Civitot
Camp located close to Nicée where was massacred the popular crusade of Pierre the Hermit by the Turks the October 21st 1096.
The popular crusade of Pierre the Hermit arrives at Constantinople in July 1096. At the beginning of August, it crosses the the Bosphorus with Byzantine ships. The emperor Alexis Ier Comnène installs them in Civitot, a camp arranged previously for mercenaries, at less than one day of walk of Nicée, then with the hands of the sultan saljûqide of Rum Kilitch-Arslan.
The Christians plunder the country to supply themselves. Towards mid-September, they approach Nicée where they run up against a patrol of riders Turkish, which are cut in parts. Two weeks later, a franque troop, including/understanding some knights but especially thousands of plunderers, takes the road of Nicée, circumvents the city and takes by surprised the fortress of Xérigordon. Kilitch-Arslan, then old 17 years, goes towards the fortress, where to celebrate their victory, the Francs are enivrent. The Turks prohibit the access to the water provision of the fortress, located outside the walls. Besieged, in prey with thirst, capitulate. Their Renaud chief and some one of his companions agree to convert with Islam. They are sent in captivity towards the towns of Syria or Central Asia. The other Francs (nearly 6000 men) passed to the wire of the sword.
Kilitch-Arslan makes run the noise by two Greek spies in the camp of Civitot that Renaud with succeeds in taking Nicée, and that it is laid out not to let itself dispute the richnesses of the city by his co-religionists. The Francs are ready to pass to the action to take part in plundering, when an survivor of Xérigordon arrives and restores the truth. Wisest among the Francs preach the calm one, but the excitation begins again, this time to avenge the martyrs.
The October 21st at dawn, the Westerners leave their camp They fall into a ambush under the arrows from the Turks, ebb towards the camp and are exterminated in their escape (nearly 20.000 men). Only two to three miles men, having succeeds in being barricaded in an unused fortress leant with the sea, will be recovered by the Byzantine fleet. Pierre the Hermit, then with Constantinople, thus the safe life. The youngest women are distributed to the emirs or are sold like slaves.
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