The Crusades were wars started by Christians and Muslims in order to gain control of holy areas. Between 1096 and 1291, there were 8 large religious crusades. The aims of these crusades included taking control the “Holy Lands” and to take back areas of land that were controlled by Christians from Muslims and pagans. Many of those who went on the Crusades did it so God would forgive them for their sins.

Why were there crusades?

By 1096, most of the ancient Christian world had been taken over by Muslims. The countries that had been taken over included Syria and Egypt. At first, the crusades were successful, creating Christian countries in Syria and Palestine, but Islamic countries ended up gaining more land.

The First Crusade

The first crusade began in 1096. Four armies were formed with soldiers from different Western European countries. In August 1096, the armies headed for Byzantium, which is now called Istanbul. When the army arrived at the capital of the Roman Empire, Constantinople, Alexius, who was an emperor, demanded that the army leaders swore an oath of loyalty to him and that he would control any gained land. Only one person took the oath.

There was also another army, although it wasn’t as organised. It was made up of knights and peasants and became known as the “People’s Crusade.” Unlike the main group of armies, they crossed the Bosporus, a river in north-west Turkey, in early August. They first clashed with the Turkish soldiers in Cibotus, a city in south-west Turkey, and were heavily defeated.

Another group of people, led by Count Emicho, killed Jews in various towns within the Rhineland (an area in south-west Germany.) In May 1097, the group of European armies attacked Nicea. Nearly two months later, the city surrendered.

The Second Crusade

The second crusade was launched in 1145 after the fall of Edessa leading to Pope Eugenius III calling for a crusade. This crusade was led by France’s King Louis VII and Germany’s Emperor Conrad III.

England, France and Germany’s armies met in Constantinople and aimed to destroy the Turkish armies and take back Edessa, an ancient Turkish city. They also wanted to secure the pilgrimage route to Jerusalem and provide reinforcements there.

The armies attacked Damascus, a Muslim city that had previously been Christian, first. But Syrian ruler Nur al-Din and his armies arrived and defeated Louis VII and Comrad III.

After the second crusade ended, people wanted to know why it had failed. Many thought at the time that it was because Europe was sinful. The only way to make sure future crusades were successful was to pray for future victories. This was a common reaction to defeats in Crusades at the time.

Further crusades

There were further crusades in the 13th century, usually with the aim to expand trading routes in the Middle East, as well as defeating heretics, rivals of various popes and, in the case of the Fourth Crusade, against the Byzantine Empire.

By the 16th century, with the Pope’s authority declining, and the advent of Protestantism, there were no longer any further crusades.