Political Events

The First Crusaders march south from Antioch in January, leaving Bohemond of Otranto to rule Antioch. Jerusalem falls to the Crusaders July 15 after a siege of just over 1 month; the streets of the city run knee-deep in blood as the Crusaders slaughter 30,000 to 40,000 Muslims and Jews, raping women and girls, setting fire to mosques and synagogues. The First Crusade comes to an end, and Jerusalem will not be returned to Islam until 1187.

A kingdom of Jerusalem is established under the Norman Godfrey of Bouillon, who is elected king and assumes the title Defender of the Holy Sepulchre. He defeats a 60,000-man Egyptian force with just 1,200 cavalry and 9,000 infantry at Ascalon on the coast August 12, inflicting heavy casualties in a surprise dawn attack on the Fatimid camp and driving the emir al-Afdal's forces into the sea, but disease and starvation have reduced the Crusaders to 60,000, down from an original strength of 300,000, and most of the survivors head for home.

El Cid (Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar) dies in July at age 59 after finally being defeated by the Almoravid sultan Yusuf ibn Tashufin at Cuenca (see 1094). His widow will hold Valencia against the Almoravids until 1102.

Scotland's former king Donald III (Donald Bane) dies in prison at Rescobie at age 66 (approximate) and is buried on Iona.

Commerce

The First Crusade sparks a renewal of trade between Europe and Asia. A large fleet from Venice winters at Rhodes, where the Venetians are joined by Pisans (see 1098), but fighting will break out between the two groups, the Venetians will prevail, and Pisa will agree not to trade at any Byzantine port.

Religion

Arab Maronites welcome the invading Crusaders to the fastness of Mount Lebanon, where they have found refuge. When the Church broke apart in 1054, the Maronites chose Rome over the weakening Greek Orthodox hierarchy in Constantinople but were driven decades ago from Syria's Orontes River Valley.

Pope Urban II dies at Rome July 29 at age 56 (approximate) after a 12-year reign. He is succeeded August 13 by Cardinal Raniero, who will reign until 1118 as Paschal III.

Arnulf of Chocques (Arnulf Malecorne, or Arnulf of Rohea), chaplain to Robert I, duke of Normandy, is elected Latin patriarch of Jerusalem August 1 and forces all local Christians to conform to the Latin rite (but see politics, 1100).

Agriculture

Crusaders plant fields of sugar cane in the Holy Land (see 300 B.C.; food and drink, 1148).

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