The First Crusade: a success?

To what extent did the response to Urban II's call to Crusade in 1095 correspond to the pope's plans? "The remarkable success of Urban's crusade seemed to confirm his preaching theme that God was fighting with the crusaders" -Penny J. Cole This view, that the First Crusade was a great success, is still generally accepted today, as it was by contemporaries. The crusaders themselves, convinced that their mission had been achieved, "entitled their chronicles Gesta Dei …

…for the First Crusade, in "History", Oct. 1003 <Tab/><Tab/> <Tab/>Knightly Piety and Lay Response to the First Crusade, (New York, 1993) Cole, Penny J. The Preaching of the Crusades (USA, 1991) Cowdrey, H. E. J. Pope Urban II's preaching of the First Crusade, in "History", no.55 Foss, Michael People of the First Crusade, (London, 1997) Mayer, H. E. The Crusades, (1988) Pernoud, Regine The Crusades, (London, 1962)