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

[@CirageNoir]

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

[@johnconstantine7442]

I am from Romania. Why does he name easterm Roman Empire Romania? To establish them as descendants of romans? For our land the name was used in the 16th century, while in 19th century it was used for our country.

[@xenon9030]

@@johnconstantine7442 The Eastern Romans called themself Rhomaion, Romanian is a latinization of that term.

[@MCoTEDDY]

@@johnconstantine7442 1800 years ago the Roman empire in the Italic peninsula was decaying and the Thracian Romans gained more in influence. They gave first a famous emperor, Maximianus Thrax, who defeated the Germans for the next 100 years, then when Diocletian split the empire the first time, two or three Thracian became rulers: Galerian, Maximianus - a second one and the great Constantine. They moved a capital to their center Saruna - later Saloniki - and then built, in 320 a new capital. Contantinople. They baptized their part of the Empire with the name of “Romania” (without an â) and so it was to be called until it was conquered by Ottomans in 1453. Only in 1557, a German historian called the Empire “Byzance”, in derision, and the name was favored by many, so it stayed.

[@dacho707]

Romania in this context is Asia Minor.

[@BESTYEAROFMYLIFE]

And for “Iberians” ?

[@theodoreld1909]

“Weeping, they sang. And singing, they wept.” I love this. It’s a fascinating insight in how people spoke in 1096.

[@Algolxxxxxx]

They actually didn't speak anything like the way it's been portrayed here. The account is a translation to modern English. If they spoke to you you would not be able to understand what they were saying and they would not understand what you were saying. 11th Century old English was essentially another language. You would not have recognised many words. Even how words were chained together back then is different from today.

[@apotomus5116]

@@Algolxxxxxx Its a translation of how they spoke. Donkey.

[@Algolxxxxxx]

@@apotomus5116 I did mention it was a translation. So what's your point? Anything?

[@sprowlsprout5424]

They say things two times, two times they say things

[@tribequest9]

@@Algolxxxxxx you’re the person no one likes to have at parties.

[@helmutthat8331]

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.

[@cizia69]

Many were sold into slavery.

[@junkequation]

Those are funny surnames. Sounds like 2 homeless guys put in charge of an army.

[@terranaxiomuk]

Weren't they young peasant? The peoples crusade or something? Can't remember exactly.

[@JasonBourne-b8s]

Are they in Revelations? Sound familiar from somewhere

[@Clippidyclappidy]

@@junkequationthat’s actually not too far off

[@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

[@crappymeal]

i have no side

[@jondeth6242]

@@crappymeal "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice" - Mr Geddy Lee, Enjoy your day champ!

[@crappymeal]

@@jondeth6242 yes indeed i have made a choice, a choice not to have a side

[@JGD185]

I'd be interested in reading Muslim accounts from those who were there at the battles, if those exist

[@Memphismastermind]

Out of curiosity, how similar is the tone? Like, is it presented more as a religious or a secular conflict?

[@austinlester1683]

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

[@snickle1980]

From what I understand, of the 600k on march, it was 100,000 soldiers and 500k regular Joes simply to assist and supply the soldiery. The logistics are mind boggling. It made me wonder...I could be wrong, but I remember hearing how prostitutes would be a part of any army on the march. Imagine thousands of camp prostitutes on the march to Jerusalem. It's good to have been born in the 20th century. I couldn't handle the stress that Steven of Blah and his friends went though. 😐

[@thecomedian5933]

Or fighting hand to hand combat with thousands of people all swinging swords and halberds at your face. 😬 You get hit once and your as good as dead....... two weeks later from infection.

[@austinlester1683]

@@snickle1980 I could not imagine being a farmer or a farmers son/daughter and a whole army stretched as far Astor land in sight just sets up and say yep we’re doing this probably losing your son to glorified soldiering idea or your daughter to some charming soldier and a lot of your food taken. I wish I could have witnessed it from a bubble though.

[@austinlester1683]

@@thecomedian5933 lol yeah I don’t know how anyone decided to be in the front lines without trying to shimmy a couple rows back and so on.

[@Caesar88888]

yes feeding is a problem sometimes even eating meat from saracens buttocks may be needed

[@Mrkabrat]

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

[@Michael_the_Drunkard]

Sad but true

[@celticwinter]

It's almost like the conditions pre-campaign were completely different

[@xixi1x34]

But 4th crusade never happened?

[@stewartjeff4673]

4th crusade was the 1st crusade

[@lkrnpk]

it's like if 4th Crusade happened in WW2, Americans decided it was too risky and lots of lives would be lost while landing in D-Day so instead decided to just plunder London and surrounding areas :D

[@umbralobserver]

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

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

Some sources need it, though. There are often lots of ancient idioms, references, and non-standardized language that needs to be contextualized for your average audience - even after translated. Even how you translate something involves a significant amount of editorial foresight.

[@umbralobserver]

@@monsieurdorgat6864 Unobtrusive footnotes or annotations serve this purpose.

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

@@umbralobserver Not always - some events and primary sources are just complicated, and needs more detail than you would expediently or properly include in a footnote. Like, you could read tales about the Catholic inquisition of the Cathars (from the perspective of the Catholics, very few Cathar books survived the inquisition), but many experts on the topic have solid evidence to believe that the Cathars weren't a unified movement as the Catholic churches writings made them out to be. You wouldn't know that without considering archeological evidence and considering a larger body of primary sources, though. Half the shit Herodotus wrote were obviously lies, and he's one of the best surviving sources we have on antiquity. And again, even the tone and word choice itself is editing. The omission of contextual information is also an editorial choice, after all.

