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The Crusades
By Wayne Blank
The Crusades were a series of military adventures
carried out by Europeans through the 11th to 14th centuries.
The campaigns began in France when Pope Urban II,
at the Council of Clermont in 1095, called upon Christians to retake the Holy
Land, particularly Jerusalem, from the Islamic people who then occupied it.
While the Crusades began under religious
considerations, they were often guided by typical human politics.
The First Crusade (1095-1099),
also known as "The People's Crusade" began with a mass of German and
French peasants. After a disastrous beginning, they conquered Jerusalem in
1099. It was followed by the so-called Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem which lasted
for a short time.
The Second Crusade (1147-1149) was began by Emperor Conrad III and Louis
VII of France after the Christians lost Edessa. It was unsuccessful.
The Third Crusade (1189-1192) was launched after Saladin captured
Jerusalem 2 years earlier. It was led by Emperor Frederick I, Philip II of
France, and Richard I (the "Lion-Hearted"). It failed to recover
Jerusalem, but Richard I negotiated a truce in which Christians were permitted
to visit the Holy Sepulcher.
The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204) began in France but was diverted from its
original purpose for the benefit of Venice. The Crusaders captured
Constantinople instead.
The Children's Crusade (1212) was the most tragic and outrageous. It began
when thousands of French children set out for Jerusalem, but most were sold
into slavery along the way. Another group, that of German children, also set
out, but most of them died of hunger and disease.
The Fifth Crusade (1217-1221) was urged by Pope Innocent III. It was
directed primarily at Egypt, but was not successful.
The Sixth Crusade (1228-1229) was led by Emperor Frederick II. He
secured a surrender to the holy places, but the peace did not last.
The Seventh Crusade (1244) began after the Christian defeat by the
Egyptian Marelukes at Gaza. It was not successful.
The Eighth Crusade (1270) was cut short by the death of King Louis IX of
France.
The Ninth Crusade (1271-1272) was led by Prince Edward (later King
Edward I) of England. It was abandoned.
The
term crusade was also used for a number of other expeditions
at various times, proclaimed by popes, against supposed "heretics and
heathens." Most were simply a struggle to obtain, or keep, political
power.
Fact Finder: What did Jesus Christ say about conditions in
Jerusalem just prior to His Return?
Matthew 24:1-35
Matthew 24:1-35
About Wayne Blank
I was born and raised as a Roman Catholic, but I have had
nothing what-so-ever to do with that organization since the early 1970s, the
time that I began basing my Christian beliefs solely upon the Word of God, the
Holy Bible. I have never been a member of any other
church organization.
My church membership today is that of
the Biblical Church of God. According to the Holy Scriptures,
"church" actually means the people, the "called out ones,"
who truly live by the Word of God (see Can
You See The Church?). I now strongly disagree with the Church of
Rome and any other Christian-professing church organization,
Catholic or Protestant, that contradicts the pure Word of God as written in the
Holy Scriptures.
I write the studies for those who
choose to visit the website and read what is made available. If you are willing
to accept what the Bible plainly says, there is a very good chance that you
will find Daily Bible Study useful and enjoyable.
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