43)-- on their long trip towards Jerusalem. One key role was to speak with the rulers of the cities along the road about the pilgrims intentions and goals, thus gaining their support and permission for peaceful access and trade.
Soon Aachen reports stories of conflicts of the pilgrims with the natives-- fellow Christians, including fighting, murdering, burning of property, looting of cattle, sheep, and food. Later in his document he describes the slaughter of the Jewish people in Europe by other groups of the Peoples Crusade. It becomes clear that the pious and noble convictions of the pilgrims, along with other motives of greed and personal gain, have become mixed with actions of violence and crime. .
Justification of their actions came largely through an almost fanatical sense of purpose and justice in their mission: nothing could hold back the Spirit (of God) they followed, and no mercy be allowed to the enemies of God. Many Crusaders zealously believed that God had given them permission to do whatever was necessary, including even the most heinous crimes such as murder and plundering. They required vast amounts of provisions to complete the long journey, and if people refused to support this great mission and supply them peacefully, they used force, even with people who were fellow Christians. Aachen describes such an incident when Walter requested supplies from a Bulgarian city magistrate at Malevilla. The Magistrate denied the request and angered Walter, who began forcibly to seize and lead away the herds of cattle and sheep, which were wandering here and there through the fields in search of pasture(p.43).
There was already a sense of friction between the peoples of the east and that of the western Latin Crusaders, and their actions would lead to brutal fights between the peasant army and eastern Christians. The Latin Crusaders were from largely Germanic tribes such as Franks, Teutons, and Alamanni.