February 19 - More Crusades

February 19 – More Crusades

For the next few centuries, crusades were commonplace. While there are eight or nine recognized ‘crusades’ by historians occurring until about 1270, the crusading spirit swept across Europe for centuries.

The Second Crusade was to retake Edessa in the Holy Land. An army of two hundred thousand left Europe led by Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany. Not much happened – the Turks kept wiping them out.

Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt finally retook Jerusalem, which freaked Gregory VIII (pope) out. Emperor Frederick of Barbarossa, Richard the Lionhearted of England and Philip II Augustus of France led the Crusade. It failed. Frederick drowned, Richard and Philip ended up doing nothing. Philip went back to Europe bent on stealing some of Richard’s lands while he was busy in the Holy Land and when Richard came back, he as captured by the emperor of Germany and held prisoner. Finally a ransom was paid and he was released. This is the period of time in which the legends of Robin Hood arose.

The Fourth Crusade was called by Pope Innocent III to destroy Saladin’s base in Egypt. They didn’t get enough people, they didn’t get enough money, so instead of going to Egypt, they went to Constantinople thinking they would take this instead. This is a hideous part of Christian history. In the name of Christ, the crusaders raped and killed Christians. They destroyed the city, stealing the church’s wealth. At one point, a whore danced on the altar in the Hagia Sophia (Church of Holy Wisdom). Finally, the Byzantines retook Constantinople, but the schism between East and West grew even wider.

The Fifth Crusade was a major attempt at regaining a foothold in Jerusalem. The power Ayabid Sultan Al Kamil, though, went after them with a vengeance and it was soon over. It was during this period of time that he put a bounty on Christians. Every head of a Christian that was brought to him was worth a golden Byzantine coin. St. Francis of Assisi crossed the battle lines to speak with him and was captured. His words to the Sultan were impressive enough to buy him safe passage and the establishment of the Franciscans in the Holy Land.

The final crusades were termed failures in the ultimate goals just as all of the previous crusades had been. The consequences of these crusades was great enmity between Christians and Muslims. At the same time, the power of the papcy increased greatly. Since the crusades brought so much attention to the Holy Land, back home in Europe stories from the Bible were told over and over again and people increasingly turned to personal holiness.

Monastic military orders were founded – obedience, poverty and chastity. These grew in power and continued to exist long after the crusades were finished.

The time of the crusades saw great changes in Europe. The development of cities and economic trade transformed the continent away from the feudal system. The wealth was no longer centered on a few nobles who controlled the land. The bourgeoisie (meaning “those who live in the city”) emerged as merchants grew in power.