Crusades

Around the turn of the millennium (ca. 1000 CE), the destructive invasions by the Vikings started to decrease, leading to a relative calm in Europe.

In 1071, Turkic forces defeated Byzantine forces at the Battle of Manzikert and established the Sultanate of Rum in Asia Minor.

Urban II issues a Crusade bull to Berenguer Ramón II and Ermengol IV during the Reconquest of Tarragona.

The First Crusade was launched by Pope Urban II in response to a plea for help from the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus to defend against Muslim Seljuk Turks. It resulted in the capture of Jerusalem in 1099.

The First Crusade commences.

The First Crusade commences in August, with Urban II later extending crusading indulgences to Spain.

The Christian forces successfully took control of Jerusalem on 15 July 1099 during the First Crusade, a military campaign initiated by western European forces to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim control.

Around 1100, the First Crusade was launched by Pope Urban II, leading to the capture of Jerusalem and the establishment of Crusader states in the Holy Land.

On May 26, 1101, the city of Acre was seized by the Crusaders during the Crusades, marking a significant victory for the Christian forces in the Holy Land.

A coalition of Fatimid and Damescene forces were defeated by Baldwin I and 500 knights. Baldwin of Edessa and Patriarch Bernard of Valence ransomed Bohemond for 100,000 gold pieces.

The Frankish army was defeated by the Seljuk rulers of Mosul and Mardin. Baldwin II and Joscelin of Courtenay were captured.

Tancred achieved victory over a larger force led by the Seljuk Ridwan of Aleppo, securing Antioch's borders.

Bohemond launched a crusade against the Byzantines, besieging Durrës. The siege failed, leading to his surrender.

Baldwin II and a Genoese fleet captured Beirut. Muhammad I Tapar sent an army to recover Syria but was repelled by a Frankish defensive force.

In 1113, the Knights of St John of Jerusalem received papal protection, solidifying their status as an established order within the context of the Crusades.

Bursuq ibn Bursuq led the Seljuk army against an alliance of the Franks, resulting in victory for Roger and Baldwin of Edessa.

Pope Gelasius II issues a Crusade bull to Alfonso I of Aragon for his efforts in the reconquest of Zaragoza.

Baldwin I died from illness while raiding in Egypt. His cousin, Baldwin of Edessa, succeeded him.

Ilghazi attacked Antioch, defeating Roger of Salerno's army. Baldwin II's counter-attack forced the offensive's end.

Secular and ecclesiastical leaders gathered to lay a foundation of a law code for the kingdom of Jerusalem, replacing common law.

Venetian Crusade supported the capture of Tyre in 1124. Baldwin II was ambushed and captured by Belek Ghazi.

In July 1124, the Franks successfully captured Tyre, extending their control along the coastline up to Ascalon.

In 1125, peasants in Beirut staged a revolt against the ruling authorities.

Zangi assumed control of Mosul in 1127 and emerged as a prominent leader in the resistance against the Franks.

In 1128, Zangi successfully captured the city of Aleppo.

The Council of Troyes approved the rule of the Knights Templar for Hugues de Payens, leading to the capture of Banias during the Crusade of 1129.

Around 1130, Albert of Achen composed the 'Jerusalem History', a detailed account of the First Crusade based on the narratives of soldiers who participated in the campaign.

Baldwin II died, and Fulk and Melisende were consecrated joint rulers of Jerusalem.

In 1135, Zangi's attempt to seize Damascus was unsuccessful.

Zengi defeated Fulk at the battle of Ba'rin of 1137, seizing Ba'rin Castle.

Zangi laid siege to Damascus in 1139, but the attempt was not fruitful.

Fulk was killed in a hunting accident, and Baldwin III of Jerusalem was crowned co-ruler with his mother.

Zengi began the first siege of Edessa, leading to the city's fall on 24 December 1144.

The Second Crusade, a major military campaign launched by European Christians to recapture the Holy Land, begins.

Zengi was assassinated by a slave, leading to the Second Siege of Edessa in 1146.

The city of Lisbon is besieged during the Second Crusade between June and October 1147.

In the context of the Second Crusade, the city of Almeria in northern Spain is conquered from the Moors on October 17, 1147, showcasing the Christian advance in the Iberian Peninsula.

On October 21, 1147, the Second Crusaders successfully capture the city of Lisbon, a significant achievement during the Second Crusade in the context of the Reconquista.

Tortosa in eastern Spain falls to the forces involved in the Second Crusade.

Eugene III once again authorizes a crusade in Spain.

Nur al-Din successfully captures Damascus, consolidating Muslim territories in Syria.

After the death of Shirkuh, Saladin, his nephew, ascends to power in Egypt.

Following the death of his brother, Nur al-Din asserts his authority over Mosul.

Saladin ends the Fatimid rule in Egypt and establishes the Ayyubid dynasty, sparking a rivalry with Nur al-Din.

Nur al-Din passes away, allowing Saladin to seize control of Damascus.

