historiandaily:“Now that the city was taken, it was well worth all our previous labors and
historiandaily:“Now that the city was taken, it was well worth all our previous labors and hardships to see the devotion of the pilgrims at the Holy Sepulchre. How they rejoiced and exulted and sang a new song to the Lord! For their hearts offered prayers of praise to God, victorious and triumphant, which cannot be told in words. A new day, new joy, new and perpetual gladness, the consummation of our labor and devotion, drew forth from all new words and new songs. This day, I say, will be famous in all future ages, for it turned our labors and sorrows into joy and exultation; this day, I say, marks the justification of all Christianity, the humiliation of paganism, and the renewal of our faith. "This is the day which the Lord bath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it,” for on this day the Lord revealed Himself to His people and blessed them.“ -Chaplain Raymond D’Aguilers, Historia francorum qui ceperint JerusalemJuly 15, 1099- After three long years of hardships and a month long siege, the Christian of the First Crusade take complete control of Jerusalem from the Fatimid Caliphate. Casualties from fighting were relatively light from the Muslims, but once the Crusaders were in the city a brutal massacre raged for two days and two nights. The streets ran with so much blood it was described as coming up “to the fetlocks of the horses.” Even civilians placed under the protection of Tancred in the Temple quarter were slaughtered. Pope Urban II, who had lit the fire of Crusade in the West three years prior, died just two weeks after the siege ended, never learning of its success. Following their victory, Godfrey of Bouillon was named Defender of the Sepulchre, as he refused to be crowned a king in the city were Christ had died. The city would become the capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the de facto capital off all of Outremer, also known as the Crusader States. Picture- Conquest of Jerusalem, Emile Signol, 19th century -- source link