A first crusade event chain and more fleshed out crusades

[ESKEHL]

I think that the First crusade are a bit randomized, and since it is basically as big of a happening in history as the Lodbrok-brothers invasion of England, if not even bigger, I would really like a event-chain that kicks in once the Seljuks (or any other muslim ruler) wins a war against Byzantine Empire. It might need a refined screen, and perhaps some politics added to it?

For example, out of five major crusades to the holy lands, two of them ended up in strange places. The first crusade was basically a call of aid from the eastern emperor to the pope for the defence of Christendom in the east. It was never meant as campaign of conquest of the Levant. The fourth crusade ended up not in Egypt as intended but with the overthrow of the Byzantine Empire, and the creation of the Latin Empire.

So perhaps, the pope initiate a crusade, but what happens at the crusade might be a different story? This could be the focus for a lot of intrigue between rulers.

 

[Opanashc]

During preparation phase of any Undirected Great Holy war (Great Holy War declared by Spiritual Head of Faith, such as the Pope) characters who pledged military support, can spend piety to change the target kingdom. Thus, the mechanic is there.

 

[Pitt The Elder]

I agree that the First Crusade needs to be fleshed out far more, but you shouldn't ignore the pilgrimage tradition that preceded the First Crusade, or overstate Alexios' hand in it.

Western Catholics had been making the (overland) pilgrimage for a long time, and many of the leaders now famous today had some experience on the pilgrimage route and were familiar with it. Meanwhile the Crusade as preached in the West clearly had Jerusalem front and center as a destination, for the Westerners involved in it aiding the Empire was a secondary goal. A campaign of conquest across Syria-Palestine is exactly what several of the western leaders envisaged.

Alexios certainly intended to use the Crusader army as an appendage of the Roman state, and very nearly succeeded in converting them into that, but of course did ultimately lose control of the enterprise.