Army composition during Crusades

[EmoPro]

Would the army composition of crusaders be of higher majority of knights/men at arms? I cant comprehend the image where normal peasant farmers abandoning their farms to go on crusade with their lords...

How was it played out historically I wonder...

 

[RhaegarTelcontarTargaryen]

I cant comprehend the image where normal peasant farmers abandoning their farms to go on crusade with their lords...

How was it played out historically I wonder...

Exactly like that. Not that they had much choice in the matter either, but religious fervor that was caused by Urban's call for the liberation of the holy land from the infidels was quite incomprehensive compared by today's standards. Not to mention there was a whole thing called Peasant's Crusade or People's Crusade.

 

[Serenity84]

There were several crusades of common people. Most ended with their armies marauding around the European countryside (often killing Jews). One made it to Anatolia.

And not all peasants had a great life. Besides oppressive feudal obligations they also suffered from famine and general poverty. Combined with the religious fanaticism of the time that could motivate some of them to pack things up and do such an insane thing

 

[ogarrr]

Exactly like that. Not that they had much choice in the matter either.

Levies weren't really a thing. Most crusaders took their retinues, their knights and their men at arms (who didn't have a choice, but probably wanted to go anyway). Sure there were plenty of tag alongs, but the crusaders were surprisingly disciplined and incredibly well trained. Just look at the Battle of Dorylaeum which was an astounding display of military discipline and patience.

 

[Henry IX]

The organised crusades (2nd, 3rd, etc.) were largely professional affairs with knights and men-at-arms making up a large proportion of the forces. Feudal levies could only be raised for limited periods of time, after which they had to be paid. For a long duration event like a crusade, the forces were made up of various professional and semi-professional forces.

However, there was a constant flow of crusaders from a range of backgrounds, including peasants during the crusades as well as some 'spontaneous' peoples crusades.

The 1st crusade was also a more complex thing, with some limited evidence that a significant proportion of the forces involved being various lower-class religiously motivated people. The chroniclers were only interested in the deeds of the nobility, but there are a few references that are suggestive of large numbers of non-noble crusaders outside of the formal feudal structures of the crusade.