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
archive.org/st...
and the translation by Martha Evelyn McGinty:
CHRONICLE OF THE FIRST CRUSADE
(Fulcheri Carnotensis Historia Hierosolymitana)
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS 1941
babel.hathitru...
Soundtrack licensed from Epidemic Sound/Artlist.
Footage from Videoblocks.

[@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.

[@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” ?

[@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

[@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

[@CapitalistDeathCult]

@@junkequationthat’s actually not too far off

[@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.

[@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".

[@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

[@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.

[@rainbowodysseybyjonlion]

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

[@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.

[@kinggizandthelizwiz7977]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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!"

[@CarlosAlejandro.-ke6gr]

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

[@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 👍

[@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.

[@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.

[@nikkolomakaveli8295]

I see the Crusades as the world war of its day. It really was an interesting time hearing about the sheer scale of their war and the mental fortitude it required is astounding.

[@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.

[@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!!!!!!!!!!

[@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.

[@zhugeliang1000]

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

[@asabovesobelow5683]

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

[@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.

[@SammytheStampede]

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

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

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

[@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

[@loganstroganoff1284]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@markmcmahon6687]

Brilliant! Your narration is is a pleasure to be sure

[@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

[@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_

[@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.

[@LuminaryCursorem]

This whole channel its so underrated.

[@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

[@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.

[@seanpoore2428]

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

[@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...

[@sajuarosam3854]

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

[@Anonnonner9546]

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.

[@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.

[@TEFFTPATTERN]

You can understand this if you lived through 9/11. Just apply that societal shift to Catholicism in Europe. The week before 9/11, patriotism and American pride existed but there wasn’t any reason for people to rally around it. The week after 9/11, there was an American flag on every porch, the US military was inundated with more new recruits than they could even process, and if you were old enough to remember the general “mood” in the country, all of a sudden everyone was a hardcore patriot. That’s how it happened with the Crusades. You have to remember that Europe was cut off from the rest of the world because of Islamic piracy for 400 years, but that was far away for common folk. It was when the Muslims started invading and pillaging southern Europe with the goal of swallowing the entire continent that the Crusades were called. Civilizations can have an ideology in sleep mode for centuries, but you show them a common enemy and then show them a serious threat, that ideology comes alive like an angry dragon who was startled out of his afternoon nap

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@raulcezarpereira6710]

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

[@mufalonami2282]

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

[@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.

[@kasimirdenhertog3516]

My direct ancestor apparently joined this field trip. When they left, he was a squire. Once he reached Jerusalem, he was knighted by Godfrey himself. The only other bit of story that seemed to have survived, is that he had an argument with an Italian nobleman who was wielding a shield with a similar crest. This ended badly for the Italian.

[@AmazingPhilippines1]

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

[@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

[@Kneejair]

@@iamdanieloliveira who knows.

[@iamdanieloliveira]

​@@Kneejair 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.

[@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.

[@ptr8198]

​@@kingslegion1Fulcher de Chartres was not a "small man", he was a priest who was part of Stephen II of Blois' entourage. He later became the chaplain of Baldwin of Boulogne who them became King Baldwin of Jerusalem!

[@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

[@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."

[@jeandevalette8860]

So beautiful. Thank you.

[@GeorgeMonet]

"those skilled at counting numbers estimated 600,000". I don't those people are as skilled as they claimed...

[@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" 😂😂😂

[@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.

[@marvwatkins7029]

That technique for coin finding is quite clever.

[@michaelciarla3836]

I love these stories!!

[@albertcampos959]

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

[@TieisAwsom]

I like how even though the crusading army was incredibly diverse (having people from essentially everywhere in Europe) they still treated each other like brothers

[@robertleo8006]

no more brother wars

[@giftzwerg7345]

As long as we are United by a common enemy we can Band together suprisingly Well.

[@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.😆

[@georgethoms2806]

Great narrative, as always. I definitely enjoy these stories and feel like I travel back in time, hearing them. This time I noticed one possible mistake, caused probably by the translation from the original version. You mention few times the country of ROMANIA, but in 1095 it didn’t exist. Romania appeared over 3 centuries later. Is it possible that the author is referring to RUMELIA, instead? RUMELIA, was the territory around Constantinople, on the European side of actual Turkey.

[@vivienj9072]

"Romania" in this context refers to this: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Empire

[@georgethoms2806]

@@vivienj9072 So, it’s not about Romania, as I said before

[@vivienj9072]

@@georgethoms2806 "Is it possible that the author is referring to RUMELIA, instead?" It is Literally the same place. Yes, it *is* about Romania. Depending on where one was from, they (at that time) used the word "Romania" when discussing that place. Take the information offered to you, and move on. Master your impulse to argue and correct, you'll be a better person for it.

