In considering the causal factors which inspired thousands of Europeans to embark upon the First Crusade, historians have long pointed towards a string of empowering popular movements unique to the eleventh century. The peace, communal and reform movements have been seen as paving the road to Clermont. Far less often, however, have either medieval or military historians examined how the eleventh-century wave of popular empowerment played out during the First Crusade itself.

In order to examine this relationship adequately, it is first necessary to investigate the string of religious and political evolutions chronologically: the Peace of God, the Gregorian Reformation, and finally the commune movement. These movements increased political awareness and capability throughout the lower social orders, and taught the populus to enforce conflict resolution upon their social betters.

Having analyzed the events of the pre-crusade era, I shall return to the expedition to examine how Europe's masses turned their century of domestic empowerment into foreign military success. Peering through an assortment of chronicler lenses, I shall look at four questions. First, how did the voluntary tapping of popular will manifest itself through leader selection processes on crusade?