The Council of Clermont was a pivotal assembly held in the town of Clermont-Ferrand, France, convened by Pope Urban II. It took place in the contexts of the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos's appeal for aid against the Seljuk Turks and the broader aim of recapturing Jerusalem from Muslim control. The Pope delivered an impassioned sermon that called upon Christians to take up arms and embark on a journey to the Holy Land. Urban II emphasized the significance of the undertaking as a means to reclaim the spiritual homeland of Christianity, portraying it as a sacred duty.

The response was overwhelming, and many attendees pledged their support. Urban II's call for a Crusade was not merely a call to arms; it was also an invitation to fulfill a greater spiritual purpose. He promised that those who participated would obtain indulgences—a remission of the temporal punishment for sins—thereby appealing to both the religious convictions and the societal aspirations of the medieval populace, effectively intertwining faith with martial valor.

The Council resulted in the eventual mobilization of the First Crusade, which began in 1096. This marked the beginning of a series of military campaigns that would have lasting repercussions for Christian and Muslim relations in the region and beyond. The excitement and momentum generated by the Council inspired a wave of Crusaders from various European nations, fundamentally altering the political and cultural landscape of the time. As participants headed east, they would be confronted with not just military challenges but also the complexities of interacting with the diverse populations of the Levant.