The best introduction to the subject! "The New York Times Book Review"

—Updated Jul 19, 2011

This is a must reading for anyone interested in medeival warfare. This book documents the call to arms by Pope Urban II and the rally to arms by some of the great counts of France. It tells of the of the early crusaders' slaughter of Jews in German cities like Mainz along the northern which prevented this first group from crossing into Hungarian territory due to the infamous reputation that preceeded them. Later groups groups managed to assuage the Hungarians so that the overland route to Holyland could be used. Others led by the redoubtable Count Bohemand of southern Italy's Normans crossed the Adriatic by ship and entered Byzantine territory.

Just the journey of reaching the Holyland was arduous but upon reaching Constantinople the Crusaders had to negotiate with Byzantine Comnenus and swear oaths of fealty in exchange for intelligence, military, and logistical support with Alexius. It was an uneasy arrangement distrusted by both sides each using the other. The Byzantines to regain lost territory lost to the Seljuk Turks and the Crusaders for food and supplies plus military assistance. The cooperation among the leaders of the crusaders was brought about by Adhemar, the Pope's emissary for the crusade. All the hardships and bloody battles which the crusaders fought and should have lost but won show incredible hardship, endurance, courage and dedication. Finally when the prize was indeed almost within their grasp and the leaders fell out over greed of who would control conquered cities and land. Count Baldwin, Bohemond and Raymand quarrels led to the march on Jeruselum being taken by Raymand until he stopped ton conduct a seige for personal reason on the way. A rebellion of the rank and file finally led by Count Godfrey led to the capture of Jerusalem. After the immediate capture the crusaders face an ovewhelming army of the Egypting fatimids to retake Jerusalem and in an epic battle the crusaders won. This book is a must to read and it reads like a cliff hanger novel yet it is history and not fiction. The first crusade exceeded far beyond latin Christendon dreams and then current military acheivements. It was never to be repeated.

—Updated Jun 24, 2010