Crusades – All About

In this article we will explain to you what the historical «crusades» in the Middle Ages are all about. This article belongs to the subject History and expands on the topic of the Middle Ages.

FOR MEMORY: At the end of the summary you will find «The most important things at a glance!» on the Crusades. Everything you need to know on one cheat sheet!

Why were there the Crusades?

The origin of the Crusades lies in the so-called «Holy War» declared by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in November 1095 AD. The background was to make the important Christian pilgrimage sites in Jerusalem accessible to Christian pilgrims again after Turkish tribes (Seljuks) conquered Jerusalem around 1070 AD. Christian believers then felt called upon to liberate Jerusalem from an Islamist «rule». In addition, sympathizers of the «holy war» hoped to gain not only salvation but also new lands in the Middle East.

What were the main Crusades?

The historically first crusade took place after the Council of Clermont under the leadership of the preacher Peter of Amiens. Due to poor organization, this crusade ended as early as 1096 AD, with the followers of Amiens being defeated by the Seljuks in Asia Minor.

Subsequent to this defeat and also in 1096 AD, the actual first crusade began with the aim of penetrating as far as Jerusalem. The following of this crusade movement consisted of French, Lorraine and Norman knights and was far better organised. The army of knights finally reached Jerusalem in 1099 AD via Constantinople (cf. Istanbul). After several heavy battles, the city was occupied and was now back in Christian hands. Then, in AD 1100, the Kingdom of Jerusalem was proclaimed, with Baldwin of Boulogne proclaimed the first king of that kingdom. In addition to Jerusalem, the cities of Edessa, Antioch and Tripoli were also conquered in the course of this crusade movement.

However, the city of Edessa was reconquered by a Muslim army in 1144 AD, which is why Pope Eugene III. then called for the Second Crusade. However, due to lack of planning and poor organization, this crusade movement ended as early as 1149 AD, with Edessa remaining under Muslim rule.

In 1187 AD, Muslims led by Sultan Saladin were able to retake Jerusalem. Pope Gregory VIII then called for the Third Crusade, with Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa, King Philip II of France and the English ruler Richard the Lionheart joining this crusade movement.

Despite many prominent comrades-in-arms, this plan also failed after Barbarossa died on the journey to the Middle East and Lionheart agreed on a truce with Sultan Saladin. Jerusalem therefore remained under Muslim rule and an end to the crusade movements due to a lack of resources and financial means was foreseeable.

Children’s Crusade

Not only knights felt committed to the «holy war». Adults and children of the common people also ventured the long trek east to Jerusalem, although many members of these so-called «Children’s Crusade Movements» never reached Jerusalem and were presumably enslaved.

Crusades – End of Crusade movements

After further unsuccessful attempts to retake Jerusalem, the Christians finally lost control of the «Holy City» in 1244 AD. All other «crusade sites» also passed back into Muslim rule over time and the actual goal of the crusade movements, the long-term rule and defense of Jerusalem, was therefore missed.

Nevertheless, the crusade movements also brought positive changes for the western world. For example, those returning from the Crusades brought exotic spices, fruits or the like to Europe. The oriental spiritual world or the Arabic numeral system also came to the West via the Crusades.

How many Crusades have there been and who was involved?

Between 1096 and 1270 there were seven Christian Crusades against the Orient.

• First Crusade (1096-1099): After the appeal of Pope Urban II, simple people led by the hermit Peter of Amiens and an army of knights led by Godfrey of Bouillon set out and conquered Jerusalem, Edessa, Antioch and Tripoli.
• Second Crusade (1147-1149): After Edessa was reconquered by the Arabs, Louis VII of France and the German Konrad III fought back. to counterattack. After strong resistance and heavy losses, however, they withdraw without success.
• Third Crusade (1189-1192): Driven by the loss of Jerusalem, the German Emperor Friedrich I Barbarossa, the French King Philip II and the English monarch Richard the Lionheart set out to recapture the city. Despite great successes on their way, they did not achieve this goal.
• Fourth Crusade (1202-1204): The appeal of Pope Innocent III. following they conquered and plundered under the leadership of Margrave Boniface of Montferrat, Baldwin III. of Flanders and the Counts of Blois Constantinople and established a Latin Empire.
• Fifth Crusade (1228-1229): After the Franco-German children’s crusade failed horribly in 1212, the Hohenstaufen Emperor Frederick II succeeded in securing the cities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazaretz for 10 years.
• Sixth Crusade (1248-1254): This time the French under Louis IX, the saint, make their way to Damietta via Cyprus. However, the attempt to conquer Cairo also failed.
• Seventh Crusade (1270): Since 1261 the Mamluks have been attacking the remnants of the kingdom of Jerusalem. King Louis IX undertakes an unsuccessful crusade against the Sultanate of Tunis to support Christians in Palestine. He and much of his master dies of plague. This was the last Christian crusade against the Orient.

The most important facts about the Crusades at a glance

• The Crusades begin during the ‘Holy War’ in November 1095
• The goal should be to make Christian pilgrimage routes to Jerusalem accessible again
• Christians felt called to ‘liberate’ Jerusalem from Islam
• First Crusade: ended as early as 1096, but resumed shortly thereafter and lasted until 1100
• Jerusalem was conquered by the Crusaders in 1099 during the Crusades
• 70,000 Muslims, Jews and Oriental Christians died during the Crusades.
• In 1144 the second crusade began, as the city of Edessa was again reconquered by Muslims
• In 1187 the Third Crusade took place

INSIDER TIP

Did you know that a crusader needed four to five times his annual wages to participate in a crusade? Among other things, he needed clothing, tents, horses, grooms for the horses and a lot of cash on the journey.