Walter Sans Avoir's Expedition

Timeline

1. c. 1096Cologne · RhinelandWalter Sans Avoir led roughly several thousand French crusaders (including eight knights and many common pilgrims) out of Cologne first after Easter, unwilling to wait for Peter the Hermit to finish preaching. The band traveled east along the traditional trade routes of the Rhine, Neckar, and Danube.
2. 1096Kingdom of Hungary · HungaryWalter sent envoys to Hungarian King Coloman requesting passage and supplies, and received a friendly reception. The expedition crossed all of Hungary unharmed, reaching Zemun by late May and crossing the Sava River into the Byzantine borderlands.
3. c. 1096Belgrade · Byzantine borderlandsThe Byzantine border commander refused the crusaders entry to the city, and Walter's men plundered the outskirts for food, sparking clashes with the garrison. Sixteen men were captured while raiding a market in Hungarian territory across from Syrmium, and their armor was hung on the city walls as a display. The band was eventually escorted by the Byzantines to Niš to await permission to pass.
4. c. 1096Constantinople · Byzantine EmpireWalter's expedition reached Constantinople under Byzantine escort, becoming the first main force of the People's Crusade to arrive in the East. Emperor Alexios I provided supplies and demanded an oath of allegiance, then ferried the troops across to Asia Minor. Walter later joined Peter's main force, and both encamped together at Civitate.