1095: First Crusade

Event: Pope Urban II called on knights of Christendom to rescue Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the infidels

Significance: Led by counts and nobles, not kings. Thousands responded; 25% reached the Holy Land

1099

Event: Crusaders captured Jerusalem

Significance: Crusaders controlled an area from Edessa to Jerusalem. Thousands of Jews and Muslims were killed

1144: Second Crusade

Event: Edessa was recaptured by the Turks

Significance: Crusaders were defeated

1187: Third Crusade

Event: Jerusalem fell to Saladin and the Seljuk Turks

Significance: King’s Crusade - Philip II of France, Frederick I of HRE, and Richard I of England

1192

Event: Three year truce between Richard I and Saladin

Significance: Unarmed Christian pilgrims could freely visit the holy places in Jerusalem

1202: Fourth Crusade

Event: Pope Innocent III called for yet another crusade to recapture Jerusalem

Significance: Merchants promised ships money in exchange for attacking the island of Zara. Pope protested the diversion

1204

Event: Constantinople was sacked and controlled by the crusaders for 57 years

Significance: Any hope for a reunification of Eastern and Western Churches was forever lost

1229: Sixth Crusade

Event: Frederick II of HRE negotiated a treaty with Saladin’s nephew

Significance: Jerusalem was returned to Christian rule but Frederick was excommunicated for entering a pact with the devil

1291

Event: City of Acre fell to the Muslims

Significance: Concept of Christendom was lessened; replaced by loyalty one’s homelands (England, France, and Spain)

•The 5th, 7th, and 8th crusades were aimed at Islamic cities in Egypt and N. Africa.

•French King Louis IX won wide respect and was later declared a saint, although these crusades accomplished little.

•Started by Nicholas of Cologne

•Joined by 1000’s of children

•Journeyed to Rome where Pope told them to go home

•At same time @ 20,000 French children boarded 7 ships for the Holy Land

•2 ships destroyed, other 5 sailed to North Africa where the children were sold as slaves

Popes’ Goals: hope to heal the breach between Western and Eastern churches with pope emerging as head of united church

Knights’ goals: forgiveness for sins, chance to win glory in battle; earthly rewards

Merchants’ goals: wanted total control of rich trade routes

Sanctified the use of violence in defense of an idea