CRUSADE (Fr. croisadc, It. crociata, from cruciata, crusade, from cruciarc, to mark with the cross, from Lat. crux, eross). A war undertaken for a religious purpose; specifically one of the wars waged by the Christians for the recovery of the Holy Land. Toward the close of the eleventh century, when the Byzantine Empire was in great dagger of being conquered by the Seljukian Turks, the Emperor Alexis Comnemis appealed to Pope Urban 11. for help. At the Council of Clermont, in November, 1095, the latter made his memorable speech, in which lie exhorted his hearers to bear aid to the Eastern Empire, and to reconquer Jerusa lem. His fiery eloquence evoked an enthusi astic response; for he appealed to all the motives which were then influential—to the spirit of religious enthusiasm; to the love of fighting and adventure; and to the desire, in many. of bettering their fortunes. After the conclusion of speech, many pressed for ward to take the Crusader's vow and the cross, which was the symbol of this vow and gave its name to the movement. The agitation spread rapidly to all the countries of western Europe and embraced all ranks of society. The nobles
made deliberate preparations for an expedition which was expected to last three years; but the common people, among whom Peter the Hermit (q.v.) and others had been busily preaching the Crusade, were too impatient, and many of them too poor, to wait. In the spring of 1090 thou sands of men, women, and children started in different bands under the leadership of Walter the Penniless, Peter, and others. They marched from Cologne and the Rhineland, across Germany, through Hungary, along the Danube. and south ward to Constantinople. These bands were very disorderly; their course was marked by persecu tion of the Jews, robbery, and plunder. and many of them were slaughtered by the infuriated in habitants of the countries through which they passed. Those who reached Constantinople were received graciously by the Emperor. Their dis orderly conduct. however. soon caused him to transport them to Asia where almost all were slain by the Turks. The march of these disorderly bands is generally styled the Peasants' Crusade.