The Frankish King Almaric of Jerusalem passes away.

Raynald de Châtillon's Crusaders raided towns and villages in the Gulf of Aqaba, alarming the Muslims who were not accustomed to such attacks on the sea.

In 1185, Baldwin IV, the King of Jerusalem known for his struggles with leprosy, passed away, leading to a period of uncertainty in the kingdom.

Saladin lured the forces of Jerusalem into inhospitable terrain without water supplies and routed them at the Battle of Hattin on July 4, 1186.

Saladin achieved a significant victory by defeating the Franks army at the Battle of Hattin.

Saladin achieved victory over the Frankish Crusaders in the Battle of Hattin.

The siege of Jerusalem began on September 20, 1187, and the Holy City was surrendered to Saladin by Balian of Ibelin on October 2, 1187.

Urban III died on October 19, 1187, upon hearing of the defeat at the Battle of Hattin and the fall of Jerusalem.

In July 1188, Saladin lays siege to the Knights Hospitaller castle of Krak des Chevaliers but later withdraws to confront the forces of the Third Crusade.

Guy of Lusignan led a siege of Muslim-held Acre in August 1189, which became a long and difficult battle. The arrival of Philip II of France and Richard I of England's armies eventually helped the Crusaders capture the city on 12 July 1191.

The Third Crusade was a response to the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin. Led by Richard the Lion-hearted, it resulted in a truce that allowed Christian pilgrims access to the holy city.

The city of Acre was captured on 12 July 1191 by the Crusaders, significantly weakening Saladin's navy as 70 ships were also seized. This victory was a turning point in the Third Crusade.

On August 20, 1191, Richard the Lionheart had more than 2000 prisoners beheaded at the massacre of Ayyadieh.

Richard and Saladin reached a peace treaty, leading to Richard's departure for England.

On 4th March 1193, Saladin, the most powerful rival of King Richard I, passes away.

Celestine III issues a call for a crusade in Spain during this year.

Henry VI died in Messina on September 28, 1197, while en route to the Holy Land for the Crusade of 1197.

A Crusade army successfully captures Beirut on this date.

A Crusade army initiates the siege of Toron on this day.

On July 1, 1198, Henry VI's supporters negotiate a treaty with Muslim rulers and return home.

In 1200, the Fourth Crusade was diverted from its original target of Jerusalem, leading to the sack of Constantinople and significant political repercussions in the Byzantine Empire.

In August 1201, Pope Innocent III issued a call for the Fourth Crusade with the aim of liberating Jerusalem from Muslim rule.

The Fourth Crusade was intended to recapture Jerusalem but ended up sacking the Christian city of Constantinople, leading to further division between the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches.

On November 10, 1202, Zara is laid siege by the Crusaders and taken from the Hungarians on the Dalmatian Coast.

On July 17, 1203, Crusaders invade and sack the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, naming Alexius IV as ruler.

On April 12, 1204, Crusaders take Constantinople and establish the Latin Empire in Byzantine lands.

Constantinople is plundered by the Fourth Crusaders in May 1204.

Around 1205, many treasures adorning the church of San Marco in Venice were looted from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade.

The Albigensian Crusade, called by Innocent III in 1208 CE, was a prolonged military campaign aimed at eliminating the Albigensians, a heretical sect in southern France that defied the authority of the Church. This crusade marked a significant departure from traditional Crusades as it targeted lands within Europe instead of the Moslem East.

The Cathars' rejection of the Crown of Aragon's authority sparks the start of the Albigensian Crusade in July.

The Children's Crusade of 1212 was a popular crusade by European children and young adults to the Holy Land, which ended in tragedy and exploitation.

In August 1217, Andrew II left for Acre to join the Crusaders in attacking Damietta. The siege began in June 1218 with a successful assault on the chain tower, leading to the shock of the Ayyubids and the death of Sultan al-Adil.

The Crusaders successfully take the city of Damietta after a prolonged siege, intending to use it as a strategic base for their mission to Jerusalem.

Sultan Al-Adil of Egypt passes away, leading to his son Al-Kamil taking over the throne.

The Siege of Damietta concludes with the Crusaders successfully capturing the city, solidifying their control over the region.

The Crusader army faces a significant defeat at al-Mansura, resulting in their surrender and expulsion from Egypt by the victorious Egyptians.

On September 8, 1221, the Crusaders formally surrendered Damietta to al-Kamil, ending the Fifth Crusade. Despite the well-garrisoned city, the Crusaders failed to gain the return of the True Cross and the campaign was considered a dismal failure.

The Sixth Crusade commences under the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II's leadership, driven by his desire to gain control over Jerusalem. Frederick II, who was excommunicated by Pope Gregory IX, believed he had a claim to Jerusalem through marriage.

The Sixth Crusade, led by Frederick II, aimed to recapture Jerusalem and involved diplomatic maneuvering rather than extensive fighting. Despite Frederick's excommunication, the Treaty of Jaffa was signed in 1229, surrendering Jerusalem to the Crusaders.

