The Crusades were a series of religious wars sanctioned by the Latin Church during the medieval period, mainly between the 11th and 13th centuries. The most well-known were the campaigns in the Eastern Mediterranean aimed at recovering the Holy Land from Muslim rule, but there were also Crusades in Europe. Below is a summary of the major Crusades and the key players involved:
1. First Crusade (1096–1099)
Goal: Capture Jerusalem from Muslim control.
Called by: Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in 1095.
Main participants:
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Christian side: Various European nobles including Raymond IV of Toulouse, Godfrey of Bouillon, Bohemond of Taranto.
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Muslim side: Seljuk Turks and Fatimid Caliphate (particularly in Jerusalem).
Outcome: Christians captured Jerusalem in 1099 and established several Crusader states like the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
2. Second Crusade (1147–1149)
Goal: Recapture the County of Edessa, a Crusader state that had fallen.
Called by: Pope Eugene III.
Main participants:
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Christian side: King Louis VII of France and Emperor Conrad III of Germany.
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Muslim side: Zengi (captor of Edessa), Nur ad-Din, and later Saladin.
Outcome: A failure for the Crusaders; Edessa remained lost.
3. Third Crusade (1189–1192) – "The Kings' Crusade"
Goal: Recapture Jerusalem, which had been taken by Saladin in 1187.
Main participants:
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Christian side: Richard I of England ("the Lionheart"), Philip II of France, Frederick I Barbarossa (Holy Roman Emperor).
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Muslim side: Saladin (Sultan of Egypt and Syria).
Outcome: Failed to recapture Jerusalem, but negotiated access for Christian pilgrims. Richard and Saladin signed a truce.
4. Fourth Crusade (1202–1204)
Goal: Originally to retake Jerusalem through Egypt.
Hijacked by: Venetian political manipulation.
Main participants:
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Christian side: Western European nobles and Venetian merchants.
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Target: Constantinople (Byzantine Empire), not Muslims.
Outcome: Crusaders sacked Constantinople in 1204; never reached the Holy Land. Established the Latin Empire of Constantinople.
5. Fifth Crusade (1217–1221)
Goal: Capture Egypt as a gateway to Jerusalem.
Main participants:
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Christian side: King Andrew II of Hungary, Duke Leopold VI of Austria, and later Cardinal Pelagius.
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Muslim side: Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt.
Outcome: Failed after a disastrous campaign in the Nile Delta.
6. Sixth Crusade (1228–1229)
Goal: Reclaim Jerusalem.
Main participants:
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Christian side: Emperor Frederick II.
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Muslim side: Ayyubid rulers.
Outcome: Frederick negotiated Jerusalem's peaceful handover via diplomacy, not warfare.
7. Seventh Crusade (1248–1254)
Goal: Again targeted Egypt.
Main participants:
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Christian side: King Louis IX of France.
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Muslim side: Ayyubids, then the Mamluks.
Outcome: Louis IX was captured in Egypt and ransomed. Major failure.
8. Eighth Crusade (1270)
Goal: Intended for the Holy Land, but diverted to Tunis.
Main participants:
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Christian side: King Louis IX of France.
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Muslim side: Hafsid dynasty in Tunis.
Outcome: Louis IX died of disease; Crusade collapsed.
9. Ninth Crusade (1271–1272) (often seen as part of the Eighth)
Goal: Support Crusader states under pressure.
Main participants:
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Christian side: Prince Edward of England (later Edward I).
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Muslim side: Mamluk Sultanate under Baibars.
Outcome: Limited success; marked the end of major Crusading efforts in the Holy Land.
Other Crusades
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Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229): Against Cathar heretics in southern France.
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Northern (Baltic) Crusades: Against pagan peoples in the Baltic region.
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Children’s Crusade (1212): Legendary, likely apocryphal or exaggerated attempt by children to peacefully convert Muslims or reach the Holy Land.
