Anderson-Rosales

__The Crusades__

__**The First Crusade **__
The First Crusade was a move by Alexius I to protect his land and recapture Jerusalem. This appealed to many people for many different reasons. Some hoped to repent. Others hoped to purge the world of the non-believers. They sent in over 10,000 Christians to fight, which they caught the Muslims off guard. They headed from Constantinople into the Muslim area. They first took Nicea, then Antioch, then finally Jerusalem. But they did not stop the crusades there.

**__The Second Crusade__ **
The second crusade started in 1147 AD. This crusade was an attempt to further protect the holy-land and to push the Muslim armies further back. The German and the French both participated in the crusade, with Louis XII and Conrad III fighting in the lines. All Though based on the success of the first crusade the second crusade did not go as well because the Muslims were ready and expecting them. The armies were quickly defeated and many of the soldiers did not survive. Of the many thousands that went into battle only a few thousands came out.

**__The Third Crusade__ **
The Third Crusade began in 1189. Three major European leaders participated in this crusade. King Philip of France, Richard I of England, and Frederick Barbarossa of Germany lead three major armies into the Middle East. The Turks also has a main leader Saladin who has recaptured Jerusalem and many other Christian holy sites. While leading a major army the German emperor died by drowning in a stream. Upset by their loss the Germans returned home. The French fought alongside the English trying to recapture the holy sites. The English remained long after the French returned home. At the end a treaty was formed between the Christians and Turks.

__** The Fourth Crusade **__ The Fourth Crusade was a move by French noblemen to try and fight the Muslims. They then went to Venice for rides to capture Egypt. When they arrived, the Venetians agreed to help only if they took out Zara. So the crusaders took the city. Then they were convinced to go to Constantinople, which they besieged and burned. They took the riches and started a new empire that lasted only sixty years. The loot that was gathered from the raiding of the city was spread among the crusaders.

__** The Children’s Crusades **__ In May of 1212, a twelve year old boy started to talk to the people of the town he lived in. He told them that God would have greater mercy onto them if they sent children to fight a crusade. He said God would part the Red Sea for them like he did for Moses. Although the king did not agree with it, the local priests did. They went to the pope who authorized the children to go and fight. So in July they met in the city of Vendome. The children set out with none of them over 12. They were accompanied by a few priest. Some of the children were girls. They traveled to the city of Marseilles. They ran into the Red Sea, but it did not part. They waited in the town until a few days later, some merchants agreed to sail them there. They were not heard from for eighteen years, when one of the priest came back with a chilling tale of how they had been sold into slavery and he had been set free by the king who had bought him. The news of the boy’s speech also traveled far. In Germany, another pack of children set out for the Red Sea, like the first group did. Many of them did traveling through the forest and mountains. When they reached Marseilles, the sea once again did not part. And once again, some merchants offered them a ride across. They were never heard from again.



Extra: Crush The Castle

Sources: "The Fourth Crusade." //Middle Ages//. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. .

Kreis, Steven. "The Children's Crusades (1212)." //The History Guide -- Main//. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. .

"The First Crusade." //History Learning Site//. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. .

"The Second Crusade." //Middle Ages//. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. .

"The Third Crusade." //Middle Ages//. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. .

Links: [|The first Crusade] Although the website is childish, it does have some good information to build upon your understanding of the first crusade.

[|the Children's Crusade] It gives the information, but puts it in a new perspective.

[|The Third Crusade] It lays out the information in more detail in a nicer format