CRUSADES

What were the Crusades

• A series of 8 main wars and several minor ones, fought between 1096 and 1291AD (about 200 years)

• Fought by European Christians against Muslims of the Middle East

Background

• The Middle East included land that is now Israel & Palestine, which was holy to Judaism, Islam and Christianity. This area was called the “Holy Land”.

Background• Sometimes Christians from Europe would go on

pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and visit holy places, especially Jerusalem and the places where Jesus had lived.

• The holiest place of all to Christians was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the church built over the place where Christians believed Jesus was buried and rose from the dead.

• From the 600sAD until about 1000AD, Arabs ruled the Holy Land. While the Arabs ruled this land, they let Christians freely visit. About 1000AD, Turks started taking over the region and they were not as friendly to Christian pilgrims.

Background

• About 1000AD, Turks started taking over the region and they were not as friendly to Christian pilgrims. There were reports of violence, but it is impossible to tell to what extent they were true.

Background• In 1009AD, a Muslim leader named Al-Hakim burned down

the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This caused anger throughout Europe. Within a few years, the Muslims allowed the Byzantines to rebuild it. Nonetheless, anger remained. (Muslims called Al-Hakim “the mad Caliph”. Most did not approve of what he did.)

Direct cause of the Crusades

• There was increasing hostility of Christians toward Muslims.

• In the late 1000s, the Seljuk Turks were taking more and more Byzantine land in Asia Minor.

• In 1094, the Byzantine Emperor Alexius II was desperate. He asked the Pope, Pope Urban II, for help in fighting off the Seljuk Turks.

• In 1095, Pope Urban went to Clermont in central France, and preached a fiery sermon calling on the knights of Europe to go to the Holy land and take it from the Muslims

• The Pope decided to help him. These are several possible reasons the Pope decided to help him: – The Pope wanted the Holy Land in Christian hands,

because it was where Jesus had lived– Recently, in 1054, the R.C.C. and the Eastern O. Church

had officially split. He hoped to bring the Catholic & Orthodox churches back together under his leadership

– There was continual fighting in Europe between Christians. He hoped if Knights went off to fight Muslims, it would lessen violence in Europe.

Speech of Pope Urban II at Clermont

• Oh race of Franks, race chosen and beloved by God, well known for your devotion to the Catholic faith and the honor of the holy church! To you our discourse is addressed. We wish you to know what grievous cause has led us your country and what peril threatens us.

• From Jerusalem and Constantinople a horrible report has been brought to our ears, namely that an accursed race, utterly alienated from God, has invaded the lands of those Christians and has depopulated them by sword, pillage and fire!

Pope Urban• They have either entirely destroyed the churches of God

or appropriated them for the rites of their own religion. They destroy the Christian altars, after having defiled them with their uncleanness. They circumcise the Christians, and spread the blood upon the altars. When they wish to torture people by a base death, they perforate their navels, and dragging forth the intestines, bind it to a stake, then with flogging they lead the victim around until, the intestines have gushed forth, the victim falls to the ground.

• Who is to avenge these wrongs, if not you? You to whom God has given remarkable glory in arms and courage, and strength to humble the hairy scalp of those who resist you?

Pope Urban – Clermont - 1095

• Recall the glory and greatness of Charlemagne and your other kings. Let the Holy Sepulchre of the Lord our Savior, which is now possessed by unclean nations inspire you. Oh most valiant soldiers, remember your ancestors, and go forth!

• Do not be held back by love of children, parents, or wives. Do not let your possessions or worry for your family keep you from going. The land in which you now live is shut in on all sides by the seas and mountain peeks, It is too small for your large populations. It does not have enough wealth. If scarcely furnishes food enough for you to eat. This is why you wage war against other Christians.

Pope Urban II – Clermont - 1095• Let hatred depart from among you, let your quarrels end. Enter

upon the road to the Holy Sepulchre; seize that land from the wicked race and take it for yourselves. The Scripture says that the Holy Land, which “floweth with milk and honey”, was given by God to the children of Israel. Jerusalem is the navel of the world. This is the land the Redeemer of the human race has made famous by his life, his suffering, his death, his burial, and his resurrection.