[@umbralobserver]

@@monsieurdorgat6864 You're really making more out of this than it needs to be. My original comment is more specifically about video presentations. Many people want to insert themselves into the subject and make it about themselves. This youtuber simply reads what the account says without trying to distract you with fake personality.

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

@@umbralobserver IDK if I've experienced many historical channels like that - but I think it's important you understand that there is no such thing as unbiased or unedited presentations. It's a big problem these days. And your comment almost seemed to be a euphemism for "I think primary sources are unbiased".

[@johnxina53]

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

[@bryanrahlston9613]

Compared to many sources we have, it's actually not that ancient, or even technically considered ancient. Think of the records the Egyptians left, THAT is ancient. We actually have over 400,000 journals, writings, letters and more from the middle ages spread about the globe. With less than 8,000 pieces of distinct literate for all of pre-roman antiquity. Huge difference.

[@juliejanesmith57]

Its incredible to me that we still have so many humans with this mental illness of “religious fervor” with this insane desire to die to “honor” their imaginary friend.

[@federalpepe3296]

@@juliejanesmith57 what medication are you on?

[@chpdip94]

@@juliejanesmith57 take ur meds lmao

[@tyrlant2189]

They must be translating into modern English, nobody talked like this back then.

[@Osvath97]

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.

[@lamebubblesflysohigh]

Every kingdom in medieval Europe (with few exceptions) fancied itself to be inheritor of Roman empire. Roman empire never died (at least not in the minds of people - including those whose forefathers destroyed it)

[@Demothios]

One should always remember that a primary source is simply recounting events, places, things and concepts using words and terms he is familiar with. He might not know how and what military ranks are actually called or organised. Imagine, for example, if during his clerical education only came across military ranks when he was reading biblical literature, originally written during and describing Roman times.

[@Osvath97]

@@Demothios But at the same time, the "Art of War" of Medieval Europe was Vegetius' "De re militari", read by commanders ever since the 800s. So it is definitely probable that much more of the Medieval military was inspired by Roman practises than what people commonly give it credit for.

[@sherlocksmuuug6692]

The monasteries in europe managed to preserve a surprising amount of roman-era texts and the age of antiquity was held in very high regard, even if the actual knowledge they had of the era was relatively spotty. A lot of rulers (especially in Italy and France) tried to imitate what they knew of Old Rome in certain aspects of life. And when people from the medieval era encountered something unknown to them, they would usually fall back on roman-era sources to try and identify what they were dealing with. So any well educated individual (like the author here, who I think was a monk?) would naturally try to use roman-era lingo to be recognized as a cultured and knowledgable person.

[@Osvath97]

@@sherlocksmuuug6692 I mean, having studied Medieval philosophy, you really get a sense that the real major "Dark Age" was much shorter than what people seem to realise, when it came to the most highly educated individuals at least. The philosophers of Charlemagne's court seem no less sophisticated than many philosophers of late Antiquity, and from Charlemagne's time there is an unbroken succession of sophisticated philosophers until this very day.

[@rennor3498]

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.

[@robertleo8006]

no more brother wars

[@Creativethinker12]

What’s the difference between Franks and Gauls though? Was there still people in France at that time who spoke the Frankish Germanic language unlike the rest of the population?

[@CirageNoir]

@@Creativethinker12 Germanic Frankish tribal identity didn't exist much past the early 7th c. For all intents and purposes, they became a bilingual people whose cultural language was Latin. There was a German language revival in the Frankish nobility when the nobility from Austrasia (the Carolingians), then a bilingual province, took power over the Frankish realm. But in Gaul the Franks were Romance speakers. In the context of the 11th c. it strictly means Northern French, aside from those living in powerful principalities of their own right (Flanders, Normandy, Brittany). The chief difference between groups was law. Law was personal, and you'd be subject to a different code depending on your ethnicity. Frankish law was used in Northern France, and as Franks had it better than Romans (or Gauls, depending on the version) in the texts, everybody there became a "Frank". Visigothic Roman law was still used in the South of Gaul, in particular Auvergne.

[@donovantownshend8783]

@@CirageNoir not only that but there has been for a long time a political, cultural, and dialectical divide

[@LuisAldamiz]

Deus vult! He's a bit idealistic in his narrative, actually they quarrelled a lot but that goes unmentioned.

[@sirianfelixbrightonesquire3247]

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.

[@CitizenZ33]

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

[@CarlosAlejandro.-ke6gr]

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

[@HistoryOfRevolutions]

Voltaire once wrote: "It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets"

[@acrxsls1766]

Who cares what that degenerate thought?

[@ecta9604]

100%. You’ve got to wonder how many people in our culture have some sort of mental illness, but because a significant number of people share it and participate in the same behaviour it’s considered normal. Here’s hoping that one day war will be considered a form of insanity and we get our id kicks through violent Olympic Games or something instead

[@ki-td5yb]

@@ecta9604 Edited to support the war alternative. Insanity is a normal reaction to an insane world. An Olympic Games scenario as an alternative to war is a beautiful concept.

[@ki-td5yb]

@@acrxsls1766 That's just uncouth. Discussion Rule of Thumb, argue what is said, never the person.

[@PolishBehemoth]

Voltaire was a dumbass and part of the reason we are in this mess now.

[@spiderill7791]

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

[@snickle1980]

This is good content to fall asleep to as well.

[@thatguy9502]

also try "fall of civilizations" you wont be disappointed.

[@spiderill7791]

@@thatguy9502 will do thanks 👍

[@spiderill7791]

@@thatguy9502 will do thanks 👍

[@kinggizandthelizwiz7977]

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

[@youtubecansukkadik]

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

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

You also get a sense for how incredibly flowery and biased historical sources are. Historians usually need to read many, many sources on the same topic and compare it with archeological evidence to discern the truth - history is never reliably known through a single source. But the perspective and bias itself is enlightening to understanding what and how people thought.

