Showing posts with label 1097. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1097. Show all posts

Sunday, March 2, 2014

West come to East


Western dukes of First Crusade,
 from left Godfrey de Bouillon,
Bohemond I of Tarent, 
Raymond IV de Toulouse,
Tancred of Hauteville
Source: wikimedia commons
1097 AD - 2 years after the famous sermon was given by Pope Urban II in Council of Clermont call for Crusades - western knights arrive at Constantinople gates. Between them there four noble dukes: 
  • Godfrey de Bouillon - second son of the count of Boulogne, with blood lineage back to Charlemagne. Born around 1060 AD in Boulogne-sur-Mer . Describe by medieval chronicler William of Tyre as taller than 'the average man ... strong beyond compare, with solidly built limbs and stalwart chest, [with] pleasing features  [and] beard and hair of medium blond'.
  • Bohemond of Tarent, son of famous Robert Guiscard (the Astute), Duke of Apulia and Calabria
  • Raymond IV of Toulouse - count of Toulouse, duke of Narbonne and margrave of Narbonne.
  • Tancred of Hauteville, grandson of Robert Guiscard so also the nephew of Bohemond.