• Jerusalem seeks therefore and desires to be liberated. From you Franks especially she asks for help, because God has given you above all nations great glory in arms. Accordingly, undertake this journey for the forgiveness of your sins, with the assurance of the imperishable glory of the kingdom of heaven.

Response to Pope Urban II

• Immediately many people began to make plans to go on Crusade.

• Reasons: Forgiveness of sins & promise of heaven if they died on Crusade; possibility of gaining land and wealth; desire for adventure

• They sewed a cross on their clothing, and prepared to go.

Peasant’s Crusade• The first group to go was a disorganized rabble of

peasants, led by a religious fanatic called Peter the Hermit. This is sometimes called the Peasant’s Crusade. It is not one of the official Crusades with a number.

• They were not at all prepared. When they reach Constantinople, Emperor Alexius was horrified, and didn’t even want them to come into his city.

• Emperor Alexius sent them on across the strait to Asia Minor. There, most of them were killed by the Turks (but not Peter!)

1st Crusade

• The first official Crusade was led by French noblemen: Count Raymond, Count Bohemond, and Count Godfrey.

• They passed through Constantinople and into Asia Minor. It was hot and they suffered severely in their heavy leather, wool and armor.

• This was a time when the Muslims were disunited and fighting among themselves.

•

Siege of Antioch

• They fought many battles against the Muslims, whom they called Saracens.

• One of the toughest battles was the siege of Antioch. The Crusaders laid siege to it, and then another group of Muslims surrounded the Crusaders. The Crusaders were about to give up, when a monk discovered what he believed was the Holy Lance. It gave them strength & confidence. The Crusaders won the battle.

• They Crusaders finally reached Jerusalem; they took off their shoes and marched around the city 7 times, like Joshua in the Bible. Then they built huge siege towers and finally captured Jerusalem. They killed many of the Muslim and Jewish inhabitants. It wasn’t pretty.

• The Crusaders set up 4 small countries, which they called the “Crusader States”: County of Edessa, Principality of Antioch, County of Tripoli; Kingdom of Jerusalem.

• The crusaders built European style castles in the Holy Land. Trade sprang up between Europe and Middle East.

• Christians held onto these lands for over 100 years, but eventually, one by one all were reconquered by Muslims.

2nd Crusade• By 1146, The Turks reunited their forces. They re-took

the county of Edessa and were threatening to re-conquer the other Crusader States.

• Louis VII of France & Conrad III of the HRE (Holy Roman Empire) led an army to re-take Edessa but were defeated.

• Interesting fact: King Louis VII of France was married to Eleanor of Aquitaine. She came with him on the Crusade, bringing her ladies in waiting dressed as Amazons. Louis VII and Eleanor quarreled. When they returned, Eleanor got an annulment of the marriage, and married Henry Plantagenet, soon to be Henry II of England.

3rd Crusade-“Kings’ Crusade”-1189-1192

• Saladin, a great Muslim leader, organized Muslim forces and re-took Jerusalem and other areas from the Christians, The Christians then only held Tripoli & Antioch

• King Richard the Lionhearted of England, King Philip II of France, and Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa led the 3rd Crusade.

• Frederick Barbarossa drowned. Philip II got mad at Richard and went home. Richard the Lionhearted stayed and fought many battles against Saladin

3rd Crusade• Saladin and Richard the Lionhearted fought many battles,

and came to respect each other. They were chivalrous enemies. For example, when Richard’s horse was killed in battle, Saladin sent him another one.

• Richard won a number of victories, but realized that it would be difficult and costly to re-take Jerusalem. Richard and Saladin made a treaty. Muslims kept control of Jerusalem but Christians were guaranteed safe passage to visit Holy sites in Jerusalem. Christians kept Tripoli & Antioch.

• Soon after the deaths of Richard & Saladin, both Christians and Muslims broke the treaty. The fight continued.

4th Crusade: 1202-1204

• Purpose: to try again to recapture Jerusalem. • VERY COMPLICATED EVENTS> THE CRUSADERS

NEVER REACHED THE HOLY LAND!!• Crusaders wanted to attack Egypt, but could

not pay for boat passage. • Merchants in Venice (Italy) agreed to take the

Crusaders to Egypt if they would first capture a rival city, Zara (a Christian city) for them. The Crusaders did this.

