Final answer:
The statement that Peter the Hermit led an ill-fated peasants' crusade in 1096 is true. This act was part of the broader Crusades, and his poorly organized group suffered a devastating defeat in Anatolia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Peter the Hermit did indeed lead an ill-fated peasant's crusade in 1096, marking the statement as true. This event was part of the larger series of Crusades that were military campaigns sanctioned by the Latin Church during the medieval period. The peasant crusade led by Peter the Hermit was characterized by its lack of organization and its early arrival in Constantinople.
The participants, amped up by religious fervor and images of a holy pilgrimage, did not wait for more organized crusader groups and met a disastrous defeat at the hands of the Turks in Anatolia. This incident highlighted the challenges of moving large groups of people across long distances during medieval times and illustrated the diverse motivations and tragic outcomes of the crusading movement.