[@FriedRice3519]

@@monsieurdorgat6864 ikr, it's like the history at school only taught us abt dehumanized flat history like "oh this war happened in this year and thousands died...." and that's it. I want to know abt what the ppl thought and their accounts of those battels it rly puts into perspective what rly went down and the fact that they weren't all that different from us.

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

@@FriedRice3519 Honestly, these days I feel like the greatest lesson we can learn from history is that people who committed incredible atrocities were certain of their good intentions. History isn't clean, and it's always foolish to try to idolize historical figures. As an American, I just really want people to actually know what fascists look like. Way too many things happened that made me think "wow, they're actually just black-shirts, and they even tried to do the same thing!"

[@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.

[@LuisAldamiz]

At least in the basics he did understood the nervous system indeed.

[@StubenhockerElite]

yeah that choice of words surprised me as well.

[@jetaddicted]

Seing someone dead, or lacking movement from the head down after a neck or head trauma must have been a clue.

[@Demothios]

He is a well-educated member of the clergy. The people who could be expected to read his text would be other members of the clergy, kings, nobles. Aside from that, most of his readers would have seen, or treated those kinds of injuries. Surgeons and doctors of the time were by no means all that insightful, but even they would be able to link: "Oh, that guy only got what looked like a superficial cut right on that particular spot on the arm, and yet he cannot move his hand, anymore".

[@jimmehjiimmeehh9748]

The basic function of the nervous system has been known since at least the 2nd millenia BC. Most knowledge is actually ancient, there's just a tendency to assume it's recent. And as he was reasonably well off, the author and his intended readers would have a basic understanding.

[@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.

[@vinnart]

​@Hanna Yachou - I hate to disappoint you, but there is nothing trivial recorded like that since it's been a far more interesting life although I admit I have no stories of cannibalism, and blood up to the ankles ;). What I do I have is a record of one persons human experience, mine, during my time on Earth at this point in history. I've recorded my successes and failures, times of sadness and times of joy, what its like to be a starving artist, and what its like to be a successful one, my experience in the military, thoughts about world events, poems, prayers, dreams, ideas, sketches ect.... Thoughts about my paintings, love, and heartbreak. Anything I want to record that I was as when I'm gone all that will remain are my manuscripts, and my paintings. You can find out more about my story here -facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2477343539210372&type=3

[@TheNickBrotherhood]

It wouldn't mean much unless the apocalypse happened or something. Everything is saved on the internet and so it's archived. All of that. 100 or 200 years in the future and we are still probably going to have internet archives so...yea. you aren't really doing much

[@cthulhutentacles4994]

@Hanna Yachou i mean, those who study the past often treasure first hand accounts of daily life, it gives us an insight on how society used to be. I’m sure people in the future, if we even last that long with all the craziness going on, will curiously look back unto our time. Just look how popular the diary of Anne Frank is, journals from the world wars, Victorian times, the titanic, etc. It gives us a glimpse into somebody’s life, and makes us realize that despite our cultural and technological differences, at the end of the day, we’re all human

[@shaundavenport621]

@@vinnart Well if nothing else I'm sure your descendents will appreciate it.😁👍👍

[@poutinedream5066]

@@cthulhutentacles4994 We all think of our lives as rather mundane. Yet it always seems to be what archeologists etc are looking for. We will always have official reports of important people and events. What gets lost to history seems to be the day to day lives of normal people, the 99% of life not contained in official reports.

[@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.

[@GunterThePenguinHatesHugs]

_"... traveling to Italy, we came to Lucca, a far-famed city. Near there, we met Pope Urban, Robert The Norman, and Steven, The Count of BLEOUIGHHH."_

[@moritamikamikara3879]

Ah French names.

[@GunterThePenguinHatesHugs]

@@HAYAOLEONE I gotta get points for trying, no? 😆 -Wonder if the city is still there with the same name present day? 🤔

[@19Murad77]

@@HAYAOLEONE If it sounds like that (I haven't reached that point in the video), the it's probably the city of Blois.

[@LuisAldamiz]

@@HAYAOLEONE - Oh, it's clearly Blois then.

[@LuisAldamiz]

@Roads Were Meant for Journeys - But this channel doesn't need to know how primitive French was read a thousand years ago (nor do you almost certainly either). We don't have audio records so reading Blois as in modern French is a safe choice.

[@theidahotraveler]

Yes!!!!!! I love it when your stuff comes out now I have some thing to listen to like 5 or 6 times this weeks so o can remember each part and it really sticks in my head thank you!!!!!!!!!!

[@n0denz]

"Oh what a great and beautiful city is Constantinople." Great enough to pillage one might say.

[@Michael_the_Drunkard]

Sadly true

[@demsrchildabusers7959]

There was a lot of bad blood between East & West especially in the 12th century with the Massacre of the Latins.

[@SammytheStampede]

It is so good to hear an account of the First Crusade.

[@loganstroganoff1284]

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

[@youtubecensors5419]

I can imagine the confusion of the pig or sheep being loaded up with packs, "Hey man, this isn't really our job."

[@jmiquelmb]

You're one day living peacefully, rolling on the dirt of your farm, and the next day you're sent to the Near East carrying stuff for some war against Sarracens

[@hatuletoh]

Sometimes I wonder how devout in their religious people of the past were, if they really believed all the religious dogma they were taught. And although it certainly varied by time, region, class, etc., one thing that can be said without a doubt is that the majority of Europeans in the late 11th and early 12th century were absolutely, entirely, wholehearted believers of the christian doctrines of the time. The crusades, the first one at least, are the proof.

