Crusader Godfrey of Bouillon making an oath of allegiance to the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos in Constantinople.

 Nikola Benin

This painting shows crusader Godfrey of Bouillon making an oath of allegiance to the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos in Constantinople.

This oath of allegiance was the basis for the First Crusade, in which European knights retook Byzantine lands for the glory of Christendom.

Godfrey would prove to be a slippery customer. Though much of Byzantine land would be returned to the Emperor he would break his oath to return Jerusalem.

The establishment of several latin states on the Levantine coast would usher in a fascinating era which we'll soon cover on the podcast.
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