Historical Figures

Peter the Hermit(1050 - 1115)

Peter the Hermit is from around Amiens. In 1095, he would have gone on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem from where he would have returned with a letter from God ordering the Christians to come to the aid of their co-religionists in the East. He is the main preacher of the first crusade. An eloquent orator, he led popular elements to the Holy Land in 1096, haranguing the crowds he encountered. After the failure of the popular crusade, he joined Godefroi de Bouillon and took part in the siege of Jerusalem by organizing processions around the city. At the end of the crusade, he returns to the West with relics.