Society/familiar ties reasons for going on 1st Crusade

What social reason might people have wanted to go on 1st Crusade for?

Social status - people coming back from 1st crusade after Ascalon seen as heroes.

Major figures

Family ties pressured some: Godfrey and Baldwin were brothers - Stephen and Robert were brothers-in-law - Bohemond was Tancred's uncle.

Bernard + Odo

brothers who went on crusade together

Urban II's concerns

Implied that too many people were going on the Crusade, because he said monks shouldn't go w/o Bishop's permission, and young men shouldn't go w/o wives' permission

Count Raymond of Saint-Gilles and Adhémar of Le Puy

Their friendship and connection made them both decide to go

Ages of crusaders

Included nearly all ages, with Tancred being 20 and Raymond being 59

Feudal system

Vassals may have felt pressure to follow their feudal lords due to obligations of military service for land and patronage.

Stephen of Blois

Social pressure shown by Stephen of Blois, who was shamed (largely by his wife) into returning after abandoning the crusade at Antioch.

But doesn't explain everyone

Family links don't explain everyone - there still needs to be a reason

But not all knights followed lords

Not all knights could or had to follow their feudal lord—this was an different venture.

But many resisted pressure

Many were able to resist social or feudal pressure if it existed.