The Crusades
Middle Ages
CRUSADES
• A series of bloody and ruthless religious
wars during the Middle Ages when the
Christians of Europe tried to regain
Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the
Muslims.
Why Jerusalem?
• Jews- God's temple built by King Solomon.
• Muslims- Where Muhammad ascended to
heaven.
• Christians- Place of crucifixion, death and
resurrection of Christ.
Background
Holy land was originally under Arab control.
❖Christians pilgrimages and tourists are
allowed in Jerusalem.
I070 - The Seljuk Turks took over and banned all
Christians.
Background
Byzantine Emperor Alexius I asked the Pope's
help to defend his empire (Eastern half of the
Roman Empire) from the Turks and to drive
them out of the Holy Land.
The Pope called for an army, the Franks and the
Holy Roman Empire (West) responded.
The First Crusade (1095-1099)
European armies defeated the Turks and
took control of Jerusalem.
It was a violent and bloody encounter and
the Muslims suffered a terrible loss.
The Second Crusade (1147-1149)
1146 - The Turks conquered the city of Edessa.
❖ Goal is to recapture Edessa
❖ A German army was defeated in Anatolia.
❖ 50,000 French army attacked Damascus on their
way to Edessa. Muslims from Edessa helped
Damascus and defeated the crusaders.
❖ There was too much violence and people were sold
into slavery.
The 2nd Crusade did not succeed.
Third Crusade (1187-1192)
1187 - Saladin, the sultan of Egypt, recaptured the
city of Jerusalem
Led by Emperor Barbarossa of Germany, King
Philip Augustus of France, and King Richard the
Lionheart of England.
Richard the Lionheart fought Saladin for
several years.
• Saladin lost Acre and Jaffa and was defeated in
the field at Arsūf.
• He failed to conquer Jerusalem, but pilgrims were
allowed in the city once again.
The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204)
• Pope Innocent III initiated to take back the
Holy Land.
• The Crusaders became misguided and
greedy and attacked Constantinople, a
Christian city.
Children's Crusade (1212)
• Started by a French child, Stephen of Cloyes
and a German kid, Nicholas.
• Thousands of children marched to the Holy
Land.
Children's Crusade (1212)
• They failed to reach the Holy Land
❖ Many of them were lost, kidnapped or sold
into slavery.
Crusades Five to Nine (1217 - 1272)
• All failed to gain control of the Holy Land.
– Muslim forces were too strong and cohesive
than the crusaders.
– Problem of leadership, preparation and
division among the crusaders.
CRUSADERS
• European soldiers made up of Knights,
peasants, and ordinary citizens.
• Pope Urban II promised a heavenly “reward”
and “condemnation” to those who would not
help.
CRUSADERS' BATTLE CRY
• "Deus vult!" - "God wills it"
• From the speech of Pope Urban II when
he called for the First Crusade.
CRUSADERS' SYMBOL
• Knights Templar wear red cross on their
clothing, armor, flags and banners.
FAMOUS KNIGHTS
Teutonic Knights
• A religious order of well respected, brave and
skilled German Knights wearing black cross on a
white tunic.
• They also cared for the sick, dying and injured
Christian crusaders
FAMOUS KNIGHTS
Knights Templar
• Wealthy and powerful religious military order
who had vows.
• Well disciplined fighting warriors who never
surrender in battles.
• Highly trained, fierce fighters acting as the
advance force.
FAMOUS KNIGHTS
Knights Hospitaller
• Wearing black coat with a white cross.
• A religious military order who ran hospitals,
fought with the crusaders and controlled castles
to protect crusaders' territories.
Opposite Views
Christian/European View
The Turks, had invaded and conquered
Jerusalem unprovoked. They invaded the
Middle East and grossly treated its captives
through rape, torture, and inhumane atrocities.
• The Crusades were the first military response to
Muslim terrorist aggression.
Anti-Crusade View
The crusades were some kind of
European expansionist imperialistic and
barbaric Christians that brutalized, looted
and colonized a tolerant peaceful Islam.
(Stark, God's Battalions)
