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The First Crusade (1096-1099) astonishingly captured Jerusalem with fewer than 15,000 knights and foot soldiers, defying the odds against larger Muslim forces. What's often surprising is the role of Peter the Hermit, a charismatic preacher who, before the main crusader armies set out, led a "people's crusade" of peasants. Lacking military discipline, this early wave met a disastrous end, yet Peter's influence highlights the crusade's complex blend of faith, fervor, and the unforeseen impact of individual charisma on historical events.
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