Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.
The Siege of Xerigordos occurred in 1095, preceding the main First Crusade.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Siege of Xerigordos occurred in 1096, preceding the main First Crusade. It was an engagement within the People's Crusade, an earlier and less organized expedition.
The Siege of Xerigordos was a key event in the main, well-organized First Crusade.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Siege of Xerigordos was part of the People's Crusade, which was an earlier, less organized expedition that preceded the main, more structured First Crusade.
Upon landing in Asia Minor, the People's Crusade immediately established a disciplined camp and sought diplomatic solutions.
Answer: False
Explanation: The People's Crusade was characterized by a lack of discipline and organization. Upon landing, they camped and immediately began raiding surrounding villages.
The People's Crusade was known for its strict military discipline and effective leadership.
Answer: False
Explanation: The People's Crusade is consistently described as lacking strict military discipline and effective, unified leadership, contributing significantly to its ultimate failure.
Nicaea, the capital of the Sultanate of Rûm, was captured by the People's Crusade shortly after Xerigordos.
Answer: False
Explanation: Nicaea was the capital of the Sultanate of Rûm, but it was not captured by the People's Crusade shortly after Xerigordos. The People's Crusade was largely destroyed before reaching Nicaea.
The Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm was based in Persia during the time of the Crusades.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm was based in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), not Persia, during the period of the Crusades.
The Crusaders' prior raids on villages near Nicaea had no bearing on the Seljuk response to the Xerigordos incident.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Crusaders' prior aggressive raiding of villages near Nicaea likely prompted a stronger and more immediate response from the Seljuk authorities when the incident at Xerigordos occurred.
The People's Crusade was led by a single, unified command structure.
Answer: False
Explanation: The People's Crusade suffered from a fragmented and disorganized command structure, lacking unified leadership.
Navboxes help place the Siege of Xerigordos within the context of the People's Crusade and other Crusades' battles.
Answer: True
Explanation: Navigational boxes serve to contextualize specific events like the Siege of Xerigordos by linking them to broader categories such as the People's Crusade and the general history of Crusades' battles.
The source implies the People's Crusade was highly disciplined and well-coordinated.
Answer: False
Explanation: The source implies the opposite: the People's Crusade was largely undisciplined and poorly coordinated, characterized by independent actions and a lack of unified leadership.
The Siege of Xerigordos is identified as an event within which larger Crusader movement?
Answer: The People's Crusade
Explanation: The Siege of Xerigordos was an event that occurred within the context of the People's Crusade, an early and less organized expedition.
What statement best describes the command structure of the People's Crusade as implied by the source?
Answer: Fragmented and lacking unified leadership.
Explanation: The source implies that the People's Crusade had a fragmented command structure, lacking unified leadership, which contributed to its disorganization and vulnerability.
What was the significance of Nicaea during the arrival of the People's Crusade?
Answer: It was the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm.
Explanation: Nicaea served as the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm at the time the People's Crusade arrived in Asia Minor.
The People's Crusade is described as being largely unorganized. What evidence supports this in the source?
Answer: They camped at Helenopolis and began attacking surrounding villages for booty upon arrival.
Explanation: Evidence of the People's Crusade's disorganization includes their immediate raiding of surrounding villages upon arrival at Helenopolis, rather than establishing discipline or seeking diplomatic solutions.
What was the Sultanate of Rûm during the period of the Siege of Xerigordos?
Answer: A Seljuk Turkish state located in Anatolia.
Explanation: The Sultanate of Rûm was a Seljuk Turkish state situated in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) during the medieval period, which was a primary adversary of the Crusaders.
Xerigordos was a major city controlled by the Crusaders before the siege began.
Answer: False
Explanation: Xerigordos was a Turkish fort, not a major city, that the Crusaders captured. They intended to use it as a base for pillaging, not as a pre-existing stronghold.
Xerigordos was strategically important to the Crusaders primarily as a defensive stronghold against Turkish counter-attacks.
Answer: False
Explanation: The strategic importance of Xerigordos for the Crusaders lay primarily in its potential as a base for pillaging activities, rather than as a defensive stronghold.
The siege lasted for approximately two weeks, from late September to early October 1096.
Answer: False
Explanation: The siege lasted for eight days, from September 21 to September 29, 1096, not approximately two weeks.
Xerigordos was located approximately one day's march from Nicaea.
Answer: False
Explanation: Xerigordos was located approximately a four-day march east of Nicaea, not one day's march.
From the Crusader viewpoint, Xerigordos' strategic importance was mainly as a defensive position.
Answer: False
Explanation: From the Crusader perspective, Xerigordos' strategic importance was primarily as a base for pillaging activities, not as a defensive position.
