Certainty: 2 Peter the Hermit returned from Jerusalem inspired by the idea of crusade
Peter the Hermit went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. His Christian host there told him about outrages to Christians in the city in the past, and severe problems in the present. He saw the truth of this and discussed it in an interview with the patriarch Symeon. Symeon was impressed with him, told him of his helplessness, and said that salvation could only lie in the prosperous west, as Byzantium had just lost half its empire. Peter wept and assured him that the Pope and western rulers would act, if they had credible information. Different texts divide responsibility in different ways. Peter asked Symeon to write to them (which he did), and promised personal intervention on his return home, perhaps at the patriarch's suggestion. He saw a confirmatory vision of Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Anna Komnene's version has him setting out on pilgrimage but badly treated by the Turks and Saracens who dominated the route, and returning home to try again via the crusade
Certainty: 3 Pope Urban II preached the crusade at the Council of Clermont Certainty: 3
1096
Certainty: 2 Peter the Hermit crossed Hungary & captured Zemun (Malevilla) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Serious trouble caused by Peter the Hermit's men at Nis Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Peter the Hermit went quickly from Nis to the capital Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Peter the Hermit met Alexios I & crossed with Walter Sansavoir to Asia Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Rivalry in raids on Nicaea led to massacre of People's crusaders outside Kibotos by Turks Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 A few of Peter's men returned alive, threatened by more ambushes but saved by Alexios' troops Certainty: 3
1097
Certainty: 3 Early arrivals among the crusaders moved on towards Nicaea Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Crusader forces reached Nicaea: position of contingents in the siege Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Surrender of Nicaea to Boutoumites & Alexios I Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Crusaders arrived at Antioch: positions of contingents in siege Certainty: 3
1098
Certainty: 3 Peter Bartholomew found the holy lance that pierced Christ's side Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Embassy of Peter the Hermit to Kerbogha ended in failure Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Victorious attack on the army of Kerbogha outside Antioch, which broke up in panic Certainty: 3
1099
Certainty: 3 Siege of Jerusalem Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Massacre by the crusaders of all non-Christian inhabitants of Jerusalem Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Arrival at Askalon of an Egyptian expedition to recapture Jerusalem Certainty: 3