The Crusades are one of the most representative events of the Middle Ages, one of the darkest periods in the history of Europe. Crusader armies criss-crossed Europe fighting in the name of the Pope and Christianity and seeking to recapture the Holy Land, leaving thousands of deaths in their wake. Today we tell you everything about The Crusades – Origin, history and consequences.
what were the crusades
The Crusades were a series of military campaigns carried out by the Popes through various territories of Christian Latin Europe, mainly by France and Italy, but also by Spain and other Eastern European countries. The armies were made up of the Crusaders, citizens whose sins were forgiven in exchange for fighting in the Crusades.
The goal of these Crusades was recover the territories of the Holy Land and re-establish the rule of the Christian religion in them. In this way, the Crusades were waged against peoples whose ideology and idiosyncrasy rivaled the concept of Christianity and the Holy Land, mainly against muslimsbut also against many other peoples or even social classes (pagan slaves, Jews, Greek and Russian Orthodox Christians, Mongols, Cathars, Hussites, Waldenses, Prussians) and enemies of Christianity or of the Pope in question.
The height of the Crusades lasted about 200 years (between 1099 and 1291), although in some countries such as Spain or Eastern Europe they lasted even until the fifteenth century.
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Origin and history of the Crusades
The Crusades originated from late 11th centurywhen Byzantine Emperor Alexius I asked Pope Urban II for help in protecting the Christian peoples of the East from Muslim domination. These crusades were then enacted during the Council of Clermont. After the preaching of the Crusades, the Christian people agreed en masse and approved them with the cry of Deus lo vult (“God wills it”).
That is why the origin of the crusades It is usually attributed to religious fervor and the need for Christians to protect their religion and their territories. However, other historical readings also see the Crusades as a symbol of the Papacy’s desire for power and its desire to expand to the East.
The first of the Crusades was launched at the end of 1095. It was formed by a group of faithful Christians who were commanded by the preacher Peter of Amiens the Hermit. His destination was Hungary. They advanced, annihilating all the Jews that came in their way and finally arrived in Hungary. There they were escorted by King Coloman’s soldiers. However, the Crusaders killed part of the escort soldiers and more than 4,000 non-Christian Hungarians, receiving subsequent hostile treatment from King Coloman. This First Crusade was called the Popular Crusade.
In total they were made 9 Crusades, of which 5 of them are considered Minor Crusades. But what were its consequences? Did the Papacy achieve its goal of reconquering what they considered to be the Holy Land?
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Consequences of the Crusades
Likewise, there is also the development of a new social class such as the bourgeoisie. They were small artisans or merchants who were increasingly needed to provide weapons and tools to the army. This bourgeoisie would still take time to acquire great importance but it was beginning to rear its head as a new social group that was gaining ground on the feudal lords.
I also know opened avenues for expansionism and trade, especially between Europe or the East. In this way, cities like Genoa or Pisa became important commercial centers, especially for naval trade in the Mediterranean Sea.
Of course, another consequence of the Crusades was a strengthening of christianity and religious symbols. On the contrary, a strong animosity towards the Jewish and Muslim peoples was created among the population.
On the other hand, it must be said that Muslims had been tolerant towards Christians or practitioners of other religions in their territories of the Holy Land. However, the Crusades sought to root out any belief contrary to Christianity, so after the reestablishment of Islamic power At the end of the Crusades, many followers of the prophet were not as tolerant as before with the Christians. This led to persecutions and killings.
In short, the Crusades are wars initiated by religious fervor that greatly changed the society, culture and ideology of Europe and the East.
Main protagonists of The Crusades
Although we have already been giving some brushstrokes, it is true that in The Crusades there were a series of key characters that it is convenient that we know a little more in detail, at least to memorize their names and the milestone that highlights them. For example, the following names are to remind you.
Peter the Hermit: Also know as Peter of Amienswas a clergyman who became the leader of what was called the poor man’s crusade. This took place in the year 1095 and lasted until the year 1096. It barely lasted a year. The People’s Crusade, as it is known, was the starting signal for the first official crusade, so to speak, and although it ultimately failed, it brought together a group of armed men who spontaneously decided to start a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Along with Pedro, he also highlighted Gualterio Sans-Avoir (Walter the indigent) as co-director of this crusade.
In the Crusade of the Princes (year 1096-99), stand out Alexios I Commeno, who was the emperor of the Byzantine empire at the time; Urban II, or Pope number 159 of the Catholic Church; Y Godfrey of Bouillon. The latter was the leader of the rebellion and became king of jerusalem after the conquest. However, the highlight of him is that he named himself Defender of the Holy Sepulcher.
Although there are many other names of participants in the battles, it is convenient to at least keep those that we have named, and who were directly responsible for the Crusades.
how many crusades were there
If we start to investigate, we can find up to about 40 crusades, although not all of them were approved by the Pope. We can classify them into four groups. The first is that of the Crusades in the Holy Land, which take place between the years 1095 to 1291 where we find up to 13 different ones. Then came the Crusades after 1291, which are about 13. Later came the popular crusades, where we classify 5 movements. Finally we have to talk about the Crusades Against the Christianswhere there are up to six and that ends with the Reconquest, in the year 718 to 1492, the year of the discovery of America.
The First of these takes place in the year 1905 and lays the foundation for the subsequent Crusades and takes place in the Holy Land. The Second Crusade takes place when the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia is taken and this led to the death of many Christians. It is the year 1144. Later the Reconquest would come, in 1147, when the Moors were expelled from Spain. Then come the Baltic Crusades, in the 12th to 15th centuries. Then would come the Third Crusade or Crusade of the Kings, where the European leaders wanted to reconquer the Holy Land. However, they were left wanting to conquer Jerusalem.
Then three more popular crusades would come, up to a total of 8 that were the best known, although as we have said before, almost 40 of these campaigns were counted.
Did the crusades achieve their goal?
The crusades had a strong political and social impact. Thanks to them, the popes became the absolute leaders of the Christian Church. In addition, many territories were Christianized and the Moors expelled from them. However, the main objective, the recovery of Jerusalem, resisted.
Video about the Crusades
Explaining the crusades in detail in just a few paragraphs is very complicated since it is a time when many battles, betrayals and historical events of great importance occurred.
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