Crusades Notes

     The Crusades were a series of military expeditions to regain the Holy Land. At least 10,000 Europeans took up the cause. Seljug Turks were Muslim people from Central Asia. The Latin word, cruciata, means "marked with a cross." Crusaders were known as the people who sewed a cross made of cloth on their clothes. Some people believed that if they died on the crusade, they would go straight to heaven while others went to gain land and wealth. Some merchants saw a chance to make money and some people went to save souls.

     The 1st Crusade lasted from 1096 to 1099 and many French and Italian lords led armies of crusaders from Europe to Constantinople. Emperors allowed the crusaders to pass through Constantinople to their target city which was Jerusalem. After a series of vicious battles the crusaders captured Jerusalem. While doing this they slaughtered many of its Muslim and Jewish inhabitants. European customs and institutions were put into place in parts of southwest Asia and the Holy Land. The crusaders set up four small states. Christians and Muslims grew to respect each other. Many Europeans adopted Eastern customs and began to wear Eastern clothes and eat Eastern foods. For almost 100 years, European Christians held on to Palestine. The Turks then won back their lost lands. Popes and European rulers tried to stop them during the three major crusades.


     By 1146 the Turks had united their forces and in 1147 the 2nd crusade began. The Turks began taking back cities that the crusaders had captured. King Louis VII of France & German king Conrad III led separate armies across Europe. Then in 1149 the crusaders returned to Europe in disgrace. In 1187 the Muslim leader, Saladin, gained control of Jerusalem.

     The 3rd crusade lasted from 1189 to 1192. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, King Philip II of France, and King Richard I of England led separate armies. Barbarossa drowned on the way to Holy Land so his army turned back. Richard couldn't capture Jerusalem so he then settled for a truce with Saladin. They allowed Christians to enter Jerusalem freely.

     Pope Innocent III gathered a group of French knights for the 4th Crusade. In 1202 they left on ships and in 1204 the crusaders attacked and looted Constantinople. They stole many things that were holy to the Byzantine Christians. Constantinople remained under western European control for about 60 years. In 1453 the Turks seized Constantinople. In 1212 the Children's Crusade took place. The Crusades continued until 1291 when the Muslims captured the city of Acre. The crusades ended when the Muslims controlled Palestine. The crossbow was the weapon of choice for European soldiers. In 1096 to 1291 the crusaders traveled through the Holy Land.