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Some reworking -- not enough
{{Middle Ages}}
{{Middle Ages}}
[[Image:Crusader.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A returning [[Crusader]]]]
[[Image:Crusader.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A returning [[Crusader]]]]
The Crusades lasted 176 years from 1095 until 1271
The '''Crusades''' lasted 176 years from 1095 until 1271
The most famous military activity in the feudal period was the “Crusades”, a
The most famous military activity in the feudal period was the “Crusades”, a
series of wars covering nearly 200 years, from A.D. 1096-1291. Only the First
series of wars covering nearly 200 years, from A.D. 1096-1291. Only the First
Crusade and to a lesser extent the Third Crusade were successful. One of the
Crusade and to a lesser extent the Third Crusade were successful in terms of military goals. One of the
main purposes of the crusades was to make [[Jerusalem]] safe for Christian
main purposes of the crusades was to make [[Jerusalem]] safe for [[Christian]]
pilgrimages. At the request of the Byzantine Emperor, who wished for a
pilgrimages. At the request of the Byzantine Emperor, who wished for a
mercenary force to aid his reconquest of his lands, in 1095 [[Pope Urban II]]
mercenary force to aid his reconquest of his lands, in 1095 [[Pope Urban II]]
called for feudal [[knights]] to retake the [[Holy Land]] from the [[Seljuk
called for feudal [[knights]] to retake the [[Holy Land]] from the [[Seljuk
Turks]]. The Seljuk Turks seemed almost invincible as fighters, having
Turks]]. The Seljuk Turks seemed almost invincible as fighters, having
conquered [[Asia Minor]] and even beating the once-mighty [[Byzantine Empire]].
conquered [[Asia Minor]] and even beating the once-mighty [[Byzantine Empire]] (due to treachery).
The Seljuk Turks ruled from the 1000s to the 1200s, and did particularly well under one particular ruler, [[Malik Shah]], who died in 1092. But some Muslims
The Seljuk Turks ruled from the 1000s to the 1200s, and did particularly well under one particular ruler, [[Malik Shah]], who died in 1092. But some [[Muslims]]
were unhappy with being ruled by the Turks, and once Malik died dissension in
were unhappy with being ruled by the Turks, and once Malik died, dissension in
the Islamic world grew.
the Islamic world grew.
The Byzantine emperor, [[Alexius Comnenus]], had inherited an empire that had
The Byzantine emperor, [[Alexius Comnenus]], had inherited an empire that had
been destroyed by Seljuk and Patzinak Turks and he asked the pope for mercenary
been decimated by Seljuk and Patzinak Turks and he asked the pope for mercenary
help to defeat the Muslims. He promised a reunion of the [[Eastern Orthodox
help to defeat the Muslims. He promised a reunion of the [[Eastern Orthodox
Church]] and the [[Western Church]] and to give Byzantine lands (“[[fiefs]]”)
Church]] and the [[Catholic Church]] and to give Byzantine lands (“[[fiefs]]”)
to victorious knights from the [[feudal]] west.
to victorious knights from the [[feudal]] west.
unprepared group of peasants in the first mission, which failed. But news of
unprepared group of peasants in the first mission, which failed. But news of
its failure led to renewed determination by the Christians, and a well-equipped
its failure led to renewed determination by the Christians, and a well-equipped
religious mission led by the Normans was formed. This became known as the First
religious mission led by the [[Normans]] was formed. This became known as the First
Crusade.
Crusade.
participants in the Crusades like never before in history and perhaps never
participants in the Crusades like never before in history and perhaps never
since. Genovese Merchants participated also in the hope of undermining
since. Genovese Merchants participated also in the hope of undermining
Venice's trade links with Muslim Egypt. Many of the crusaders were acting to
Venice's trade links with Muslim [[Egypt]]. Many of the crusaders were acting to
advance the cause of Christianity. This was not necessarily true for all of
advance the cause of Christianity. This was not necessarily true for all of
the crusaders. Criminals who fought were pardoned, and a crusader was exempt
the crusaders. Criminals who fought were pardoned, and a crusader was exempt
the war.
the war.
A Second Crusade in 1147-49 was a failure, owing to the French King's insistence
A '''Second Crusade''' in 1147-49 was a failure, owing to the French King's insistence
on betraying and attacking his only Muslim ally, Damascus. In 1187 the Muslims
on betraying and attacking his only Muslim ally, [[Damascus]]. In 1187 the Muslims
captured Jerusalem under their leader [[Saladin]], and the Third Crusade
captured Jerusalem under their leader [[Saladin]], which brought about a new call for a Crusade.
(1189-92) had the limited success of obtaining a truce from Saladin that
'''The Third Crusade''' (1189-92) had the limited success of obtaining a truce from Saladin that
promised to allow Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem. That Crusade was led by
promised to allow Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem. That Crusade was led by
the leaders of [[France]] and the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and [[King Richard]]
the leaders of [[France]] and the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and [[King Richard]]
the Lion-Hearted of England. The first returned home after an argument with
the Lion-Hearted of England. The first returned home after an argument with
Richard at Acre, and the second drowned; only King Richard saw the mission
Richard at Acre, and the second drowned; only King Richard saw the mission
through.
through, and afterwards it took him years before he was able to return to his own land. (The story of [[Robin Hood]] uses this as a backdrop)
Two subsequent crusades were tragic. The Fourth Crusade (1202-04) Never reached
Two subsequent crusades were tragic. '''The Fourth Crusade''' (1202-04) Never reached
the Holy Land and ended with the crusaders’ sacking Constantinople — a Christian
the Holy Land and ended with the crusaders’ sacking Constantinople — a Christian
City — wounding it forever and embittering the East against the West further
City and the capital of the [[Byzantine Empire]] — wounding it forever and embittering the East against the West further than the previous Crusades had done.
than the previous Crusades had done. A Children’s Crusade (1212) consisted of
A '''Children’s Crusade''' (1212) consisted of
peasants leading up to a thousand children on a mission of love to Jerusalem,
peasants leading up to a thousand children on a mission of love to Jerusalem,
but the children were captured by Christian Genovese merchants and sold as
but the children were captured by Genovese merchants who sold them as
slaves to, ironically, the Muslim powers of North Africa. The later Crusades
slaves to the Muslim powers of North Africa.
saw a revival in religious motivation, indeed, the Fifth Crusade and the
The later Crusades
saw a revival in religious motivation, indeed, '''the Fifth Crusade''' and the
Crusade of St. Louis both nearly succeeded in regaining Jerusalem by way of
Crusade of St. Louis both nearly succeeded in regaining Jerusalem by way of
attacking Egypt and failed only through the greed of men like Robert of Artois.
attacking Egypt and failed only through the greed of men like [[Robert of Artois]].
It seems that the Christian armies lost sight of our goals to bring and spread
It seems that the Christian armies lost sight of the Christian goals to bring and spread
love and Christianity along the way, got drunk with power and glory and decided
love and Christianity along the way, got drunk with power and glory, and decided
to pillage towns and murder people (note that this is breaking many commandments
to pillage towns and murder people (note that this is breaking many commandments
“thou shalt not murder.” “thou shalt not steal”), although this murder and
“thou shalt not murder.” “thou shalt not steal”), although this murder and