The First Crusade was launched in 1096 by Pope Urban II. The purpose of the First Crusade was to help get Jerusalem known as the Holy Land. During this period the Muslims occupied Jerusalem. The First Crusade included farmers and knights whose ethnicities consisted of Franks, Latins, and Celts, all from the western part of Europe. Convincing peasants and knights to join Pope Urban II's goals in exchange for a spiritual reward called "remission of all their sins" which was to be redeemed from all sins committed by the individual. When sins were redeemed, the crusaders believed they would escape the torment of hell. When lords and knights joined the crusade they were known as military elites. The Crusaders were known as soldiers of Christ. The purpose of the Crusaders was to fight against non-Christians and convert non-Christians into Christians. Examples of non-Christians were Muslims and Jews. Although the crusades were warlike, they had limited warfare, meaning that the crusades could not cause bloodshed on holidays or weekends. A rise of the Seljuk Turks who were a group of Muslim nomadic warriors and asserted their political control. The Seljuk Turks not only expanded their political control, but also took half of the Byzantine Empire with them. The Byzantine emperor named Alexios Comnena asked Pope Urban II for assistance in reconquering the former territory lost to the Byzantines. During this period Emperor Alexios had his daughter AnnaComnena document his life and the campaigns he made. He also spoke highly of his father, making Emperor Alexius an honorable and courageous man. Pope Urban II had his goals on Jerusalem known as the Holy Land and to help liberate the Christians in the east. In these numerous documents the crusades were l...... in the center of the paper ......r example, who was head of the “entire expedition”)” he also states “The letter is a good example of what a crusader would have to think of the deed whether he did it or not” 293. |The first two documents were more accurate than the third because the first two documents consist of what the crusades did to non-Christians and how they were dishonorable in perspective of Anna Komnenos who was documenting her father's reign. The third document described by a crusader was false. Crusaders would lie about their expeditions to make the crusade seem more positive if they agreed or disagreed about the crusade's actions. Following the First Crusade they were able to repel the Muslims and reclaim the Holy Land and aid the Christians, but they failed to help Emperor Alexios reclaim Asia Minor and other former territories from the Seljuk Turks.