Crusades: a Comparison Paper of “Albert of Aachen on the Peasants’ Crusade” and “Anna Comnena’s Alexiad” from the Crusades: a Reader

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The Crusades A Comparison Paper of “Albert of Aachen on the Peasants’ Crusade” and “Anna Comnena’s Alexiad” from The Crusades: A Reader The perspectives of these two writings differ in a number of ways, especially in regard to their opinions of the Western Christians, and in their recollections about the actions of (and their reactions to) Peter the Hermit. Albert of Aachen appeared to view Peter as an extremely honest, persuasive, and pious priest who believed that all Christians were good, and whose words struck a chord in a variety of people during the year 1096, calling them from all walks of life to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. His words alone managed to cultivate a fortuitous friendship with a foot soldier named Walter the Penniless who took up arms and men to journey to the Holy Land at Peter’s request. Albert of Aachen speaks of the subsequent events of the journey with a humble, innocent, yet eloquent flair, strongly flavored with a bias favoring the Western Christians. The actions of both Walter and Peter come across as righteous, just, fair, and forcibly reactionary, as though they only act out of necessity and for vengeance. Upon arrival at Malevilla, Peter is forced to see evidence that fellow Christians had stolen some of Walter’s soldiers’ weapons and armor. “But, when Peter recognized the injury to his brethren, at the sight of their arms and spoils, he urged his companions to avenge their wrongs.” (49) Albert of Aachen writes that Emperor Alexius of Constantinople as equally pleased and impressed with Peter and his actions. “A second message of the emperor was urging him to hasten his march to Constantinople, for, on account of the reports about him, the emperor was Wharram 2 burning with desire to see this same Peter.” (51) Peter was portrayed as ever obedient to the emperor, and was granted license to trade while

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