Calls for reinforcements from the newly established Kingdom of Jerusalem, and Pope Paschal II, successor to Pope Urban II (who had died before learning of the outcome of the crusade that he had called), urge a new expedition.

He has especially urged those who had taken the crusade vow but had never departed, and those who had turned back while on the march.

Some of these people are already scorned at home and face enormous pressure to return to the east; Adela of Blois, wife of Stephen, Count of Blois, who had fled from the Siege of Antioch in 1098, is so ashamed of her husband that she will not permit him to stay at home.

As in the first crusade, the pilgrims and soldiers had not left as a part of one large army, but rather in several groups from various different regions from across Western Europe.

In September 1100, a large group of Lombards had left from Milan.

These are mostly untrained peasants, led by Anselm IV, Archbishop of Milan.

When they reached imperial territory, they had pillaged it recklessly, and Emperor Alexios I had escorted them to a camp outside Constantinople.

This did not satisfy them, and they made their way inside the city where they pillaged the Blachernae palace, even killing Alexios' pet lion.

The Lombards had been quickly ferried across the Bosporus and made their camp at Nicomedia, to wait for reinforcements.

At Nicomedia, they are joined in May 1101 by a smaller but stronger contingent of French, Burgundians, and Germans, under Stephen of Blois, Stephen I, Count of Burgundy, Odo I, Duke of Burgundy, and Conrad, constable of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor.

Joining them at Nicomedia is Raymond IV of Toulouse, who is now in the service of the emperor.

He is appointed overall leader, and an imperial force of Pecheneg mercenaries is sent out with them under the command of General Tzitas.

This group marches out at the end of May, towards Dorylaeum, following the route taken by Raymond and Stephen in 1097 during the First Crusade.