Peter the Hermit

This article is about the 12th-century French priest. For the 4th-century saint, see Peter the Hermit of Galatia.
Peter the Hermit
Peter the Hermit preaching the Crusade to a crowd
Personal life
Bornc. 1050
Amiens, Kingdom of France
Died8 July 1115 or 1131
Other namesCucupeter, Little Peter, Peter of Amiens, Peter of Achères
OccupationPriest
Religious life
ReligionRoman Catholic
ChurchRoman Catholic church

Peter the Hermit (c. 1050 – 8 July 1115 or 1131), also known as Little Peter, Peter of Amiens (French: Pierre d'Amiens) or Peter of Achères (French: Pierre d'Achères), was a Roman Catholic priest of Amiens and a key figure during the military expedition from France to Jerusalem in 1096 known as the People's Crusade. Amongst Jews he is best remembered for the massacres of Jews that occurred under his leadership and the precedent they set for subsequent Crusades. He has sometimes been called "Blessed" Peter the Hermit, although he has not been beatified in the Catholic Church.

After leading his followers through Europe, Peter’s armies were almost entirely annihilated by the Seljuk Turks, forcing him to winter in Constantinople and join up with the Prince’s Crusade. After that, he continued to have a leadership role in varying degrees of significance as the Crusaders invaded the Levant and took Jerusalem.

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