Download The Peasant`s Crusade

What are they?
• The Crusades were a series of
battles between the Christian
Church and ‘un-believers’ or
‘infidels’.
• In 1095, Pope Urban II
appealed to the lords and
knights of Europe to free the
Holy Land from the Muslims.
– He wanted Jerusalem in
Christian hands
Urban II addressing the crowd
Why did people go?
• Pope Urban II promised remission of sins to
all who died.
• Many were motivated by religious fervor
• Some sought adventure and could take part
in their favourite pass-time…..
– Fighting
• Others went to gain riches and territory
•
http://www.history.com/media.do?id=ee_byzantines_crusades_motivationsfirstcrusade_broadband&a
ction=clip
The Peasant’s Crusade (The
People’s Crusade)
• Before the first planned Crusade took off, Peter the Hermit (a monk)
organized large numbers of peasants and low-ranking knights set off for
Jerusalem.
• Along the way they had a number of problems such as food shortages and
lack of discipline.
• About one-quarter of these troops died before reaching Constantinople.
• Once in the Holy Land, they split up, and many were massacred. Peter
survived and joined the other Crusaders upon their arrival.
The First Crusade
• Followed on the heels of Pope
Urban II speech at Claremont,
France.
• This was more carefully
planned than the Peasants
Crusade. Armies met at
Constantinople and began
march to Jerusalem.
• In 1099 (two years after
leaving home), the Crusaders
stood outside the walls of
Jerusalem.
Siege of Antioch
More on the First Crusade
• It took the crusaders 5
weeks to take the city.
– In the process, many
men, women and children
were massacred.
• This is the only crusade
that was successful!
Legacy of Crusade #1
• A Christian state was
established amid a “sea of
Muslims.”
– The Crusader states of
Edessa, Tripoli, Jerusalem
and Antioch.
• The states became
dependent on supplies from
Italian commercial cities
– E.g Venice
• The Crusader states were
not easily maintained, and
in 1144, Edessa fell to the
Seljuk Turks
The Second Crusade
• This crusade was called in 1147 after the
fall of Edessa.
• It was a total disaster, as the Crusaders
failed to achieve any major victories.
The Third Crusade
• In 1187, Saladin, leader of
the Seljuk Turks,
recaptured Jerusalem.
• Some of the most important
rulers in Europe called for
a crusade.
– Richard I of England
(Richard the Lionheart)
– Phillip II of France
– Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick Barbarossa
Crusade #3
• The three men started on their journey to
Jerusalem, but….
– Barbarossa drowned along the way, and only the French
and English kings remained.
– The rivalry between the two nations was great- even
back then.
• Phillip II headed back to France, leaving Richard
the Lionheart to go in alone.
• Saladin had a capable army, and Richard and his
troops were unable to re-take Jerusalem.
– However, Richard was able to negotiate a truce with
Saladin.
– Christian pilgrims would be given safe passage to
Jerusalem.
The Fourth Crusade
• Pope Innocent III called for another
Crusade in 1202, a decade after the
death of Saladin.
• However, the Crusade was funded by a
Venetian leader, with the instruction to
take Constantinople instead. WHY?
– Constantinople was the greatest
trade competitor of Venice.
• In 1204, the Crusading army attacked
Constantinople and looted the churches
and massacred the defenders.
• This tarnished the idea of the Crusades.
• However,…
Other Crusades
• There would be a series of further
Crusades; none of which achieved
success.
• The most notable is the Children’s
Crusade of 1212.
• Led by the leaders of the French and
German armies, 10,000 children
marched toward the Holy Land.
• However, none reached Jerusalem
– Sold into slavery
– Returned home
– Died of hunger and disease.
Legacy
• Stabilized European society by removing
large numbers of young warriors.
• The Italian seaports benefited economically
• Lead to attacks on Jews.
– Becomes a regular feature of life.