CROSS AND CRECENT

JERUSALEM

War between Christians and Muslims

CHRISTIANS
Jerusalem is the place of nativity, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Main goal: Restoring Christian control of the Holy Land Fight the expansion of Muslim rule

MUSLIMS

Jerusalem holds the site of the ascension into heaven of the Prophet Muhammad Jerusalem is often regarded as the third most sacred site in Islam.

Crusades

A series of religious sanctioned military campaigns. The main series of Crusades occurred between 1095 and 1291 Fought mainly by Roman Catholics against Muslims

First Crusade

A military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Land taken in the Muslims conquest of the Levant. defensive or as aggressive in nature remains controversial. Launch by Pope Urban II

Primary goal

Response to the appeal of Byzantine Emperor, Alexios I Komenos.He requested that western volunteers come to his aid and help to repel the invading Seljuq Turks from Anatolia. Christian reconquest of the Sacred City of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Freeing of the Eastern Orthodox from Islamic rule

Timeline of the First Crusade

Byzantine army is destroyed by Turks Mercenary Seljuk Turks conquer Syria and Palestine. The City of Jerusalem is taken from the more civilised Saracen caliphs 1071 - 1085 3000 Christian Pilgrims were massacred in Jerusalem and 1085 - 1095 the Christian churches were destroyed or used as stables Emperor Alexius I sent an embassy to Pope Urban II regarding the atrocities in Jerusalem and the growing threat 1095 of the Turks to Constantinople and the whole of Europe Pope Urban II called a great council of the Church at Placentia, in Italy, to consider the appeal - decisions were 1095 deferred until later in the year Pope Urban II called a great council of clergy and nobles to meet at Clermont in France called the Council of Clermont. 1095 November 27 He called for a crusade against the Infidels 1071

Peter the Hermit took up the cry "God wills it!" and ordinary 1095 - Spring 1096 people join in the 'People's Crusade' - most were unarmed Armed forces gathered at Constantinople to embark on the Summer 1096 First Crusade Emperor Alexius I shipped the Peoples Crusade over the August 1096 Bosphorus The Peoples Crusade were annihilated by the Turks in Anatolia October 1096 May June 1097 Siege of Nicacea July 1097 Battle of Dorylaeum Oct 1097 - June 1098 The Siege of Antioch Stephen of Blois and numerous French crusaders flee the siege of Antioch with news of the arrival of Emir Kerboga of Mosul 1098 June 1

Bohemond I, elder son of Robert Guiscard, led the capture 1098 June 3 of Antioch Emir Kerboga of Mosul and his army of 75,000 lays siege to the crusaders led by Bohemond 1098 June 5 1099 Feb 14 - June The siege of Arqah, near Tripoli The Battle of Orontes. The First Crusade wins a victory 1098 June 28 forcing Emir Kerboga to lift the siege of Antioch Raymond of Toulouse leads the crusaders from Antioch 1099 June 13 and to Jerusalem The soldiers of the First Crusade successfully scale the walls of Jerusalem and take the Holy city 1099 July 15

Second and Third Crusade

Started in response to the fall of County of Edessa the pervious year to the forces of Zengi. Announced by Pope Eugene III.His Holliness III issued the crusading bull Quantum praedecessores. First crusades led by European kings, namely Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany.

Pope Eugene III beseeches Louis and his men to recapture the city of Edessa which recently had been taken by the Muslims Eugenius promises 'ecclesiastical protection of those family members, goods and possessions left behind by the new crusaders; he also declares the protection of debtors who participate in the crusade.

In 114749 , the Second Crusade, championed by the abbot Bernard of Clairvaux, attempted to take Damascus in Syria.

The campaign was a dismal failure because the Muslims had regrouped. Led by Salah al-Din (Saladin), Muslim forces advanced across Syria and finally retook Jerusalem in October 1187. By the end of the Third Crusade (118992), however, Crusader forces had gained Cyprus and the city of Acre. With each crusade, relations between the Byzantines and the Western forces became more estranged.

Fourth Crusade

set out in 1202 with Egypt as its goal incited by Pope Innocent III., three years after, terminated with divisions among the States of Christendom, without weakening the power of the Saracens Latin Empire of Constantinople was established with Baldwin of Flanders as emperor. In 1261, the Byzantines regained the city.

Fifth Crusade

commanded by the Emperor Frederic II. of Germany (1228-9), was diverted altogether from the main object, and spent its force on Constantinople. Byzantine Empire was then in the last stages of decrepitude It broke down the chief obstacle to their entrance into Europe shortly afterward.

Sixth Crusade

Secured the capture of Damietta, on the banks of the Nile. Attempt to regain Jerusalem. Began 7 years after the failure of the fifth crusade. It involve actual fighting.

The diplomatic maneuvering of the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II resulted in the Kingdom of Jerusalem regaining control of Jerusalem and other areas for fifteen years.

Seventh Crusade