View source for Walter Sans-Avoir

'''Walter Sans-Avoir''', also known as '''Walter the Penniless''', was one of the leaders of the [[People's Crusade]], the initial stage of the [[First Crusade]] which started in 1096.

A minor [[lord]], the impoverished Walter led a small force from [[France]] to Constantinople and was joined by a large [[army]] of peasants led by [[Peter the Hermit]].  They crossed the [[Bosphorus]] and, despite the urgings of [[Alexius I]] to wait for the large professional armies gathering in western [[Europe]], promptly engaged the [[Turk]]s.

Walter led a force, made mostly of [[German]]s, to the [[castle]] of [[Xerigordon]], where they were be[[siege]]d.  As the castle lacked an adequate supply of [[water]], the defenders suffered greatly before being overrun and massacred; Walter himself died in the final defense.

[[category:People (medieval)]]