099, he preached on the Mount of Olives. After the capture of Jerusalem (July 15, 1099) he remained in the city, while the army proceeded toward Egypt. Ile returned home, probably shortly after the battle of Ascalon, and became monk and prior at \eufmottstier, near Huy, in the Diocese of Liege, where he (lied July 8. 1115. Consult, besides the general works on the Cru sades. llagenmeyer, Peter der Eremit (Leipzig, 1879) ; Franz, Peter von Amiens (Hofgeismar, 1891).