Who led the People's Crusade of 1096?

Peter the Hermit led the People's Crusade of 1096, the popular and poorly organized opening movement of the First Crusade. A priest from Amiens, Peter became famous as an energetic preacher who urged ordinary Christians to take the cross and travel to Jerusalem.

The movement followed Pope Urban II’s call for a crusade at Clermont in 1095. Thousands of pilgrims, peasants, minor knights, and other followers began moving east before the better-equipped armies of princes arrived. Walter Sans Avoir led an important contingent, so Peter was not the only commander, but he was the movement’s principal spiritual and military leader.

The People's Crusade suffered badly during its journey through Europe and the Balkans. After reaching Constantinople, its forces crossed into Anatolia despite Byzantine warnings to wait for the main crusader armies. Seljuk forces under Kilij Arslan I destroyed most of the army at Civetot in October 1096.

Peter survived and later joined the main First Crusade, although his influence declined. The usual misconception is that the People's Crusade was simply an army of unarmed peasants: some participants were trained soldiers, but the force was far less organized than the later Princes’ Crusade.