[@teutonalex]

They really were very devout. Much like modern Muslims today.

[@applesandgrapesfordinner4626]

Many churches those days did bemoan the shortage of devotees into the church. Plus some pagan superstitions and beliefs didn't escape the European imagination

[@Gutslinger]

I disagree.. Perhaps they believed themselves to be devout, but many of their actions prove otherwise.

[@Gutslinger]

​@@teutonalex"Devout" in which they're convinced that they strongly believe, but know not what it is they believe, nor align themselves with its instructions.

[@jvdspuy2555]

Imagine all the PTSD of the soldiers after a battle of watching and enforcing hand-to-hand blunt force trauma enacted on thousands and the scene and the misery etc. Rough times.

[@Poodleinacan]

Especially when you can see wounds on skeletons in battle graves. It can be pretty crazy.

[@kingkoi6542]

In Mexico they don't really have PTSD in their vocabulary and perceptual awareness, so people just drown their pain and move on with their lives. It's a real "get over it" culture. So I bet you can apply the same here.

[@jimmehjiimmeehh9748]

PTSD is a modern thing. No one is quite sure why but it doesn't seem to have existed until very recently. There's assumptions for why, such as the higher levels of violence and mortality in the past, and the way most people were directly exposed to it in some way or another, making things like combat less "jarring" so to speak.

[@kingkoi6542]

@@jimmehjiimmeehh9748 Yeah I think it really came into our general awareness with WW1 and shell shock.

[@jimmehjiimmeehh9748]

@@kingkoi6542 The thing about shellshock though is that it wasn't what we would refer to now as PTSD. For example treatments that would take minutes and would just consist of something like a massage would, according to the sufferer themselves, cure them of shellshock. That's not PTSD.

[@dimtsk838]

Anna Komnene is a great source of information about the Byzantine perspective on Crusades as well as the time of Emperor Alexios Komnenos 1st

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

Hooks on long ropes tossed over the castle walls gives me new ideas for home security.

[@bpgsontz1072]

Can you imagine cutting open someone's belly and then proceeding to dig around in their guts looking for gold coins? Holy shit yo.

[@crappymeal]

butchering animals was normal to most people

[@jefftheriault5522]

That's gold coins! Enough of those and you could get a water mill going back home. Set you and your family on the way to riches and maybe even respectability.

[@marekprazak]

real life RPG? where else would the npcs have the coin and equip

[@richardides2035]

I mean... better safe then sorry.

[@sid2112]

Sure I can. I imagine it would be horrible and I imagine I'd have to be pretty desperate to do it. But yeah, I can imagine.

[@iLLeag7e]

really cool artwork at 14:51 Mr. Kelly! idk if you do the editing or if you just provide the auditory narration but your channel kicks a lot of ass. Your brother Pete does amazing work as well. A gentlemanly tip of the hat and a smug monocle adjustment to you, sirs!

[@joellaz9836]

I think that artwork might be by the French artist Gustave Doré. He did a lot of illustrations for the first crusade.

[@iLLeag7e]

@@joellaz9836 It's amazing. Thanks so much for the info, I will now dive down the research rabbit hole on this notable Frenchman. Have a good one Joella Z :)

[@joellaz9836]

@@iLLeag7e I did make a mistake. The artwork at 14:51 is by another French artist called Alphonse de Neuville. However, it’s still Gustave Dorè who was the one who did lots of beautiful illustrations for the crusade.

[@iLLeag7e]

@@joellaz9836 I was very impressed by Dore; quite the artist and his body of work is spectacular. If only i possessed a fraction of the skill! I'd beat him in a youtube comment contest though

[@Numba003]

These firsthand accounts are always fascinating, no matter the time period. Thank you for these; they’re some of my favorite videos on KZbin. Stay well out there everybody, and God bless you friends. :)

[@mindymorgan8479]

I wonder if that's why kings put people to death or burned them? Kings used to be on the front of the line. Maybe they were jaded to death after war. And even put their own citizens to horrible deaths.

[@zhugeliang1000]

Possibly the best use of KZbin I can think of Thank You sir

[@nenenindonu]

The greatest Crusade victory came at the Battle of Montgisard where they defeated a far more numerous army thus being led by a teenager (Baldwin IV)

[@papazataklaattiranimam]

En öne çıkmışsın

[@BUKWulfSh0t]

Well, looks like ima Google "Baldwin IV"

[@christophermiller3780]

@@BUKWulfSh0t You're in for a treat.

[@Amantducafe]

Yep, the generals and soldiers with their armor, tactics and years of experience had nothing to do with the win, it was all because of Baldwin's military genious.

[@BUKWulfSh0t]

@@Amantducafe _genius_

[@user-dq1kr6zc2t]

Too many people think they're the only ones who walked this earth. I don't know any other place where you can hear first-hand accounts from centuries ago. Absolutely brilliant these recountings.

[@josipmarinic9663]

bro you're on the internet literally just google it lmao

[@ls200076]

@@josipmarinic9663 Konishowa

[@alexanderfreeman]

The Crusades: Giving new meaning to the saying "You are what you eat."

[@LuisAldamiz]

It's more like "protein is protein".

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

@@HAYAOLEONE Hi, Mr. Dahmer!

[@harkonen1000000]

Ass.

[@sajuarosam3854]

So based on this account, we can conclude that Europe understood the concept of the central nervous system by 1095 at the latest.

[@winzyl9546]

Even before roman times

[@ferretyluv]

They could see a spine. They understood how a spinal column attaches to a brain.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

Thr Roman physician Galen was sawing off the skull caps of cows and could make their muscles move in repeatable patterns and behaviors.

