This episode is brought to you by Paradox Interactive, the creators of the game Crusader

Kings 3, so that we can talk about all of the logistics of going on a medieval crusade

and look at how the first crusade played out.

I've been losing weekends to this game and if you want to experience the grand strategy

adventure and delve into the world created by Crusader Kings 3, be sure to take advantage

of the free play weekend on Steam that runs from the 8th of September to the 12th.

That's right, if you're listening as this podcast is released, that's right now.

So give it a try and see how many weekends you lose before you rule the world.

At the Council of Claremont in November 1095, Urban implored Christians to go east to save

the Byzantine Empire and to take Jerusalem and the surrounding Holy Land from the Fatimid

Caliphate. Urban reportedly told those listening with baited breath that God exhort you as heralds

of Christ to repeatedly urge men of all ranks whatsoever, knights as well as foot soldiers

rich and poor to join up. He added, for all those going dither, there will be remission

of sin if they come to the end of this fetted life while either marching by land or crossing

the sea or in fighting the pagans. This, I grant to all who go through the power vested

in me by God. This golden ticket guaranteeing salvation was more than enough for many to risk

the long and dangerous journey. The crowd roared enthusiastically in response, deus vult, deus

vult, God wills it, God wills it. This was the preaching of the first crusade, the beginning

of a period that was then viewed through a prism of religious duty and glory, but now

seem more clearly as a long series of dark moments that left deep scars across the regions

it affected. Jerusalem had been in muslim hands since 637 and they'd been generally tolerant

of other faiths and pilgrims. Muslims and Christians had already been fighting for a long

...