One of the end goals of the First Crusade was the capture and conquering of Jerusalem from the Seljuk Turks. According to History.com, “After resting and reorganizing for six months, the crusaders set off for their ultimate goal, Jerusalem. Their numbers were now reduced to some 1,200 cavalry and 12,000 foot soldiers” (Onion, Sullivan and Mullen 2010). This capture took approximately seven weeks. The crusader army set up camp outside Jerusalem and began to build fortifications and prepare to take the city of Jerusalem. Once the crusaders were able to breach the armaments of Jerusalem, they slaughtered many of the inhabitants of the city. They hunted and massacred many of the tribal people and Jewish people who inhabited the city. Anna Komnena describes the massacre as, “They encircled its walls and made frequent attacks on them and besieged the [286] town and within one lunar month they took it and killed many of the Saracenic and Jewish inhabitants. When they had brought all into subjection and no one resisted them, they invested Godfrey with supreme authority by unanimous consent, and called him 'king.'” (Comnena 2001). The act of naming Godfrey the king of Jerusalem was taken well by Emperor Komnenos and the other crusader army leaders. Unfortunately for the crusaders and the Byazantine Emperor, Godfrey was only ruler for a short time before he died. This left an important hole that needed to be filled by those in charge. After much discussion and debate, it was decided that Balduinus would be appointed as king. Anna describes this decision as, “Consequently when the Latins in Jerusalem heard he had gone to the metropolis and was lingering there, they sent for Balduinus, who was then at Edessa, and appointed him King of Jerusalem. The Emperor received Isangeles with great pleasure and when he heard that Balduinus had accepted the sovereignty of Jerusalem, he kept him with him” (Comnena 2001). With a ruler in place, the crusaders were ready to continue with their missions.

Comnena, Anna. “The Alexiad of Anna Comnena Book XI.” Internet History Sourcebooks, February 2001. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/AnnaComnena-Alexiad11.asp.

Onion, Amanda, Missy Sullivan, and Matt Mullen. “Jerusalem Captured in First Crusade,” March 3, 2010. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jerusalem-captured-in-first-crusade.