The Crusades
The Crusades were a series of holy wars in which Christians fought Muslims in an attempt to regain land from the Muslims, including the Holy Land, and to convert new followers to Christianity.
First Crusade
The First Crusade began in 1096, under the dominion of Pope Urban II. Bands of skilled noble warriors headed east toward the Holy Land. Most of the warriors came from France, and before reaching the Holy Land they successfully conquered Anatolia. When they finally reached Jerusalem in 1099 there were approximately 10,000 soldiers. The city of Jerusalem was finally conquered after a deadly five-week siege that included a horrible massacre of its inhabitants.
Second Crusade
At first, the Muslims were ineffective in fighting against the armored knights. However, by the 1100s, they began to fight back. In 1144, Edessa became the first Christian state that the Seljuk Turks, a group of Muslims, reconquered. When Edessa was reconquered, Christians called for a Second Crusade to get it back. At the call of Pope Eugene III, both France and Germany sent troops (separately) for a Second Crusade. Unfortunately, both sets of troops were badly defeated.
Third Crusade
In 1187, the sultan Saladin invaded the city of Jerusalem and regained it from the Christians. Unlike when the Christians in the First Crusade conquered Jerusalem, Saldin forbade the killing of civilians and even established trade for a time between Christians and Muslims. Eventually, Christians called for a new Crusade to once again reclaim Jerusalem from the Muslims. Three European countries; Germany, England, and France, sent soldiers to fight in the Third Crusade. Ultimately, the Christians regained part of the Holy Land but lost their bid to conquer Jerusalem. They did, however, negotiate a deal allowing Christian pilgrims access to Jerusalem.
Children’s Crusade
In 1212, a young German named Nicholas of Cologne said he was inspired by God to lead a Children’s Crusade to the Holy Land. The goal was for children to convert Muslims to Christianity through peaceful means. Thousands of young people joined Nicholas’s cause, though many turned back when Pope Innocent III urged them to go home. Unfortunately for those who journeyed to the Holy Land, most were eventually sold into slavery.