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
Simon II of Clermont-Nesle the famous Robert VIII Bertrand , a Marshal of France. His brothers were famous French generals, Raoul of Clermont, Viscount of Châteaudun and Seigneur of Nesle, Constable and Grand Chamberlain of France, and Guy I of Clermont, Marshal of France, Seigneur of Offemont and Ailly, both killed 1302 in the Battle of the Golden Spurs. Simon II of Clermont-Nesle Simon II of Clermont-Nesle (born after 1250 – died 22 December 1312 or c. February 1313), Peer of France and bishop of Noyon (1297–1301) and Bishop-count of Beauvais (1301–c. 1312). Simon was one of few bishops that supported King Philip IV