Pope Gregory IX issues a papal bull on February 13, calling for a new crusade to be launched in Spain.

Emperor Frederick II returns to Europe after realizing that diplomacy was a more effective strategy than military might. His success without military intervention demonstrated the power of diplomacy.

In 1234, Hungarian crusades were launched against Bosnian heretics, as part of the broader campaign against heresy in the region.

In 1239, Theobald I of Navarre launched the Barons' Crusade.

On 1 September 1239, Theobald I of Navarre arrived in Acre during the Seventh Crusade and became involved in the Ayyubid civil war.

On 8 October 1240, the English expedition led by Richard of Cornwall arrived during the Seventh Crusade and negotiated a truce with Ayyubid leaders.

On 15 July 1244, Jerusalem was besieged and reduced to ruins by the Khwarazmian army during the Barons' Crusade.

Louis IX, the king of France, commits to a Crusade by taking up the cross.

In 1247, Louis IX of France planned a Crusade, but his plans were revealed to al-Kamil's son, Ayyub, through contact with Frederick.

On August 25, 1248, the army of the Seventh Crusade departs for Egypt from Aigues Mortes in Southern France.

The decisive defeat of Louis' army by the Egyptians during the Seventh Crusade. Louis' surrender was negotiated directly with the sultan by Philip of Montfort, leading to the capture of Louis and his army.

The Battle of Al Mansourah was a significant conflict during the Seventh Crusade led by Louis IX of France against the Ayyubid Sultanate of Egypt. The Crusaders were defeated and Louis IX was captured.

After his release from captivity, Louis remained in Acre until 1254 to consolidate the crusader states, marking the end of his involvement in the Seventh Crusade.

In February 1258, the Mongols under Hülegü, Genghis Khan's grandson, invaded and destroyed Baghdad, leading to the massacre of inhabitants and the death of the last 'Abbasid caliph.

Qutuz, a Mamluk leader, seized the sultanate in 1259 and united with Baibars to defeat the Mongols at Ain Jalut, leading to a shift in power in Egypt.

The Battle of Ain Jalud took place between the Bahri Mamluks of Egypt and the Mongol Empire, resulting in the Mongols being defeated by the Mameluks for the first time, marking a significant event in history.

In 1263, Pope Urban IV offered crusading indulgences to Charles of Anjou in exchange for Sicily's conquest, marking a significant event in the political dynamics of the time.

On 25 August 1270, Louis IX died of dysentery at Tunis during the Eighth Crusade, leading to the abandonment of the Crusade.

In 1281, the election of a French pope, Martin IV, brought significant power of the papacy behind Charles, impacting the political landscape of the time.

Martin IV announces a crusade against Peter III of Aragon.

Acre, the last Christian stronghold in the Middle East, falls to the Mamluks, leading to the absorption of the Crusader States, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem, into the Mamluk Sultanate.

In 1295, the new Mameluke dynasty in Egypt initiates a systematic campaign to expel the Crusaders from the Middle East.

In 1303, the Knights Templars retreat from the island of Arwad, marking the end of the Crusaders' presence in the Middle East.

The Crusade to Rome was the papacy's acknowledgment of the failure of crusading in Jerusalem. It signified a shift in focus away from fighting for the Holy Lands.

Crusading is revived in Spain under the influence of Pope John XXII.

In 1389, the Ottomans defeated the Serbs at the Battle of Kosovo, marking a significant event in the expansion of the Ottoman Empire.

The Battle of Nicopolis, also known as the Nicopolis Crusade, took place on September 25, 1396, where a western Christian army was defeated by the Ottoman Turks.

In 1453, the Turks successfully besieged Constantinople, leading to the fall of the city and the end of the Byzantine Empire. This event marked the transition of Constantinople to Istanbul and its incorporation into the Islamic world.

René Grousset's book 'The Epic of the Crusades' was published in 1970, providing a detailed account of the Crusades.

Volume III of 'A History of the Crusades' by Steven Runciman, published in 1987, provides a detailed account of the Crusades, their impact, and the key figures involved in these religious conflicts.

Steven Runciman's book 'A History of the Crusades: The Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Frankish East 1100–1187' was published in 1990, focusing on the historical events in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Shahnaz Husain's book highlighting the Muslim heroes Salahuddin and Nuruddin during the Crusades.

James Reston Jr.'s book narrating the clash between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin during the Third Crusade.

Jonathan Riley-Smith's book 'The Crusades: A History' was published in 2005, providing a comprehensive overview of the Crusades.

Jonathan Riley-Smith's book 'The Crusades, Christianity and Islam' was published in 2008, exploring the interactions between Christianity and Islam during the Crusades.

'God's War' by Christopher Tyerman, published in 2009, explores the religious fervor, political motivations, and military strategies behind the Crusades, shedding light on this significant historical period.

Ben Duval's book delving into Saladin's strategies and the Crusaders' loss of the Holy Land.