Crusades In 1095, Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade in a sermon at the Council of Clermont. He encouraged military support for the Byzantine Empire and its Emperor, AlexiosI, who needed reinforcements for his conflict with westward migrating Turks colonizing Anatolia. One of Urban's aims was to guarantee pilgrims access to the Eastern Mediterranean holy sites that were under Muslim control but scholars disagree as to whether this was the primary motive for Urban or those who heeded his call. Urban's strategy may have been to unite the Eastern and Western branches of Christendom, which had been divided since
Raoul II of Clermont of Clermont". Raoul II of Clermont Raoul II/III of Clermont-Nesle (c. 1245 – Kortrijk, July 11, 1302) was Seigneur (Lord) of Nesle in Picardy , Viscount of Châteaudun , Grand Chamberlain of France and Constable of France. Raoul was the eldest son of Simon II of Clermont (c. 1216 – 1286) by Adele ("Alix") of Montfort (d. 1279), daughter of Amaury VI of Montfort. His father had a brother called Raoul (d. a. 1243), sometimes numbered II, causing confusion about the parentage of Raoul's children, as either somehow might come into question. Having Raoul's uncle as No. II and his