Logistics of the First Crusade

Acquiring Supplies Amid Chaos

Gregory D. Bell

In the late eleventh century, tens of thousands of people—knights and peasants, men and women, priests and lords—set out on a long and arduous journey to retake the holy city of Jerusalem. They traveled thousands of miles across difficult terrain and into hostile territory. How did they accomplish this remarkable task? How did they move through such an ever-changing and diverse landscape? Logistics of the First Crusade: Acquiring Supplies amid Chaos looks at the plans that they made and the methods they implemented to sustain themselves on this remarkable expedition in an attempt to understand how they persisted on the First Crusade. The crusaders sought to implement order as they traveled, moving with intent and adapting when confronted with hardship. In the end, they succeeded largely through their logistical perseverance.

Lexington Books

Pages: 226 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼

978-1-4985-8640-5 • Hardback • October 2019 • $117.00 • (£90.00)

978-1-4985-8642-9 • Paperback • October 2021 • $44.99 • (£35.00)

978-1-4985-8641-2 • eBook • October 2019 • $42.50 • (£35.00)

Subjects: History / Military / Medieval

Logistics of the First Crusade

Acquiring Supplies Amid Chaos

Hardback

Paperback

Summary

In the late eleventh century, tens of thousands of people—knights and peasants, men and women, priests and lords—set out on a long and arduous journey to retake the holy city of Jerusalem. They traveled thousands of miles across difficult terrain and into hostile territory. How did they accomplish this remarkable task? How did they move through such an ever-changing and diverse landscape? Logistics of the First Crusade: Acquiring Supplies amid Chaos looks at the plans that they made and the methods they implemented to sustain themselves on this remarkable expedition in an attempt to understand how they persisted on the First Crusade. The crusaders sought to implement order as they traveled, moving with intent and adapting when confronted with hardship. In the end, they succeeded largely through their logistical perseverance.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 226 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼

978-1-4985-8640-5 • Hardback • October 2019 • $117.00 • (£90.00)

978-1-4985-8642-9 • Paperback • October 2021 • $44.99 • (£35.00)

978-1-4985-8641-2 • eBook • October 2019 • $42.50 • (£35.00)

Subjects: History / Military / Medieval

Author

Gregory D. Bell is assistant professor in the Department of History and director of the Medieval Studies Program at Winthrop University.

Table of Contents

Part I: Establishing Supply Practices: European Preparations and the Siege of Nicaea

Chapter 1: Logistical Preparations and Implementation in Europe

Chapter 2: Controlled Violence

Chapter 3: Pilgrims at Nicaea

Part II: The Road to Anioch: Crossing Anatolia and the Siege of Antioch

Chapter 4: Into Anatolia

Chapter 5: Approaching Antioch: Vying for Control on Land and at Sea

Chapter 6: Feeding the Army at Antioch

Chapter 7: The Siege of Antioch: Success through Logistics

Part III: Picking Up the Pieces: Re-establishing Logistical Practices and the Siege of Jerusalem

Chapter 8: A Pilgrim’s Progress: Besieged at Antioch

Chapter 9: Continued Delays and Strife after Antioch

Chapter 10: Success at Jerusalem: Food, Water, and Siege Engines

Reviews

This thoroughly researched and richly detailed study of supplying the First Crusade makes two important contributions. It demonstrates firstly that the crusaders were capable, thoughtful, effective, judicious, and—if necessary—ruthless in supplying themselves. Secondly, the First Crusade’s logistical success reveals more skillful leadership than previous scholarship has usually portrayed.
— Alex Roland, Duke University

Logistics of the First Crusade

Acquiring Supplies Amid Chaos

Gregory D. Bell

Logistics of the First Crusade

Acquiring Supplies Amid Chaos

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