Nicaea is located in modern-day Greece.
Answer: False
Explanation: Nicaea is located in modern-day Turkey, specifically in the Bursa Province.
The Crusaders captured Xerigordos to establish a permanent settlement and defend the region.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Crusaders captured Xerigordos primarily to establish a base for pillaging activities, not for permanent settlement or regional defense.
What year did the Siege of Xerigordos take place?
Answer: 1096
Explanation: The Siege of Xerigordos took place in the year 1096.
According to the source, what was the main purpose for the Crusaders capturing Xerigordos?
Answer: To use it as a base for pillaging activities.
Explanation: The Crusaders captured Xerigordos with the intention of establishing it as a base for their pillaging activities in the region.
How long did the Siege of Xerigordos last according to the provided dates?
Answer: 8 days
Explanation: The siege commenced on September 21, 1096, and concluded on September 29, 1096, resulting in a duration of eight days.
What was the approximate location of Xerigordos relative to Nicaea?
Answer: A four-day march east of Nicaea
Explanation: Xerigordos was situated approximately a four-day march to the east of Nicaea.
What does the term 'Xerigordos' also refer to in historical literature, according to the source?
Answer: Xerigordon
Explanation: The source indicates that the term 'Xerigordos' is also referred to as 'Xerigordon' in historical literature.
What is the modern-day geographical location of Nicaea?
Answer: İznik
Explanation: Nicaea, a significant city in the context of the Crusades, is located in modern-day Turkey and is known today as İznik.
The primary forces involved in the Siege of Xerigordos were the Byzantine army and the Seljuk Turks.
Answer: False
Explanation: The primary forces were the People's Crusade (specifically German Crusaders) and the Seljuk Turks. The Byzantine army was not directly involved in this particular siege.
Reinald of Broyes was the Seljuk general commanding the forces that besieged Xerigordos.
Answer: False
Explanation: Reinald of Broyes was a leader of the Crusader contingent, not the Seljuk general. The Seljuk forces were commanded by Elchanes.
The Crusader force at Xerigordos consisted of around 6,000 men, including 200 knights.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Crusader force engaged at Xerigordos was estimated to comprise approximately 6,000 individuals, including 200 knights, though this figure is noted as requiring external citation.
Reinald of Broyes moved his contingent to Xerigordos because he was satisfied with the pillaging results near Nicaea.
Answer: False
Explanation: Reinald of Broyes moved his contingent to Xerigordos because he was dissatisfied with the results of pillaging closer to Nicaea, seeking a more productive base.
Historical accounts consistently agree that Reinald of Broyes was killed early in the siege while trying to secure water.
Answer: False
Explanation: There are varying and often contradictory accounts regarding Reinald of Broyes' fate, with some suggesting death during the siege, others conversion, and some mentioning an attempt to secure water. These accounts require citation and are not consistently agreed upon.
Reinald of Broyes' primary objective at Xerigordos was to negotiate a peace treaty with the Seljuks.
Answer: False
Explanation: Reinald of Broyes' primary objective was not to negotiate peace but to establish Xerigordos as a base for pillaging activities.
Elchanes was the Sultan of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm during the siege.
Answer: False
Explanation: Elchanes was a general serving under Sultan Kilij Arslan I of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm, not the Sultan himself.
The Crusader force at Xerigordos was composed mainly of French knights.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Crusader force at Xerigordos was primarily composed of German soldiers, including knights, not French.
The Seljuk general Elchanes was tasked with responding to the Crusader incursions into Anatolia.
Answer: True
Explanation: Elchanes, as a general under Sultan Kilij Arslan I, was indeed responsible for confronting and responding to the Crusader movements within Anatolia.
Who was the leader of the Crusader contingent involved in the Siege of Xerigordos?
Answer: Reinald of Broyes
Explanation: The Crusader contingent engaged in the Siege of Xerigordos was led by Reinald of Broyes.
Which group commanded the Seljuk forces against the Crusaders at Xerigordos?
Answer: General Elchanes, acting under Sultan Kilij Arslan I
Explanation: The Seljuk forces besieging Xerigordos were commanded by General Elchanes, who was acting under the authority of Sultan Kilij Arslan I.
What does the 'citation needed' tag associated with the number of Crusader troops imply?
Answer: The number is an estimate that requires external verification.
Explanation: The 'citation needed' tag indicates that the figure for the Crusader troop numbers is an estimate and requires verification from external, reliable historical sources.
Who commanded the Seljuk forces that besieged Xerigordos?
