The list of sources for the Crusades provides those contemporaneous written accounts and other artifacts of the Crusades covering the period from the Council of Clermont in 1095 until the fall of Acre in 1291. These sources include chronicles, personal accounts, official documents and archaeological findings. As such, these lists provide the medieval historiography of the Crusades.

A number of 17th through 19th century historians published numerous collections of original sources of the Crusades. These include Recueil des historiens des croisades (RHC), Monumenta Germaniae Historica (MGH), Revue de l'Orient Latin/Archives de l'Orient Latin (ROL/AOL) and the Rolls Series. Other collections are of interest to the Crusader period include Recueil des historiens des Gaules et de la France (RHF), Rerum Italicarum scriptores (RISc), Patrologia Latina (MPL), Patrologia Graeco-Latina (MPG), Patrologia Orientalis (PO), Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium (CSCO) and Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society (PPTS).

Modern reference material to these sources include Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Dictionary of National Biography,Dictionary of National Biography. Neue Deutsche Biographie,Neue Deutsche Biographie. Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie,Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie. Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages,Crusades. The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages (2010). R. Bjork, ed. Catholic Encyclopedia,Bréhier, Louis (1908). "Crusades (Sources and Bibliography)". In Catholic Encyclopedia. 4. New York. New Catholic Encyclopedia,. Encyclopedia of the Medieval Chronicle, Encyclopædia Iranica, Encyclopædia Islamica and Encyclopaedia of Islam. Contemporary histories include the three-volume A History of the Crusades (1951–1954) by Steven Runciman; the Wisconsin collaborative study A History of the Crusades (1969–1989) edited by Kenneth M. Setton, particularly the Select Bibliography by Hans E. Mayer; Fordham University's Internet Medieval Sourcebook; and The Crusades: An Encyclopedia, edited by Alan V. Murray.

Principal Western sources for the history of the Crusades The Western sources for the history of the Crusades begin with the original Latin chronicles. Later works on the First Crusade were mostly derived from these and are exemplified by William of Tyre's Historia and its continuations. The later Crusades produced a vast library of first-hand accounts, biographies and chronicles. Other sources include official documents and communications, personal letters and accounts, and topics such as archaeology and numismatics.Edgington, Susan, and Murray, Alan V. "Western Sources". The Crusades - An Encyclopedia. pp. 1269-1276. Retrieved 10 October 2020.

Original Latin chronicles of the First Crusade

The major chronicles of the First Crusade by contemporaneous Western authors are listed below, referenced to RHC, Runciman and Murray.Rubenstein, Jay (2005). "What is the Gesta Francorum, and who was Peter Tudebode?". Revue Mabillon. 16: 179–204.Lapina, Elizabeth (2015). Warfare and the Miraculous in the Chronicles of the First Crusade. Penn State University Press.

