Pope Urban II, as recorded by Robert the Monk

On November 27, 1095, Pope Urban II convened a general council of all bishops and cardinals of the Catholic Church at the city of Clermont in central France. Declaring that "It is the will of God," Urban called upon all Christians to participate in a holy crusade whose purpose was to win back Jerusalem from Moslem control. Urban's impassioned plea for a crusade was an unqualified success. Within four years of his now famous speech, the Christian West was in control of the Holy Land. Four different versions of Urban's speech have survived. However, the following version, written by a priest referred to as Robert the Monk, is the only eyewitness account.

In the year of our Lord's Incarnation one thousand and ninety-five, a great council was celebrated within the bounds of Gaul [France...