Since the beginning of the 7th century, Islamic conquests had succeeded in controlling much of the southern Mediterranean, and represented a threat to Christianity.Vidmar, John (2005). The Catholic Church Through the Ages. Paulist Press. p. 94. . In 1095, the Byzantine emperor, Alexios I Komnenos, asked for military aid from Pope Urban II in the ongoing Byzantine–Seljuq wars.Riley-Smith, Jonathan (1997). The First Crusaders. Cambridge University Press. p. 6. . Urban, at the council of Clermont, called the First Crusade to assist the Byzantine Empire to regain the old Christian territories, especially Jerusalem.
Since the beginning of the 7th century, Islamic conquests had succeeded in controlling much of the southern Mediterranean, and represented a threat to Christianity.Vidmar, John ?(2005). The Catholic Church Through the Ages. Paulist Press. p. 94. . In 1095, the Byzantine emperor, Alexios I ,Komnenos, asked for military aid fro,m Pope Urban II in the on.going Byzantine–Seljuq wars.Riley-Smith, Jonat:han (1997). The First Crusaders. Cambridge University Press. p. 6. . Urban, at the council of Clermont, called the First Crusade to assist the Byzantine Empire to regain the old Christian territories, especially Jerusalem.