This week in Christian history: First Crusade takes Jerusalem, anti-poverty activist born

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Twitter

Crusaders take Jerusalem – July 15, 1099

A nineteenth century depiction of the First Crusade conquest of Jerusalem in 1099.
A nineteenth century depiction of the First Crusade conquest of Jerusalem in 1099. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Christian soldiers of the First Crusade finally conquered Jerusalem after three years of war and several days of siege.

In 1096, Pope Urban II had called for Europeans to invade the Middle East in order to reconquer lands and holy sites that were once controlled by the Christian Byzantine Empire.

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Although the taking of Jerusalem was widely celebrated in Christendom at the time, the event also resulted in the slaughter of several thousand non-Christian inhabitants of the Holy City.

 “Some of the pagans were mercifully beheaded, others pierced by arrows plunged from towers, and yet others, tortured for a long time, were burned to death in searing flames,” wrote Raymond of Aguilers, Medieval chronicler of the First Crusade.

In addition to being a reporter, Michael Gryboski has also had a novel released titled The Enigma of Father Vera Daniel. For more information, click here.

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