The Council of Clermont

The Council of Clermont, held in 1095, was a pivotal meeting of church leaders and nobles in France. Pope Urban II called the council to address various issues, particularly the plight of Christians in the Holy Land. It was during this gathering that Urban urged Europeans to launch the First Crusade to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control. His passionate speech inspired thousands to join the movement, marking the beginning of a series of religious wars known as the Crusades, which aimed to secure Christian access to holy sites and spread Christianity.