[@asabovesobelow5683]

This is an amazing perspective of this time frame and crusade, keep doing what you do this is a jewel on KZbin.

[@LuminaryCursorem]

This whole channel its so underrated.

[@mufalonami2282]

"In Bara, there was great slaughter. "In Mara, we ate Saracen ass." - Anonymous crusader, 11th Century

[@shadow7988]

TY for a video that isn't about Japanese tourism for a change.

[@redpillsatori3020]

Bahaha

[@letsomethingshine]

Haha! Perhaps some people burn more records than others...

[@averagepal572]

Things were definitely a bit more full on back in the day eh....

[@mike-0451]

Yeah they could throw it back if you know what I’m saying.

[@OtherDalfite]

The old days sound straight out of a movie. Nearly impossible to imagine something similar to these attacks happening in modern times. Imagine scaling a 3 story building using a contraption like the mobile platform shown to take it. Wild

[@mg-ew2xf]

Really puts the weirdos who who e about "the good ol days" into perspective.

[@markmcmahon6687]

Brilliant! Your narration is is a pleasure to be sure

[@seanpoore2428]

This channel is something special, it's like just the best bits of older history documentaries

[@paudsmcmack3117]

These are great! However, I can’t help but listen to these ancient accounts and hear similarities with modern day making me realize we as a species have not changed nor evolved as we think.

[@letsomethingshine]

As the fruit does not fall far from the tree, so evolution is slow. Most people who are "different from both their parents" are very similar to a mix of all 4 of their grandparents.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

I've spent the last few years studying ancient Greek and Roman history in detail. It's fascinating (and depressing) how the issues haven't changed... only the labels have changed.

[@TrevorCockerson]

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 Amen! What material and sources do you use to study? Or are you at a university?

[@-RXB-]

We haven't changed at all during this short of a timespan. But yeah it really becomes quite obvious.

[@Likexner]

Those who think we have changed fundamentally in the last couple of centuries do not know or understand history or biology.

[@cakeboss921]

People forget that us humans are not far removed from this brutality.

[@elasticharmony]

The Christians forbid the possession of gold thus this tragedy. Gold cures many social problems.

[@6sawa889]

@@elasticharmonyfound the jew comment

[@ianbambergermusic]

The brutality described in the temple is absolutely horrifying! @17:49

[@fortusvictus8297]

Lends some context the nonsense that goes on there today. The Muslim part (literally every part of the temple except the wailing wall) it is a crime against the state for a non-muslim to utter a prayer. The only place anyone non-muslim is allowed to pray is at the very bottom of the wall skirt.

[@user-zq1nz7qv7o]

This account understandably downplays the cannibalism, here is the full account: "Some people said that, constrained by the lack of food, they boiled pagan adults in cooking-pots, impaled children on spits and devoured them grilled." - Radulph of Caen, wrote in his contemporaneous account Gesta Tancredi

[@zippymufo9765]

"Some people SAID that...."

[@user-zq1nz7qv7o]

@@zippymufo9765 yeah the people that were there ?

[@zippymufo9765]

@@user-zq1nz7qv7o Yeah the people who were there "and heard a rumor that this happened" 😂😂😂

[@raulcezarpereira6710]

The narrator's voice reminds me of playing a Game called Soul Reaver. Brought me right there.

[@cornflakesandmilk8157]

Just imagine seeing an army of SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND on foot!

[@iamdanieloliveira]

That number is way off. Medieval Europe couldn't possibly have fielded that many troops.

[@volusian95]

Absolutely. We hear these numbers thrown around all the time without feeling the gravity of it. Like how it's crazy when you think that the Rohrrim Charge in Return of the King is way smaller than Sobieski's cavalry force during the Battle of Vienna

[@WiseOwl_1408]

@@iamdanieloliveira who knows.

[@iamdanieloliveira]

​@@WiseOwl_1408 Jonathan Riley-Smith (historian of the crusades) did, apparently. The real number seems to be around 40.000, including servants and other non combatants.

[@FinehomesofNewHampshire]

Ridiculous. You would need tons and tons of food. The waste alone would be awe inspiring.

[@adv1207]

It's funny how he writes about how the crusaders slaughtered everyone in a city like he wasn't apart of the killing.

[@CCCSaxsonWarmonger]

if he didnt kill anyone then he wasnt a part of the killing, this wasnt a crime this was a millitary action

[@ecta9604]

Yes, just like My Lai Toootally just a military action

[@him3990]

@@CCCSaxsonWarmonger How mentality ill do you have to be to justify thousands of inocente people being slaughtered and just calling it “military action”

[@marcusaustralius2416]

It was indeed a military action

[@htoodoh5770]

@@him3990 It was the custom of those time Muslim and Christian. Beside the crusader offer to spared them if they surrendered. When your enemy offered mercy and you reject it, you can't point fingers.

[@mahe-2268]

Producedbwith great quality. The medieval, ottoman and islamic illuminures (enluminures) are exquisite.

[@MrJinxmaster1]

Very curious how those corpse hooks worked, you'd think the attacker would have enough time to get the body away from the descending hooks (and that it would be very difficult to hook the corpse, presumably they were on a stiff pole because I cannot fathom being able to reliably hook a body with a chain or rope based solution)

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

Weren't they hooking those that were outside attacking their castle, stripping the body and tossing it back over the 🏰 wall?

[@MrJinxmaster1]

@@MrJohnnyDistortion Yeah but how do the hooks work? Seems kinda awkward to try and dangle a hook down a wall and embed it in someone good enough to pull them up.

