Medieval Crusader Describes the Chaos, Violence (and Cannibalism) of the First Crusade (1096)

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Extracts from THE FIRST CRUSADE: THE ACCOUNTS OF EYE-WITNESSES AND PARTICIPANTS
BY AUGUST C. KREY PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS 1921
and the translation by Martha Evelyn McGinty:
CHRONICLE OF THE FIRST CRUSADE
(Fulcheri Carnotensis Historia Hierosolymitana)
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS 1941

Soundtrack licensed from Epidemic Sound/Artlist.
Footage from Videoblocks.

[Hamsterzilla]

Historio-geographical note : in that context "Romania" is the Eastern Roman Empire and "Gauls" are the Southern French.

[theodoreld]

“Weeping, they sang. And singing, they wept.”

I love this. It’s a fascinating insight in how people spoke in 1096.

[austinlester]

I can’t imagine feeding, drinking, and maintaining equipment with such a numerous force and travel so far to wage war. Purely fascinating.

[helmutthat]

If you are wondering where the skeletons mentioned at 6:45 came from: There was a poorly equipped and trained army under the command of Peter the Hermit and Walter the Penniless that went first the year before. They were defeated in short order by the Saracen army and the bodies were left to decay.

[johnxina]

It's just incredible how we still have such an ancient source that's still readable.

[umbralobserver]

Very nice to hear a good reading of primary sources without any editorializing from the content creator.

[Mrkabrat]

1st Crusade: Oh what a great and beautiful city is Constantinople!
4th Crusade: What wonderful plunder has Constantinople!

[junechevalier]

As a muslim, I find it interesting hearing historical accounts of the crusades from both sides, as most of us here only hear about it from our side

[sirianfelixbrightonesquire]

The older a story is the more fascinating it is to me. This man, his memories, every demon he had to carry from what he saw, along with all the wonders he saw for the first time.
Live on, a Millennium later.

[Osvath]

It is always interesting how the Middle Ages had a lot more connections with the ancient World than what is commonly held. Gaul, Centurions and Tribunes, terms one may not expect to find in an account of the First Crusade. While it is not impossible that these are largely just etymological remnants for a Latin writer, it is still interesting.

[rennor]

So the writer makes a reference that: Franks, Italians, Germans, Bretons, English, Spaniards, Scots, Greeks and even Armenians for the first time forgot their differences and actually got along.

[Lt.Dan]

I want to say thank you for taking the time to share these videos with us I've been sick for about 2 months now and they're about the only thing that's got me through it thank you keep them coming

[youtubecansukkadik]

Man, you don't get details like this anywhere else. Great stuff!

[CarlosAlejandro.-kegr]

Its amazing to hear the words of a person that wrote them almost 930 years ago.

[spiderill]

This has become one of my favourite YouTube channels. The narration is so soothing and the stories are incredibly insightful. 😎👍

[BastiatC]

"communicated from the nerves of the head to the member subject to it" Am I to understand that no only did this crusader understand the basic function of the nervous system, but could expect his readers to as well.

[jasondsimpson]

If you enjoy this and are looking for more, there are two wonderful audible titles that pull from this source and others. They tell the story of the Crusades from alternate viewpoints and through the voices of various sources recording the events for the great men of the time. Iron Men and Saints by Harold Lamb and The Flame of Islam by Harold Lamb.

[vinnart]

Thanks so much for uploading. To me there is no better history than first hand accounts. For this reason I've kept a journal as well for 35 yrs now recording the world as I've known it. How cool it would be for someone to read it 1, 000 years from today like we are hearing this although it would be no where as exciting as this man's story.

[kinggizandthelizwiz]

The way everything is so eloquently written is just so beautiful.

[loganstroganoff]

I just can't even imagine the misery one felt on these military campaigns.