4th Crusade-1202-1204

• A prince came to the Crusaders and said his father was the rightful Byzantine Emperor, and he would pay them if they would put his father back on the throne. The Crusaders did this; they captured Constantinople and put his father back on the Byzantine throne.

• The prince & his father the Emperor couldn’t (or wouldn’t) pay. So the Crusaders sacked Constantinople (for 3 days they stole everything they could get their hands on.)

• These Crusaders were excommunicated by the Pope. They never reached the Holy Land. Constantinople was never strong and prosperous again.

Children’s Crusade 1212

• This one is not considered an official Crusade and does not have a number.

• A group of children somehow got the idea that God would grant them victory because of their purity

• The idea spread and thousands of children about 10-18 years of age headed for the Holy Land.

• Most died on the way or were captured and sold into slavery when they reached the sea.

5th Crusade: 1217-1221

• Various European knights decided to try to reach the Holy Land by going through Egypt

• Captured a port town in Egypt, but other attempts failed.

• Gave up and went home.

6th Crusade: 1228-1229

• The Pope ordered the very naughty HR Emp. Frederick II to go on a Crusade in order to get back in the Church after he had been excommunicated.

• Frederick II went to the Holy Land, He could speak fluent Arabic & made a treaty. He helped the Muslim ruler of Jerusalem defeat another Muslim rival, and in return the Muslim ruler of Jerusalem gave Frederick control of Jerusalem. Christians held Jerusalem again from 1230-1244.

• Other Muslims seized Jerusalem yet again in 1244.

7th Crusade: 1248-1254

• Cause: the Muslim recapture of Jerusalem in 1244

• Louis IX ( who was a very kind and good ruler, but NOT a good fighter) landed in Egypt. He was captured by Muslims and held for ransom. France paid a huge ransom and the Muslims freed him.

8th Crusade: 1270

• The Pope encouraged Louis IX, who was very pious, to try again. He landed on the coast of North Africa, got sick and died.

• Louis IX was made a Saint, but not because of his Crusades. He was a very good ruler, known for piety and justice, and he freed the serfs of France.

• In 1291, the Muslims captured the city of Acre, which was the last Christian stronghold in the Holy Land

• The Crusades ended

Results of the Crusades

• The goal of the Crusades was to take the Holy Land from the Muslim Turks.

• Ultimately the Crusades failed in this goal. By the end of the Crusades, the Muslims again controlled the Holy Land.

• However, at the same time that the Crusades were going on, another type of crusade was going on in Spain, called the “Reconquista”. Christians were gradually pushing the Muslims out of Spain. This was successful, and by 1492, Christians were in control of all of Spain.

Results of the Crusades-Better Weapons

• Better weapons: • During the Crusades, Europeans used the

crossbow, which was a powerful bow held horizontally. It fired a short, heavy arrow called a bolt. It required far less skill to use that did the traditional bow. It could penetrate chain mail.

• Europeans also perfected siege tactics, such as mining under castle walls.

Results of the Crusades-Political Changes

• Political changes: Monarchs became more powerful, and the feudal nobles less powerful. Feudalism declined and countries became more centralized.

• It took a lot of money to go on Crusades, and many nobles sold their land to get the money. Also, many died fighting in the Crusades. The number of nobles declined. Kings gained more prestige when they led large armies drawn from the entire country.

Increased Trade

• Trade between Europe and Asia greatly increased. • Italian cities became major trading centers as

they carried Crusaders to the Holy Land, and the ships returned loaded with trade goods from the Middle East.

• Europeans became aware of the goods that could be obtained from the Middle East, such as lemon, rice, sugar and spices. They developed a desire for these items, which spurred more trade.

Results of the Crusades: Exchange of ideas and knowledge

• During the Crusades, Crusaders traveled through the Middle East and exchanged ideas with Crusaders from other parts of Europe.

• More importantly, Crusaders met and talked with Byzantines and Muslims. They learned new ideas in medicine, mathematics & science.