Historian Albert Aachens document snapshotting the Peasants Crusade of the twelfth century provides interesting and valuable perspectives of events, people, and places. He was living at this time, and though not a pilgrim or crusader, compiled eyewitness and participant reports.
Like a spark in tinder, it was Pope Urban IIs call to the First Crusade in his speech at the Council of Clermont, November 27, 1095, that ignited the passion, devotion, and fervour of many attending. Though not explicitly stated in this document, making pilgrimage to Jerusalem and liberating the Holy Land and the Eastern Church from invading Turks, can be seen as a cause embraced with intense piety, enthusiasm, spirit of penance, and fanatical sense of justice. The leaders--priests and entrepreneurs--saw their role as taking on the torch of Urbans call, to carry it out as quickly as possible, convincing and mobilizing the people to join in. A key leader featured in Aachens document was the charismatic preacher Peter the Hermit. He relates how Peter the Hermit preached to people at all levels of society-- every class of the Christian profession--with constant admonition.with all the persuasion of which he was capable.urged setting out on the journey as soon as possible (p.43). The result was all joyfully entered this expedition.(p.43) Every level of society, including clerics, laymen, princes, common people both chaste and sinful, was included, for the first time almost classless, and united under the Christian faith. They flocked to the ranks of armies to join the Crusade.
Aachens narrative then focuses on the journey of Walter the Penniless, who was a well-known soldier and committed follower of Peter. Early in 1096, he led one of the first armies of the crusade-- a hastily organized group of mostly common foot soldiers, which Aachen describes as a great company of Frankish foot soldiers and only about eight knights(p.