Answer: Elchanes
Explanation: The Seljuk forces that besieged Xerigordos were commanded by Elchanes, a general under Sultan Kilij Arslan I.
What was the estimated number of knights among the Crusader forces at Xerigordos?
Answer: Approximately 200 knights
Explanation: The Crusader force at Xerigordos was estimated to include approximately 200 knights.
General Elchanes launched his attack on Xerigordos immediately upon the Crusaders' arrival, catching them by surprise.
Answer: False
Explanation: Elchanes arrived three days after the Crusaders occupied Xerigordos and initiated a siege, rather than attacking immediately upon their arrival.
Seljuk spies were used to spread misinformation about the situation at Xerigordos to the main Crusader camp.
Answer: True
Explanation: Some historical accounts suggest that Seljuk spies were employed to spread misinformation to the main Crusader camp, likely to mislead them regarding the status of Xerigordos and Nicaea.
Elchanes' army primarily relied on heavily armored infantry for the siege.
Answer: False
Explanation: Elchanes' forces primarily consisted of mounted archers, known for their speed and ranged combat capabilities, which proved effective against the Crusaders.
The Seljuk Turks' main military advantage at Xerigordos was their superior siege weaponry.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Seljuk military's primary advantage lay in their speed, mobility, and the effectiveness of their mounted archers, rather than superior siege weaponry.
Mounted archers were not utilized by the Seljuk forces at Xerigordos.
Answer: False
Explanation: Mounted archers were a key component of the Seljuk forces led by Elchanes and played a significant role in their tactical approach during the siege.
What military unit type was particularly effective in the Seljuk army led by Elchanes?
Answer: Mounted archers
Explanation: Mounted archers were highly effective in the Seljuk army led by Elchanes, contributing significantly to their tactical success during the siege.
What does the source suggest about the Seljuk tactics used during the siege?
Answer: A swift surprise attack using mobile mounted archers.
Explanation: The source suggests that the Seljuk tactics involved a swift surprise attack, leveraging the speed and ranged capabilities of their mobile mounted archers to effectively besiege the unprepared Crusader forces.
What tactic did the Seljuks reportedly use to mislead the main Crusader camp at Civetot regarding Xerigordos?
Answer: Spreading misinformation through spies about the fort's status.
Explanation: Reports suggest that Seljuk spies were used to spread misinformation to the main Crusader camp at Civetot, likely concerning the status of Xerigordos and other strategic points.
The source mentions 'rain of arrows and smoke' endured by the Crusaders. What does this suggest about the siege methods?
Answer: The Seljuks used ranged attacks and possibly smoke screens.
Explanation: The mention of 'rain of arrows and smoke' indicates that the Seljuks employed ranged attacks, likely with archers, and potentially utilized smoke screens as part of their siege methods.
The Siege of Xerigordos concluded with a decisive victory for the Crusaders.
Answer: False
Explanation: The siege concluded with a decisive Seljuk victory, resulting in the recapture of the fort by the Turkish forces.
The Seljuk forces during the siege were significantly outnumbered by the Crusaders.
Answer: False
Explanation: The source text indicates that the strength of the Seljuk forces was unknown, but their effective tactics suggest they were not significantly outnumbered or were able to compensate for any numerical disadvantage.
Following the Seljuk victory, Xerigordos remained under Crusader control as a pillaging base.
Answer: False
Explanation: Following the Seljuk victory, the fort of Xerigordos was recaptured from the Crusaders and reverted to Seljuk control.
The primary challenge faced by the Crusaders during the siege was a lack of effective leadership and internal conflict.
Answer: False
Explanation: While leadership issues were present in the People's Crusade generally, the primary challenges during the siege itself were the swiftness of the Turkish attack, lack of supplies, and critically, the absence of an internal water system.
The Crusaders' desperate measures for water included drinking the blood of their horses and asses.
Answer: True
Explanation: Accounts describe the Crusaders suffering immensely from thirst, resorting to extreme measures such as drinking the blood of their horses and asses, and consuming urine.
Relief forces successfully reached the besieged Crusaders at Xerigordos, breaking the Seljuk siege.
Answer: False
Explanation: According to the provided text, relief forces never arrived for the Crusaders trapped and besieged at Xerigordos.
The Crusaders surrendered Xerigordos after holding out for nearly a month under siege.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Crusaders held out for eight days before surrendering, not nearly a month.
The terms of surrender proposed by the Crusaders involved them fighting for the Seljuk Turks.
Answer: True
Explanation: The leader of the German Crusaders proposed surrender terms that included the Crusaders fighting for the Seljuk Turks.
All Crusaders who surrendered at Xerigordos were killed by the Seljuks.
