A historical event of epic significance, the First Crusade has fascinated scholars for many reasons, one of which is its origin—the catalyst behind this massive military expedition. The spark that ignited Europe and convinced half the continent to literally take up "arms and baggage" and embark on an adventure to liberate the Holy Land was the famous speech of Pope Urban II, delivered during the Council of Clermont in 1095.

However, the departure of a military contingent was also welcomed by another key figure who had long remained in the shadows: the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118). Urban II’s call to arms was effective, but the situation in the East was already known to contemporaries, thanks to Alexios himself. For years, the emperor had been sending envoys to the West, pleading for military assistance against the Turks, who had advanced to the very gates of Constantinople.

Despite his efforts, Alexios had been unable to halt the Seljuk advance in Asia Minor. The empire was in a dire situation—besieged on the north and east by the Pechenegs and on the south by the Turks, who had conquered major Christian cities in Asia Minor, including Nicaea, Smyrna, Ephesus, and Antioch. With his empire teetering on the brink of collapse, Alexios turned to the only remaining option: seeking military aid from the West.

He established ties with Urban II, who, with the support of the Normans in southern Italy and the French nobility, succeeded in rallying half of Europe to the Byzantine Empire’s aid. Alexios’ decision, though risky, proved to be a wise one. The Crusaders recaptured the cities of Asia Minor one by one—including Antioch—and restored them to the emperor.

The First Crusade triggered profound changes in the West, not all of which would be beneficial to the Byzantine Empire in the long run. However, Alexios had achieved his goal: he had safeguarded his empire, reclaimed crucial cities that had fallen into enemy hands, and, most importantly, solidified his own power through the success of the Crusade.