Crusades Facts
Crusades Facts
|
Interesting Crusades Facts: |
---|
Women were even known to fight in the crusades. They would dress in men's clothing and got into battle. |
The main goal of the crusades was to control Jerusalem and the Holy Land. It was significant to different groups for different reasons. |
The Jewish people wanted to control Jerusalem because it was the site where King Solomon built the original temple to God. |
The Christian people wanted to control Jerusalem because it was the site where Christ was crucified and rose from the dead. |
The Muslim people wanted to control Jerusalem because it was the site where Muhammad ascended into heaven. |
The crusades were fought mainly between the Arabs that controlled Jerusalem and Europe's armies, mainly the Holly Roman Empire. |
The first crusade was fought between 30,000 soldiers from Europe (including commoners, peasants, and knights) and the Seljuk Turks, who had taken control of The Holy Land from the Arabs. |
The main crusades took place over a period of 200 years. They began in 1095 and continued until 1272. |
The first crusade occurred between 1095 and 1099. The European armies took control of the Jerusalem by driving out the Seljuk Turks. |
The second crusade occurred between 1147 and 1149. The Turks conquered Edessa in 1146, and decimated the population, but the second crusade was unsuccessful in regaining control. |
The third crusade occurred between 1187 and 1192. The Sultan of Egypt recaptured Jerusalem from the Christians in 1187, and Germany, France, and England fought to regain control, unsuccessfully. |
The fourth crusade occurred between 1202 and 1204. Pope Innocent III set out to recapture The Holy Land but along the way changed plans and took Constantinople instead. |
The Children's Crusade took place in 1212. A French child and a German child led tens of thousands of children to The Holy Land. Most were never seen again or sold into slavery. They never made it to their destination. |
The fifth to ninth crusades took place between 1217 and 1272. They were not successful in gaining control of The Holy Land or Jerusalem. |
The battle cry of the crusaders was "Deus vult!" This means "God wills it!" |
Crusaders wore a red cross as a symbol on their armor and clothing, as well as on flags and banners that were carried into battle. |
The Templars and the Teutonic Knights were groups of Holy Knights that formed between the second and third crusades, in an effort to defend Christendom. |
Related Links: Facts World History Facts Animals Facts |