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

@@MrJinxmaster1 Nah. You toss them out afar and drag them up.

[@MrJinxmaster1]

@@MrJohnnyDistortion oh I guess so, throw past the body, drag, snag, pull

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

@@MrJinxmaster1 Drag and snag. Like an anchor.😆

[@robertpunzell7607]

I am a descendant of the people who came from Alsace Loraine to settle the land in Rhomania .to fight the Turks and then also continue on to the Holy land . We are called Sachs esh or Transylvanian Saxon. So this historical record was speaking of Rhomania.

[@bdizzle1118]

I watched the whole thing. What a hellish experience war is. I don't know how they could've justified themselves in committing such atrocities. It's bad enough to be the aggressor in war, but slaughtering women, children, and babies?? The whole city ankle-deep in their blood?? And then BOASTING about it??? What monsters.

[@AbbeyRoadkill1]

Religion makes some people crazy.

[@jacko2244]

That was literally the norm for medieval and ancient combat, and the knee thing is a myth. there would be needed hundreds of gallons of blood to fill such a big place, and humans don't bleed that fast.

[@-RXB-]

The crusaders weren't really the aggressors though, at least in the beginning. But a large part of the crusaders (excluding the noblemen) were already murderers, rapists etc. that went on the crusade because the priests promised them forgiveness for their sins and a place in heaven if they partook in the crusade.

[@Jelly_Juice2006]

Islamic conquests aren’t aggressive? Lol

[@builderbros270]

bruh what about men, there were some innocent men and fathers died died by a sword

[@barrysmith4674]

I used to live in Malta and some of the artwork from the crusades and other artwork is absolutely amazing, I suggest anybody visit.

[@steph1433]

I would love to

[@albertcampos959]

Jesus, brutal description!! This storyteller, so articulate!

[@liegesaboya33]

I simple love the medieval paintings or drawings presented in the video , not to mention Doré's marvelous engravings , very difficult to be surpassed by any artist

[@alexanderkarayannis6425]

I still remember the introduction of a documentary on the crusades hosted by the late Terry Jones of Monty Python, as only he could...It began with the words: "This is the town of Ma'arat al-Numan in Syria, and, in midwinter of the year 1098, it was invaded...by Cannibals!..."😁 That, as it turned out, was exactly what happened.

[@user-zq1nz7qv7o]

This video's account understandably downplays the cannibalism, here is the full account: "Some people said that, constrained by the lack of food, they boiled pagan adults in cooking-pots, impaled children on spits and devoured them grilled." - Radulph of Caen, wrote in his contemporaneous account Gesta Tancredi

[@user-zq1nz7qv7o]

And Man they really couldnt count before Arabic numerals huh. 600,000 crusaders?

[@Pteromandias]

@@user-zq1nz7qv7o It's like they say about prison. Everyone is a cannibal under the right circumstances. And that reinforces for me the point that you should never get your history from a comedian. Everything has to be funny, even at the expense of the truth. And over time, the laughter dies away and all that's left are the holes where the truth used to be.

[@furiousapplesack]

@@user-zq1nz7qv7o "Some people said" doesn't sound like a full account to me. Sounds like someone playing a story up to be more extreme. I don't doubt there was cannibalism but I can't abide the often wild guesstimations of troop numbers common at the time, and vague phrases such as "some people said" or "people are saying" immediately send up red flags.

[@user-zq1nz7qv7o]

@@furiousapplesack yea, the ones that were there lol

[@captfeeny]

Perhaps the primary element of Dune that I enjoy is the encapsulation of all-out war in a medieval sense: win totally, or be brutalized utterly.

[@Useaname]

Yawn

[@fortusvictus8297]

Vae Victus

[@captfeeny]

@@Useaname Explain your response?

[@rai2423]

Of course you do 😒

[@garywright8137]

Perhaps most interesting about this is that really, humanity hasn't changed that much at all.

[@abad-enoughdude._.3919]

Omg stop...lol

[@emperoremyhriv4968]

What do you mean?

[@mr.blister4856]

I feel horrible for what both sides had to experience. Most of these men were very young, and some of them probably had never fought a war until this point. Many left the war with physical scars, but all left with mental scars.

[@risinglogosbear1208]

My favorite video so far

[@snickle1980]

My fav is the story of the "Sea Peoples" by the Egyptians and others of the time. Quite a mystery. "No one knows who they were...or what they were doing...but their legacy remains."

[@asdpl]

Love this channel

[@PrvnCoke]

13:13 "but though we spoke diverse languages, we were however brothers in the love of god and seemed to be nearest kin"

[@waltonsmith7210]

I remember reading about the First Crusade in library books when I was a teenager, and sympathizing with those plucky Europeans on a grand adventure....until the massacre of Jerusalem. That was just a bummer lol.

[@kingslegion1]

Fascinating! I always find the SMALL fellows accounts to be so so different than the others. (This account is very different) many things and places were left out. ( I dont know if voices ot the past left them (editing) or the original writer was not there (wounded or sick) or just didnt think it worthy of comment (which would be strange) But the battle of Dorylaeum, this is VERY different from all the other first hand writers including the Saracen (turks) But shows how the little fellow sees a battle HIMSELF! I am a retired Marine and i have seen this so so many times. And that young Marine was not making up stories (IT IS WHAT HE SAW AND EXPERIANCED) this is really what i see as so Fascinating.. nothing really changes.. people are people. (also, it has to be noted that a tale may be told and repeated over and over (which is not true or only partly so) and it begins to be believed and folks actually repeat it like it was true and they actually saw when they did not. (this goes both ways) Just adds to my understanding (people are people ... nothing changes) What i MEAN by Small people is not to be derogatory but is a common perception (i dont like) of anyone not in a SO called leadership position. (not to say us leaders may have a bigger picture and understanding, but the enlisted fighting man in the trenches IS NO SMALL FELLOW) (I used it Facetiously)

[@mindymorgan8479]

Why do you keep saying "small fellow"? I'm not sure if you mean a short man makes the story different? Please explain. I don't understand what your point is. Littl me white the history and aren't accurate?

