ABSTRACT
We speak of the First Crusade, but we need to be clear that this apparent unity disguises the fact that it was made up of several main armies with their own leaders, and many smaller contingents which attached themselves to these, and that the fighting elements were accompanied by large numbers of noncombatants. These diverse groups were welded together by an ideological purpose, the liberation of Jerusalem, but the unity imposed by that aim was more deeply felt at some times than at others, and by some people more than others. The First Crusade was only loosely united, and at times its unity broke down, but never sufficiently to deflect strong forces within it from their goal.
