Walter Sans Avoir facts for kids

Reception of Walter Sans Avoir by the King of Hungary, who permitted him to pass through his territory with the Crusaders.

Walter Sans Avoir was a French nobleman who lived a long time ago, around the end of the 11th century. His name, "Sans Avoir," might sound like "without having," but it actually came from his family's motto, which meant "Fearless." He was an important leader during the very first Crusade, helping to lead a group called the People's Crusade.

Walter Sans Avoir and the People's Crusade

Walter Sans Avoir was a nobleman from a place in France called Boissy-sans-Avoir. He became a key leader in the People's Crusade, which was a large movement of ordinary people and some knights. This group set out for the Holy Land even before the main armies of knights, known as the "Princes' Crusade."

The Journey to Constantinople

Walter led his group of followers, who were mostly poorly armed pilgrims, on a long journey. They traveled through parts of what is now Germany and Hungary. This part of their trip went fairly smoothly.

However, when they reached the area around Belgrade, Walter's followers took supplies from the local people. This caused trouble, and the locals fought back. After this, Walter and his group continued their journey towards Constantinople, which was the capital of the Byzantine Empire. They traveled with an escort from the Byzantine army.

Joining Forces and the Final Battle

In Constantinople, Walter Sans Avoir met up with another important leader of the People's Crusade, Peter the Hermit. The Byzantine emperor, Alexius I Comnenus, helped them cross the Bosporus strait, which connects Europe and Asia.

Peter the Hermit tried to convince the Crusaders to wait and not rush into battle. However, many of the Crusaders were eager to fight the Turks. They attacked the Turks and were badly defeated. Peter the Hermit had returned to Constantinople, possibly to get more soldiers or to stay safe. But Walter Sans Avoir stayed and fought. He was killed in battle on October 21, 1096. It is said that he was hit by seven arrows during the Battle of Civetot, where the Seljuk leader Kilij Arslan I attacked him and his followers.