Answer: False
Explanation: While some Crusaders who refused to renounce their faith were killed, others reportedly converted to Islam and became slaves, though this latter claim is noted as dubious.
The 'dubious' tag applied to the fate of some Crusaders suggests the claim of their conversion to Islam is well-established historical fact.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'dubious' tag indicates that the claim regarding the conversion to Islam and enslavement of some Crusaders is contested or uncertain, not that it is well-established fact.
A 'Seljuk victory' at Xerigordos meant the Crusaders successfully defended the fort.
Answer: False
Explanation: A 'Seljuk victory' signifies that the Seljuk forces successfully repelled the Crusader attack and recaptured the fort, meaning the Crusaders did not defend it.
Besides thirst, the Crusaders were also subjected to missile attacks and smoke.
Answer: True
Explanation: In addition to the severe lack of water leading to extreme thirst, the besieged Crusaders endured attacks involving missiles, such as arrows, and were also subjected to smoke, indicative of the siege tactics employed by the Seljuk forces.
The option for Crusaders to convert to Islam suggests the Seljuks strictly adhered to executing all captured enemies.
Answer: False
Explanation: The existence of an option for conversion suggests that the Seljuks did not strictly adhere to executing all captured enemies, offering an alternative, albeit potentially coerced, path.
The description of the Crusaders' suffering from thirst indicates the Seljuk siege was ineffective.
Answer: False
Explanation: The severe suffering from thirst highlights the effectiveness of the Seljuk siege in cutting off essential resources, particularly water, thereby contributing to the Crusaders' eventual surrender.
What was the primary outcome of the Siege of Xerigordos?
Answer: A decisive Seljuk victory and recapture of the fort.
Explanation: The primary outcome of the Siege of Xerigordos was a decisive Seljuk victory, resulting in the recapture of the fort from the Crusaders.
What critical resource did the fortress of Xerigordos lack, severely impacting the besieged Crusaders?
Answer: An internal water system
Explanation: The fortress of Xerigordos critically lacked an internal water system, leading to severe thirst and hardship for the besieged Crusaders.
What happened to some of the Crusaders after they surrendered at Xerigordos, according to the source (though noted as dubious)?
Answer: They converted to Islam and became slaves.
Explanation: Upon surrender, some Crusaders reportedly converted to Islam and were subsequently enslaved. However, the source text explicitly notes this particular claim as dubious.
What desperate measures did the Crusaders resort to due to the lack of water during the siege?
Answer: Drinking horse/ass blood and urine.
Explanation: Due to extreme thirst, the Crusaders resorted to desperate measures, including drinking the blood of their horses and asses, and consuming urine.
What does the description of the Crusaders drinking horse blood and urine reveal about the Seljuk siege?
Answer: The siege was effective in cutting off essential resources like water.
Explanation: The extreme measures taken by the Crusaders, such as drinking horse blood and urine, vividly illustrate the effectiveness of the Seljuk siege in completely cutting off vital resources, particularly water.
The Seljuk victory at Xerigordos had little impact on Sultan Kilij Arslan I's subsequent actions.
Answer: False
Explanation: The victory at Xerigordos significantly boosted Sultan Kilij Arslan I's confidence, emboldening him to take further action against the remainder of the People's Crusade.
The Battle of Civetot occurred before the Siege of Xerigordos.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Battle of Civetot occurred after the Siege of Xerigordos. It was the subsequent major engagement where the Seljuk army defeated the main body of the People's Crusade.
The image caption 'The defeat of the People's Crusade' suggests Xerigordos was an isolated incident unrelated to the larger expedition's failure.
Answer: False
Explanation: The caption 'The defeat of the People's Crusade' implies that Xerigordos was a significant part of, or contributed to, the overall failure of the expedition, rather than being an isolated event.
The Battle of Civetot was a minor skirmish that occurred long after the main Crusades.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Battle of Civetot was a major engagement that occurred shortly after the Siege of Xerigordos, representing a decisive defeat for the People's Crusade and occurring during the early stages of the First Crusade.
What immediate consequence did the Seljuk victory at Xerigordos have on Sultan Kilij Arslan I's strategy?
Answer: He became more confident and attacked the rest of the People's Crusade.
Explanation: Emboldened by the Seljuk victory at Xerigordos, Sultan Kilij Arslan I dispatched his army to attack and defeat the remaining forces of the People's Crusade at the subsequent Battle of Civetot.
What does the source imply about the overall success of the People's Crusade?
Answer: It was largely a failure, leading to its premature destruction.
Explanation: The source implies that the People's Crusade was largely unsuccessful and met with premature destruction due to its lack of discipline, organization, and effective leadership.