when did the first crusade begin

The First Crusade is generally considered to have begun with Pope Urban II’s call to arms at the Council of Clermont on 27 November 1095. Many historians also note 15 August 1096 as the “official” departure date, when the main crusading armies were meant to set out for the Holy Land.

Key dates in brief

• 27 November 1095 – Pope Urban II preaches the crusade at Clermont, launching the First Crusade in idea and intention.

• 15 August 1096 – Target date set for the crusading hosts to depart from Western Europe, often cited as the formal start of the armed expedition.

• 1096–1099 – Main campaigns of the First Crusade, ending with the capture of Jerusalem in July 1099.

In short: the First Crusade “began” as a movement on 27 November 1095, and as a marching army in mid‑August 1096.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.