MED - The Crusades (Lesson)

The Crusades.

When Rome split into two – one part became the Byzantine Empire (the eastern half – Turkey, Greece, etc.) By 1090's it is being threatened by Muslim invaders:

Fatimids –

  • Tried to unify Islam – as the current leaders, Abbasid Caliphate, were seen as weak.
  • Established themselves in Cairo.
  • Were unable to overcome Abbasid, Islam becomes divided.
  • As they prospered, they became accepting of other religions.
  • Made army using non-native mercenaries like Seljuk Turks.

 Seljuks-

  • Became powerful due to association with the Fatimids.
  • Eventually captured Baghdad (center of Abbasid Caliphate).
  • Sultan took control.
  • Allowed all religions to remain.
  • Begun to exert pressure on Byzantine Empire.

The Byzantines challenged the Turks, who sent troops to Manzikert where the unprepared Byzantines were defeated. Byzantines accepted Turkish rule because their empire was so weak. The Byzantine Emperor sent a letter to the Holy Roman emperor asking for financial help, letter was intercepted by the Pope.

Pope Urban II decided to provide troops, not financial aid, and at the Council of Clermont (1095), Urban challenged Christians to take arms against the infidels to reclaim Jerusalem (the Holy Land). He followed this by traveling and issuing speeches to convince the people to fight.

Why would a king let his knights go? Under feudalism, knights are to serve the nobles or king in the event a defense is needed. So why would a king or noble willingly allow them to leave on a Crusade that they might never return from? Quite simply it was much safer to let them leave than to keep them. Many of the knights had grown rowdy, without any real threat of war, they often let off steam by terrorizing the peasants - remember this is fair game under the rules of chivalry. They had become a liability and most lords were more than happy to have them leave their lands.Declares:

  1. All who die in the Crusade will immediately be granted entry into heaven (despite previous transgressions)
  2. Everything you have done up until the time you return home will be forgiven (your soul is issued a "blank slate" upon return to home, some knights liked this so much they tried to never return home.)

It works and several sign up including those who join the "Peasants Crusade" led by Peter the Hermit. The soldiers in the Peasants Crusade took the opportunity presented by the travel routes to Constantinople to persecute the Jews in Eastern Europe. Two bands of poor crusaders eventually reached Constantinople where Emperor Alexis I shipped them to Asia Minor. They were promptly slaughtered by the Turks.

Pope Urban II trusted knights over peasants, thus the first official crusaders were from the warrior class. When they arrived in Constantinople, Alexis I was distrustful of their motives and negotiated with crusaders to take an oath of allegiance to him. They are promptly sent to Jerusalem, where still dressed in traditional wool clothing and metal armor and utterly unprepared for the high temperatures in the Middle East, many died of heat stroke. Those that survive capture Antioch in 1098, reaching Jerusalem in 1099. Once there they eventually captured the city, and massacred all the inhabitants inside.

Afterwards, crusaders did their own thing:

Bands went to:

  • Antioch
  • County of Edessa
  • Tripoli
  • Kingdom of Jerusalem

All were held as fiefs under King of Jerusalem. The cities were surrounded by Muslim enemies and dependent upon Italian trade.

 

The Third Crusade.

Jerusalem fell to the Muslims during the 2nd Crusade. The Third Crusade was called to reclaim it. Richard the Lionhearted and Barbarossa (Red Beard) led the Christians, however, Barbarossa drowned in a river before reaching the battle. Richard meets with Saladin (leader of the Muslim forces) and they declare a truce once both realize there is no way for either one to win this battle.

Truce states Muslims may keep control of the city, but unarmed Christian pilgrims will be admitted to the city.

Not satisfied, the Pope calls for a Fourth Crusade. However, crusaders got as far as Constantinople and promptly began looting the city. Some captured land around the city and began declaring their own kingdoms.

Sidenote - Yes, this is the same Richard the Lionhearted from the Robin Hood tales. However, the real Richard is far from the righteous figure presented in the stories. In the tale of Robin Hood, Prince John takes over the kingdom while his brother is away fighting in the crusades. In reality, Richard did fight, even signed a truce to end the crusade, but did not rush home to rescue his kingdom. Instead he took advantage of the "Blank Slate" offer made by the pope and tried his best not to return home, rather he and his soldiers roamed Eastern Europe, stealing items of wealth and persecuting Jews.

 

Children's Crusade.

Children, from ages 5 to 13, believed God has spoken to them and they can aid in the fight. A large group of from all over Europe make their way to Venice (the launch point for all the previous crusades) where some traders agree to take them to Jerusalem. The first boat sinks soon after sailing (everyone on board dies) and the other three ships land in Africa where the children are then sold into slavery.

 

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