PROLOGUE:
On November 27, 1095 AD, Pope Urban II delivered a sermon to representatives from the corners of Western Christendom, organizing a collective military and spiritual enterprise designed to recapture Jerusalem as an apocalyptic action in preparation for the Biblical return of their Lord Jesus Christ. This Holy War, known as the First Crusade, was a miraculous venture, as much in its spiritual fervor as in its military exploits.

ACT I: THE APOCALYPTIC DARK AGE
The ecclesiastical leaders and military followers of the First Crusade were Christian men who lived during a time of social, political, and religious chaos. The generations of Western Christianity who lived during the eleventh century— the first century of the new millenium of 1000 AD— were all children of the Dark Ages. Historian and Author Umberto Ecco describes the Dark Ages as follows: “It is the period in Europe between the 7 th and 10 th centuries of the Vulgar Age… the period of greatest insecurity and desolation the continent suffered in the last three thousand years. It is the time when… any sensible person was tempted to think the end of the world was at hand.” The Christian psyche of the Western European of this period hoped for an apocalyptic end of the world— and their miseries— as a form of religious salvation. As expressed in letters, historical chronicles, and monastic writings of that time, the Christians of those years believed themselves to be upon the very doorstep of the end of their world.

In an interview, Professor Richard Landes of Boston University defines Christian apocalypticism, millenialism, and messianism, explaining how these Christian “hopes” have historically surged during times of massive social despair. He also explains the powerful Christian significance of the apocalyptic years of 1000 AD, 1033 AD, 1065 AD, and 1096 AD, all of which culminates in Pope Urban II's successful call to arms in 1095.

As expressed and supported by founding literary documents of Christianity, such as the New Testament, the Latin Versions of Paul, the Sibylline texts, and the writings of Saint Augustine, the religion of Christianity is essentially rooted in apocalyptic and messianic ideology. It is upon this apocalyptic foundation that, in 1095 AD, Pope Urban II constructed the military and spiritual machine that would become known as the First Crusade. Their goal seemed impossible: to recapture the earthly city of Jerusalem from the hands of the Muslims, and then, as dictated by their faith, greet their returning messiah who would descend from the heavens to judge the living and the dead on the apocalyptic stage of Armageddon.

ACT II: THE COUNCIL OF CLERMONT
Within the restless 11 th century climate of expecting the imminent second coming of Christ and the end of the world, Pope Urban II's Council of Clermont was an extraordinary sermon in that it was the definitive catalyst which sparked to life the explosive military and spiritual movement of the First Crusade. From the pens of five different eye-witnesses, we are fortunate today to have the very words of Pope Urban II's call to arms, much of which dripped with explicit apocalyptic language used to whip up the hearts of those listening into a spiritual frenzy: “ Enter upon the road to the Holy Sepulchre; wrest that land from the wicked race and subject it to yourselves… Jerusalem is the naval of the world. Before you engage in His battles, believe without question that Christ will be your standard-bearer and inseparable forerunner… With the end of the world already near, it is first necessary, according to the prophecy that the Christian sway be renewed… and if Antichrist finds there are no Christians in Jerusalem, no one will be there to oppose him… I speak to those present, I send word to those not here; moreover, Christ commands it!”

Preachers, prophets, and clergy alike, all passed on the word and plea of their Pope, stressing that the apocalypse was upon them, as evident by signs all around them, and promising an earthly as well as heavenly communion with Christ for those who joined the cause, regardless of their previous sins. Thus, within months of the Pope's sermon, armies of Christian soldiers mushroomed up throughout Western Christendom and began the long bloody pilgrimage of war to the Holy City of Jerusalem.

ACT III: THE CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM
On December 23, 1096, the first of many armies reached the Byzantine city of Constantinople , which would act as the eastern military gathering point for the collective Crusader army. By early May of 1097, some fifty thousand battle-hardened Christian soldiers departed from Constantinople and headed for Jerusalem . Overcoming enormous military odds time and again en-route to Jerusalem, the Crusaders firmly believed themselves to be the invincible army of God destined to destroy the unholy armies of the Antichrist and welcome a descending militant Jesus Christ.

Indeed, they believed their Lord ensured them military victory so long as they repented their sins. The chronicler Raymond of Aguillers who was part of the Crusade writes: “ If [the Crusaders] repent their offences and cry to God, the Lord raises them up… for, when [they] were all inside Antioch, defeated and humbled, God heard them and brought them his Lance as a pledge of victory, then made them triumph marvelously and gloriously over their enemies.” The “Lance” he speaks of was believed to be none other than the Roman spear which pierced Christ's body over a thousand years beforehand, revered as one of the most powerful Christian holy relics.

Upon reaching Jerusalem on June 7 th, 1099, the Crusaders had successfully spent three years conquering all the lands they passed through, including the cities of Nicea, Dorylaeum, Heraclea, Tarsus, Edessa, and Antioch. The most colorful and successful of the Crusader leaders was the Italian Knight, Prince Bohemond. An extremely clever and experienced politician, military leader, and soldier, Prince Bohemond, in addition to his victories on the open battlefield, masterminded the capture of three cities during the campaign, including Jerusalem, and eventually became the Prince of the captured city of Antioch.

EPILOGUE:
The Crusaders were convinced by the overwhelming evidence that whirled about them that they were, most certainly, by proof of their deeds, the very soldiers of Christ that Saint Augustine described in his theological masterpiece, “The City of God”: “of the Kingdom Militant in which conflict with the enemy will be carried on with warring lusts… until we come to that most peaceful Kingdom of Jerusalem in which we shall reign without an enemy… that the apocalypse speaks of.” Unfortunately for the Crusaders, they would be sorely disappointed. To fill the vacuum created by these dashed spiritual hopes, there would evolve earthly greed and political struggles as the conquered East was carved out into warring Crusader States. On May 18, 1291, nearly two hundred years after Pope Urban II delivered his sermon at Clermont in a call to arms to recapture Jerusalem, the last Crusader outpost was destroyed by Muslim forces, and the era of the Crusades had finally come to an end.