Gesta Francorum. Gesta Francorum (Deeds of the Franks) is an anonymous chronicle that proved to be one of the most popular accounts of the First Crusade. The chronicle, also referred to as Anonymi Gesta Francorum, is reputed to be written by a follower of Bohemond of Taranto and covers the period from November 1095 until the battle of Ascalon in 1099. It was first published in late 1100 or early 1101. (Ges. D., RHC Oc., Volume 3.II, Runc. Vol I, pp. 329–330, 344) Peter Tudebode. Peter Tudebode was a Poitevin priest in the army of Raymond of Saint-Gilles. His Historia de Hierosolymitano itinere, with Præfatio, was released shortly after the very similar Gesta Francorum, edited by French historian Jean Besly (1572–1644). Tudebode's version includes additional material, including the death of Crusader Rainald Porcet who died at the siege of Antioch in 1098. (RHC Oc., Volumes 3.I, 3.II, MPL 155, Runc. Vol I, pp. 330, 346)Briquet, Apolin (1858). "Jean Besly". In Nouvelle Biographie Générale, 5. pp. 794-796. Historia belli sacri. Historia belli sacri (Tudebodus imitatus et continuatus) was a history written by an unknown monk at the Abbey of Monte Cassino around 1130. The Historia covers the First Crusade and the early days of the Principality of Antioch ending with the death of Bohemond II of Antioch in 1130. The Historia drew material from Gesta Francorum and Gesta Tancredi. (RHC Oc., Volume 3.III, Runc. Vol I, pp. 330n, 345) Raymond of Aguilers. Raymond of Aguilers (died after 1105) was a participant in the First Crusade and eventually became chaplain of Raymond of Saint-Gilles. His chronicle, Historia Francorum qui ceperunt Iherusalem (History of the Franks who captured Jerusalem), known as Historia Francorum, concentrated on Raymond's exploits. The work covered the period from the journey to Constantinople in 1096 until the end of 1099, after the capture of Jerusalem. He may have had access to portions of Gesta Francorum but his work is regarded as independent. Pons of Balazun, a member of Raymond's army, is credited as a co-author of Historia Francorum. (RHC Oc., Volume 3.IV, Runc. Vol I, pp. 328–329, 346) Fulcher of Chartres. Fulcher of Chartres (c. 1059 – after 1128) was a priest who participated in the First Crusade eventually joining Baldwin I of Jerusalem. His chronicle Gesta Francorum Iherusalem Perefrinantium (Historia Hierosolymitana) consists of three volumes. The first covers the period from the Council of Clermont in 1095 until the death of Godfrey of Bouillon in 1100. The second covers the reign of Baldwin I from 1100–1118, and the third the partial reign of Baldwin II of Jerusalem from 1118–1127 when the narrative was interrupted by the plague in Jerusalem. Because Fulcher was with Baldwin I in Edessa from 1098, some material in his chronicle was derived from Gesta Francorum and Historia Francorum. The three volumes were written from 1100–1106, 1109–1115 and 1118–1127, and compiled into a second edition by Fulcher before his death. (RHC Oc., Volume 3.V, VI, Runc. Vol I, pp. 329, 345) Albert of Aachen (Aix). Albert of Aachen (died after 1150) was a historian, presumably German, who wrote the fullest contemporaneous account of the First Crusade in his Historia Hierosolymitanae expeditionis (History of the Expedition to Jerusalem). His chronicle covers the period from the Council of Clermont until 1121. It was written between 1125 and 1150, and has long been regarded as the most authoritative source of the period, but immune from criticism. (RHC Oc., Volume 4.III, Runc. Vol I, pp. 331, 344, Runc. Vol II, p. 476) Ekkehard of Aura. Ekkehard of Aura (died 1126) was a Bavarian abbot of Aura and participant in the Crusade of 1101. He wrote his Hierosolymita in five recensions from 1098-1125, covering first the period from 1057 through the First Crusade. The final recension is known as Chronicon universale (World Chronicle) and is an extension of the work of Frutolf of Michelsberg. The fourth recension of Hierosolymita makes use of Sigebert's Chronicon sive Chronographia providing a perspective on the Rhineland massacres of Jews in 1096. (RHC Oc., Volume 5.I, MGH Scriptores VI, MPL 156, Runc. Vol I, p. 330)"Ekkehard of Aura: Hierosolymita and World Chronicle". Internet Medieval Sourcebook. Fordham University. Robert of Reims. Robert of Reims, abbot of Saint-Remi (1055–1122), wrote his Historia Hierosolymitana that covers his participation at the Council of Clermont until as late as 1120. His history was written between 1107–1120 and is regarded as source material for the work of Gilo of Toucy. (RHC Oc., Volume 3.IX, pp. 717–882, MPL 155, Runc. Vol I, pp. 330, 346) Baldric of Dol. Baldric of Dol (1046–1130) was bishop of Dol-Bretagne when he wrote his Historiae Hierosolymitanae libri IV, an account of the First Crusade based on Gesta Francorum. His work was edited by Pierre de Maillezais. He also wrote Vita di Roberti de Arbrisello, a biography of Robert of Arbrissel. (RHC Oc., Volume 4.II, MPL 166, Aa. Ss. 6, Runc. Vol I, pp. 115n, 330, 344) Radulph of Caen. Radulph of Caen (Ralph of Caen) (1080 – after 1130) was a Norman chaplain who wrote Gesta Tancredi in expeditione Hierosolymitana (The Deeds of Tancred in the Crusade). Ralph accompanied Bohemond of Taranto in 1107–1108, and wrote Gesta Tancredi in 1113. (RHC Oc., Volume 3.VIII, RISc 5, Runc. Vol I, pp. 331, 346) Guibert of Nogent. Guibert of Nogent (1055–1124) was a Benedictine historian who wrote Dei gesta per Francos (Deeds of God through the Franks) based on Gesta Francorum and Gesta Tancredi. The history was written in 1108 and reworked in 1121. Dei gesta includes an account of the Council of Clermont and an eyewitness account of the preachings of Peter the Hermit. (RHC Oc., Volume 4.II, Ges. D., MPL 156, Runc. Vol I, pp. 108n, 113n, 124n, 330, 345) Most of the original sources were collected in Gesta Dei per Francos (Ges. D.), compiled by French historian Jacques Bongars (1554–1612).Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Jacques Bongars. Encyclopædia Britannica. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 204. The Gesta also includes works by William of Tyre, Marino Sanudo and Pierre Dubois. (Runc. Vol III, pp. 441n, 493)

