Peter the Hermit

Peter the Hermit (French: Pierre l'Ermite; c. 1050 – 8 July 1115 or 1131), also known as Little Peter (Petit Pierre), Peter of Amiens (Pierre d'Amiens), or Peter of Achères (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 identified with the Rhineland massacres that occurred during 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.