This was one of the biggest motivations of the crusaders as affirmed by Riley-Smith (2009).
CRUSADES TIMELINE.
The timeline of the crusades is very important and significant because it helps in portraying the motivations that the crusaders had at that time that led to the emergence of various crusades during different periods. The timeline of the crusade will be able to portray the benefits and the losses that the crusades brought to the Christians and the cities that they ministered. The crusades also had equally negative impacts on the cause of Christ.
The First Crusade.
The sermon that was delivered by the pope Urban II at the Clermont-Ferrand in November 1095 is considered by many historians to be the beginning of the first crusade. The sermon sparked what was a series of military campaigns that were meant to take the holy land back from the Muslims. The crusades were considered to be that of divine sanction by the soldiers involved which led to the ruthlessness that was the norm of those battles also known as crusades. The core and main purpose of the crusade was to claim back the holy places that were associated with the works of Jesus. This entails his life and ministry. The first crusaders were promised absolution from sin and there was the possibility of gaining of wealth. The peasants marched to the capital of Byzantine Empire. The crusaders began a week siege of Jerusalem which by 1099 had already fallen. Taking back Jerusalem was the first motivation that led to the crusades being effective and the fact that they considered this a divine call. The first crusade was described as being horrifying by eyewitness as they accounted for the terror that was the battle. The Ralph of Caen, who was watching the city from mount olives was able to see "the scurrying people, the fortified towers, the roused garrison, the men rushing to arms, the women in tears, the priests turned to their prayers, the streets ringing with cries, crashing, clanging and neighing.