Contemporaneous works on the First Crusade

Works derived from the original Latin sources written primarily in the early part of the 12th century are listed below.

Major Sources. Major contemporaneous sources that are frequently cited include the following.

Bardolf of Nangis. Bartolf of Nangis (died before 1109) was a French historian who, in 1108, published Gesta Francorum Iherusalem expugnatium that drew heavily on Gesta Francorum and Fulcher's now lost 1106 manuscript. (Runc. Vol I, pp. 329, 344) William of Malmesbury. William of Malmesbury (1095–1143) was a prominent English historian whose Gesta Regum Anglorum (Deeds of the Kings of the English) discusses the Council of Clermont based on Fulcher's Gesta Francorum Iherusalem Perefrinantium and includes an account of the White Ship disaster which claimed the lives of over 140 knights and noblemen including famed Crusader Ralph the Red. (MPL 179, Runc. Vol I, pp. 329, 347)Norgate, Kate (1900). "William of Malmesbury". In Dictionary of National Biography. 61. pp. 351-354. Richard of Poitiers. Richard of Poitiers (died 1174) was a French monk at Cluny Abbey who wrote (The Chronicle of Richard of Poitiers), a chronicle of history from Genesis to the 1170s. His account of the Crusades were taken from Fulcher of Chartres. (Runc. Vol I, p. 329) Sicard of Cremona. Sicard of Cremona (1155–1215) was an Italian prelate and historian who wrote his Chronica Universalis that covers universal history from the creation to 1213, includes material based on Fulcher of Chartres' work. His work was continued by Salimbene di Adam's Cronica. (MGH Scriptores XXXI, RISc 7, Runc. Vol I, p. 329, Runc. Vol II, p. 479, Runc. Vol III, pp. 17n, 479) Hugh of Fleury. Hugh of Fleury (died after 1118), also known as Hugo Floriacensis or Hugo de S. Maria, was a French Benedictine monk who wrote Itineris Hierosolymitani Compendium based on Tudebode's Historia. (RHC Oc., Volume 5.VIII.vi, Runc. Vol I, pp. 330, 345)Mershman, Francis (1910). "Hugh of Fleury". In Catholic Encyclopedia. 7. New York. Henry of Huntingdon. Henry of Huntingdon (1088–1157) was an English historian whose De Captione Antiochiae is excerpted from his Historia Anglorum (The History of The English). It was written before 1129 and includes a section on the First Crusade based on Tudebode's Historia. (RHC Oc., Volume 5.VIII.x, Runc. Vol I, pp. 330, 345)Luard, Henry (1891). "Henry of Huntingdon". In Dictionary of National Biography. 26. p. 118.