First Crusade Authors

Question 1

Fulcher of Chartres: 1100-1106

Answer 1

STRENGTHS
Writing close to events
Access to leaders and archives
Lived in the East

WEAKNESSES
Church reform
Praise Baldwin
Recruit people to the East

Question 2

Gesta Francorum: 1100-1101

Answer 2

STRENGTHS
First hand account, soldier under Bohemond.
Present at battles
Wrote close to the time

WEAKNESSES
Anti Byzantine
Not much knowledge of Muslims
Self aggrandisement

Question 3

Robert the Monk: 1107

Answer 3

STRENGTHS
Very popular at the time

WEAKNESSES
Not there at the time
Stressed religion
Distrusted Byzantines 
Relied heavily on the Gesta

Question 4

Ibn al-Athir: 1231

Answer 4

STRENGTHS
Access to accounts and written histories, Mosul

WEAKNESSES
Written much later, after Saladin
Anti Frankish
Relied on al-Qalanisi

Question 5

Ibn al-Qalanisi: 1056-1160

Answer 5

STRENGTHS
Eyewitness to the First Crusade
Damascus, good view of Muslim sentiments
Written during the time

WEAKNESSES
Lacks precision on Christian actions