[@kingslegion1]

@@mindymorgan8479 i am saying small in the context that they are not high rank but enlisted as i said the man in the trenches who also digs the holes. i am sorry but it seemed clear to me that i was being hateful to people who say take the privates word with a grain of salt and so many so called historians do this.

[@wizard4203]

these videos are the coolest shit ever. i love first hand sources, because its real, its often very different than any hollywood portrayal. it is true reality thanks bro

[@jvharbin8337]

Great video bro👍

[@79klkw]

So awful, those times. I mean people might comment that not much has changed, but I disagree. A lot has changed in most people's attitudes toward violence, and even standards during war, and criminal punishment.

[@1320crusier]

The.west has become naive and weak. Human nature doesn't change.

[@randomvintagefilm273]

The barbarism that humans are capable is so scary. People say we WERE barbaric but we still ARE. Sometimes I understand these people that just give up everything and move off grid.

[@shawntailor5485]

That's just one of many reasons ,some of us saw through the Main Act when for one reason or another witnessed the truth from behind the curtain .pawns,bishops,knights, kings and queens . Smoke and mirrors .

[@kelvyquayo]

@12:53 interesting “Gauls” are referenced as a language group along with Frankish. I know in the 1st century Irenaeus(maybe?) mentions the Gaulish language was still being used. But this writing implies even in 11th century Gauls we’re still a viable people-group? (At least in southern France). Or perhaps the use of this term is merely an anachronism of the time… 🤔

[@retyan02]

It might be Gallo-Roman.

[@Tjalve70]

I'm guessing "Gaul" in this case refers to Languedoc. Since they spoke a different language that the Franks, who were speaking langue d'oil.

[@ariyoiansky291]

Intense, man; great work!

[@michaelciarla3836]

I love these stories!!

[@R_Alexander029]

I am forever grateful to live in the 21st century.

[@OstblockLatina]

Afghanistan, Lebanon, Libya, Haiti, Nigeria, Venezuela, North Korea etc: **Are we a joke to you?**

[@aztaline5593]

All the comfort we have, yet every year depression, and suicide rates grow...

[@RealmsOfThePossible]

I'm just grateful for a comfy bed and a flushing toilet.

[@dacho707]

famous last words

[@josephanglada4785]

Your times are as good as long you experience bad things to compare. Otherwise we get the boredom, nihilist life many Western people have now. Humans never evolved to be happy, look at the levels of depression in the Rich west. They need some unhappiness to feel complete.

[@nole8923]

Dwight D. Eisenhower would have had a heart attack by the lack of logistics and planning of the crusades. The crusaders should have first transformed the island of Cyprus into a huge base. Loaded it to the brim with supplies and men. Spend months training recruits for battle. And proper battle strategy would have meant to first invade Egypt and take out the Fatimid caliphate. Then push north into the Levant. Before doing this however a diversionary force would need to be activated in Anatolia to distract the Seljuk Turks while the real offensive was taking place in Egypt. All the while there would be a steady stream of supplies and reinforcements coming from Cyprus. But, the reason why the crusades were ultimately a failure was because they didn’t take out the Fatimid caliphate at the beginning.

[@waltonsmith7210]

@nole 89 Idk, that sounds like a tall order for the capabilities of an army like this.

[@meissnerflux]

Yeah it blows my mind how big of a logistical nightmare the crusades were and how it could have gone much differently w better planning. But I get that it was in some ways unprecedented.

[@brentfarvors192]

However %100 true, these were peaceful Catholics that literally didn't have a choice BUT to decimate the Turkish slavers, whom had been ravaging peaceful Christians for the 150 years prior to the crusades...

[@Melodeath00]

Richard the Lionheart did capture Cyprus during the 3rd Crusade and did use seaborne supplies to great effect during his campaigns. As for the rest, you are pretty much describing the goal of every Crusade after the 3rd one: First take Egypt, before moving north into the Levant again.

[@AlexanderLittlebears]

The part of first taking Egypt was actually envisioned and executed by Louis IX without success

[@raymatter7793]

Malbork Castle is not, "a Polish man's home." It was Marianburg, the headquarters if the Teutonic order, taken from the Germans after WW2.

[@VoicesofthePast]

Thanks for the correction.

[@HerrRelke]

Malbork is indeed "a Polish man's home." Between 1457 and 1772 Malbork served as Polish royal residence. In 1772 castle was annexed by Prussia during first partition of Poland. Prussian devastated the castle during their reign. In 1945 castle was vastly destroyed as a result of Soviet offensive.After WW 2 the castle was rebuilt from ashes by the Republic of Poland.

[@VoicesofthePast]

Thanks for the second correction

[@raymatter7793]

@@HerrRelke it began as the headquarters of the Teutonic order. The Germans built it, the Poles comondeered it for some time and the Prussians took it back.

[@HerrRelke]

@@raymatter7793 Teutonic Order was defeated in several wars against Kingdom of Poland and Grand Dutchy of Lithuania. Malbork was taken in 1457 by the Polish forces and castle served as a residence of Polish kings. What you called: "some time" is actually about 400 years (which include total reconstruction after WWII).

[@sheepdog1102]

Excellent video!

[@jeandevalette8860]

So beautiful. Thank you.

