THE FIRST CRUSADE (1096-1099 A.D.)

11096 A well-organised military force of 200,000-300,000 men sets out by different routes. Its leaders are:

2(1) Godfrey de Bouillon--Duke of Lower Lorraine, with his brothers (2) Baldwin, (3) Eustace.

3(4) Robert, Duke of Normandy, son of William the Conqueror.

4(5) Robert, Count of Flanders.

5(6) Stephen, Count of Chartres.

6(7) Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse.

7(8) Hugh of Vermandois.

8(9) Bohemond, Duke of Tarentum.

9(10) Tancred, his nephew.

10Arriving at Constantinople, all except Raymond do homage to Alexius Comnenus, the emperor. Crossing the Bosporus they invade the territory of Kilidj Arslan, sultan of Rum, or Iconium.

111097 With the help of the crusaders, Alexius recovers Nicæa. Victory of the crusaders at Dorylæum. Siege of Antioch is begun. Baldwin and Tancred attempt a private war over question of precedence of their banners. Baldwin withdraws his troops from the army, and answering an appeal for help from the Greek or Armenian ruler of Edessa, marches thither, makes himself its master, and founds the Latin county Edessa (_q.v._).

121098 Surrender of Antioch, betrayed to Bohemond by the Armenian, Firuz. Kerboga, emir of Mosul besieges the crusaders in Antioch but is defeated and driven off. The crusaders rest in Antioch and quarrel among themselves.

131099 Siege and capture of Jerusalem. Foundation of the kingdom of Jerusalem (_q.v._). The county of Antioch founded (_q.v._) with Bohemond at its head.