Muslim armies had conquered much of northern Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Spain, which had been some of the most heavily Christian areas in the world. Thousands, and possibly millions, of Christians died during this drive to eventually bring the entire world under Islam. The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to check the advance of the Muslims and regain control of the city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. If this defensive war was not fought then we would probably all be Muslim today. I am sure that some atrocities were committed by individuals of both sides during this war but by most people's judgment this was a just war.
Pope Urban II agreed to help Byzantine Emperor Alexius I because he wanted to unite the Christian church and support the Byzantine Empire against Muslim invaders during the First Crusade.
Pope Urban II called for the Crusades after Emperor Alexius asked for help.
The Byzantine Emperor (Alexius) asked Pope Urban for Christian knights to help him fight the Muslims Turks.
The Byzantine Emperor (Alexius) asked Pope Urban for Christian knights to help him fight the Muslims Turks.
Pope Urban II granted the Byzantine emperor help against the Seljuk Turks in order to liberate churches of God in eastern regions. Pope Urban II passed away before receiving news of the fall of Jerusalem.
Alexius I Comnenus, the Byzantine Emperor, played a crucial role in the initiation of the First Crusade by appealing to the West for military assistance against the Seljuk Turks, who were threatening his empire. He sought help from Pope Urban II, emphasizing the need to reclaim lost territories and protect Christianity. In response, Urban II called for the First Crusade in 1095, rallying European knights and nobles to aid Byzantium and reclaim Jerusalem. Alexius's request and the subsequent papal response set the stage for the crusade's launch.
Someone Help Me!
At the request of the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus, Pope Urban II called for knights from western Europe to come and help the Byzantines drive the Seljuk Turks out of Palestine.
His father had also served with Alexius I Comnenus.
The first crusade was started when the Turks began to invade parts of the Byzantine empire, and the emperor of Byzantine, Alexius I, asked Pope Urban II in March of 1095 to send an army to help. The pope told all the men in Europe that if they went to the Middle East and drove the Turks back, that God would forgive all their sins and they would go to heaven no matter what.
The push for the crusades came when the Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked the Europeans for help against the Selijuk Turks, who were muslims.
The push for the crusades came when the Byzantine emperor Alexius I asked the Europeans for help against the Selijuk Turks, who were muslims.