[@georgethoms2806]

@@vivienj9072 The information is crap . Do us a favor and do not spread it … or even worse to insist that other people swallow it. Your ignorance is surpassed only by your arrogance.

[@asdpl]

Love this channel

[@russellspear4911]

Blessed are the crusaders and soldiers of Christ throughout all time.

[@ihavenojawandimustscream4681]

It is very funny seeing Christians having to invent entirely new verses to justify their brutality against the direct scolding of their pacifistic Messiah who said blessed be the meek and give your left cheek to those who slap your right

[@mahe-2268]

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

[@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 😒

[@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

[@helicocktor]

The polygonal wooden structure of the theater is more accurate than the refurbished circular design. Learned it from an historian specializing in Ancient Greek. 👍

[@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

[@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?

[@elizabethshaw734]

Nothing better than a good rump roast.

[@ariyoiansky291]

Intense, man; great work!

[@binko969]

Fascinating. Wish this was 15hrs long

[@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.

[@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.

[@builderbros270]

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

[@Captain_Insano_nomercy]

@@AbbeyRoadkill1 how do you explain the barbarism of WW1 and 2 then? Lol

[@John-lv1zq]

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

[@brianombeba8633]

Cool to know the first ever crusade was initiated on my birthday.

[@ricklocke1187]

Very well produced

[@patrickpilkington6241]

Lovely channel. It’s so reverent and quite beautiful if I’m allowed to say. The soundtrack is always particularly good and so well focused to compliment what is being seen or heard throughout a given video or chapter/episode. This episode is particularly good and had me heartfelt connected to this person’s harrowing ordeal and absolute piety. The notion of so many seeing no reason to go off and die and making up face saving spins to allow them to not get guys kids killed. Called cowardly, perhaps rightly so, who am I to say, still.. it’s good to see that there for better or worse, will always be the guy or guys who ask, “Wait…. You want me…. You want my whole hamlet…. You are asking us to March how far and to face countless dedicated “heathens” on their very hot turf with little water and how many are going to be there? They also like to decap-i-what now?” The bishop responds assuredly, “Yes. That’s right. Shall we pack your things. Bring the sheep and dogs btw. (Mumbles) gonna need to not bring so much shit. Sheep can’t carry fuck all.” “What was that?” “Nothing. Crusades! Who says? What do you say now? Are you ready to get going?” Blinks. Blinks two more times “Hey um, listen…. The town and I have decided we are going to stay back and make sure that there are not any Viking raids where our wives and kids are just doing their things g currently. Good luck with that whole thing in the land of milk and honey. Tell us all about it when your head is making its way home on the back of ole’ Buster the dog.” The end. Bow Bow

[@henriashurst-pitkanen8735]

Wait until the bath salts wear off before writing public comments.

[@ashhempsall9803]

​@@henriashurst-pitkanen8735are you the thought police? 🐈‍⬛

[@PrvnCoke]

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

[@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

[@jvharbin8337]

Great video bro👍

[@lanaconin5704]

It’s so hard to find things like this

[@knightd00b]

This was great!! I hope there is a new Crusade soon!! This current situation sucks!

[@masterkex1]

Could you make a video about the early printing press

[@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?

[@5thjudge]

Fun little fact, I am a descendant of Fulcher de Chartre.

[@JacobafJelling]

Upload more often

[@1StepForwardToday]

It's astonishing to hear the toils, terrors and suffering that so many people who came before us courageously endured, in order to give us what we have today. It makes me feel a sense of duty to honor all of their sacrifices. As if, my life isn't just my own, but it's also indebted to my community, those before me, and their cause. Loving these history from the lips videos. Thanks👍

[@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.

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

The acts committed in the name of Jesus by the roman Catholic Church are absolutely horrific. Talk about twisting the words of Christ

[@user-di8hm2jl2u]

Because it was not the words of Christ but by the Pope, the alleged vicar of Christ on earth.

[@CarlCoppinger]

Right... The sad part is that the Roman Catholic Church thought all of the slaughter pillage and destruction was justified because someone else had a different imaginary friend...... god is a cunt.

[@lettucearsebiscuits8375]

Lmao which acts? The Church founded by Christ cannot, has not, and will not sully His name. No true follower of Christ intended for all of these atrocities, even if they claimed to be one.

[@86godhand]

Awesome insight. Thank you

[@chamabeisser]

I absolutely love your stuff....but at about 03:24 when the audio went stereo I thought a grown British man was right behind me and I nearly s@#t myself.