[@gennehring1]

This dude wrote as if the Pope was over his shoulder.

[@emperoremyhriv4968]

What do you mean?

[@elizabethshaw734]

Nothing better than a good rump roast.

[@miodzio1024]

I still struggle to believe that such level of doublethink is physically possible. Some Frank using a sheep to carry his stuff is sad but mass genocide is a joyful noble deed guided by God. How can one not notice that something is off here?

[@oo00oo9]

Why do you struggle, without politicizing this comment section, you'll see in politics people from both sides of the political spectrum abhor the actions of their political rivals while doing the same to them when they acquire power. And this exists in the same country. It is only a matter of degree to go further and completely dehumanize the opponent especially living in harsher times and religions in the mix, Ideologies are a strong motivator, and the funny thing is *everybody* has an ideology or is guided by one.

[@istvansipos9940]

scientific illiteracy, childhood indoctrination, respecting religious bullsh!t. That's how. 11th century Europe

[@jacobusmarch9524]

Bro just stay at home and let them genocide you bro. It's more noble bro.

[@buffwarriors]

Because he was a priest. Priests are lowest of the low mankind can offer. Even today, they claim they pass on their lords word but in actuality they are disgusting pedos.

[@DieNibelungenliad]

Because youre pathetic. He sees the suffering of his own people to be bad but he sees the suffering of his enemies to be good. Everyone cares for their own and wishes suffering for those who they hate.

[@SamuelHallEngland]

It’s fascinating to hear how much of a rabble the crusading armies really were. This author himself testifies to the fact that his large group were completely lost and starving in Anatolia, with barely enough water. Then they show up at Antioch and the city had already been taken by the more organized European Princes’ armies. Then they were allowed to eat and drink for 4 months before continuing on together. Really fascinating!

[@stefanvella9807]

3:39 Marienburg (Malbork) Castle 🏰is really the biggest castle in the world, but Though it has became Polish Possession it was built by the ♰ Teutonic Order ♰ and served as its HQ and seat of the 👑Teutonic ✠ Hochmeister 🦅 for a long time.

[@lkrnpk]

12:52 Fascinating, like the beginnings of EU. Of course the real beginnings of EU are the Roman world, but it's always cool to know that in Europe, although bickering and fighting each other in terrible wars from time to time (or constantly), there was always this kind of unity in diversity, also in Medieval times when you could be from England and study in Italy or France, people did travel around and mix, we had Latin as common language same as now we have English. There is a debate why industrial revolution etc. happened in Europe, I think there are various reasons but one of them surely is how easy Europeans cross borders at the time. If Italian cities or Portugal did not want to fund Columbus expedition, there was always someone (Spain in that case) that would despite the fact that Columbus wasn't Spanish in no way. Or Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) for England. They did not care which part of Europe you were from, if you had a good idea, they would fund you and even ''translate'' your name so you would fit in more easily in yourt new country :D Comparing to today in EU where we are still hampered by the fact that if there is a startup in France, Poland, Finland or Spain, EU does not go all in like in USA to fund them and protect them but there are still nation state interests and local nation state markets that are in some ways protected, so promising startups or endeavors from one EU country cannot easily access the whole EU market and funding... And those expeditions pretty much was the equivalent of modern startups in those days. At that time they did not care from which part of Europe (Christian world) you were coming, if you had a promising idea, you were accepted as one of their own.

[@frederickletterblair]

It always makes sad to think about that Malbork Castle was almost totally destroyed during WWII, so much interior decor were unable to be restored.

[@fatmannoor7790]

interesting how the writer claims these huge numbers of soldiers, there's no way the turks could muster 360,000 or that 6 million people marched through Italy before retreating

[@harrisonweber3532]

Even more, during the entire siege of Jerusalem Fulcher of Chartres was in Edessa with Baldwin!

[@dersu7417]

Old sources are usually exaggerated. Look for modern sources for estimate numbers.

[@Likexner]

@@dersu7417 How do we know that the new numbers are not underestimations?

[@AmazingPhilippines1]

Interesting historical accounts and I also learn from the many comments on your channel.

[@86godhand]

Awesome insight. Thank you

[@summerruby201]

November 27, 1095: the First Crusade was instigated. 915 years later November 27th 2010: my first-born daughter was born.

[@ellenbryn]

Terrifying, but important to preserve and remember just how cruel the Crusades really were. Christianity has never fully reckoned with the atrocities perpetuated in its name, at the prompting of its leading authorities. To think this writer could speak of the mercy of God after describing the slaughter of thousands, gutted for their gold.

[@Ramoreira86]

The strong does what he can. The weak endures what he must.

[@griffinjohnson3858]

"Damn that last part Fd up" Said the great philosopher - Griffin Johnson

[@ricklocke1187]

Very well produced

[@elliotterker4813]

Actually the castle mentioned in the ad isn't polish, but german. Sure it lies in Poland but was built by the Teutonic order. In german it's called "Marienburg".

[@elvenkind6072]

It would be great to hear the whole story of the First Crusade by this narrator, but that would've been a half day - at least - of narrating.

[@xaosbob]

I mean, I'd listen to it.

[@thatguy9502]

@@xaosbob so wouls i

[@John-lv1zq]

Reminds me of that modern saying When the going gets tough The tough get going But the smart ones had already left

[@kingofbrutaltheocracy9201]

12:52 right in the feels. No more brother wars.

[@binko969]

Fascinating. Wish this was 15hrs long

[@alisadavies8943]

This is such an interesting account, it makes the history feel incredibly real. What strikes me is the deep pity and emotion with which he describes people killed by the 'Turks' and yet so dispassionately and approvingly he describes the slaughter of whole cities, almost certainly including women and children.