Crusades (table and dates)

The history of mankind is, unfortunately, not always a world of discoveries and achievements, and often a chain of countless wars. These include the crusades that took place from the 11th to the 13th century. To understand the reasons and reasons, as well as to trace the chronology, this article will help you. It is accompanied by a table containing the most important dates, names and events, compiled on the subject of "Crusades".

Definition of the concepts of "crusade" and "crusader"

The Crusade is an armed offensive of the army of Christians to the Muslim East, lasting for more than 200 years (1096-1270) and expressed in no fewer than eight organized speeches by troops from Western European countries. In a later period, this was the name of any military campaign aimed at converting to Christianity and expanding the influence of the medieval Catholic Church.

Crusader is a participant in such a campaign. On the right shoulder was a patch in the form of a Catholic cross. The same image was applied to the helmet and flags.

Reasons, reasons, goals of hikes

Military performances were organized by the Catholic Church. The formal reason was the struggle with the Muslims to liberate the Holy Sepulcher, located in the Holy Land (Palestine). In the modern sense, this territory includes such states as Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Gaza, Jordan and several others.

No one doubted the success. At that time it was believed that anyone who became a crusader would receive the remission of all sins. Therefore, joining these ranks was popular both with knights, and with urban residents and peasants. The latter received exemption from serfdom in exchange for participation in the crusade. In addition, for European kings, the crusade was an opportunity to get rid of powerful feudal lords, whose authority grew as their possessions increased. Rich merchants and townspeople saw economic opportunities in military conquests. And the highest clergy, headed by the popes of Rome, regarded the crusades as a way to strengthen the power of the church.

The beginning and end of the Crusader era

The first crusade began on August 15, 1096, when an unorganized 50-thousand crowd of peasants and urban poor went on a campaign without supplies and training. They mostly engaged in looting (because they considered themselves warriors of God, who own everything in this world) and attacked the Jews (who were considered descendants of the murderers of Christ). But within a year this army was destroyed by the Hungarians who met along the way, and then by the Turks. Following the throng of the poor, well-trained knights set out on a crusade. Already by 1099 they reached Jerusalem, capturing the city and killing a large number of residents. These events and the formation of the territory with the name of the Kingdom of Jerusalem was completed the active period of the first campaign. Further conquests (until 1101) had the goal of strengthening the conquered borders.

The last crusade (the eighth) began on June 18, 1270, with the landing of the army of the French ruler Louis IX in Tunisia. However, this speech ended unsuccessfully: even before the battles began, the king died of pestilence, which caused the crusaders to return home. During this period, the influence of Christianity in Palestine was minimal, and Muslims, on the contrary, strengthened their positions. As a result, they seized the city of Acre, which put an end to the era of the Crusades.

1-4 th Crusades (table)

5-8th Crusades (table)

Results

How successful were the numerous crusades, the table demonstrates visually. Among historians there is no unequivocal opinion on how these events affected the lives of Western European peoples.

Some experts believe that the Crusades opened the way to the East, establishing new economic and cultural ties. Others note that it could be done more peacefully by peaceful means. Moreover, the last crusade ended in a frank defeat.

In one way or another, in Western Europe there have been significant changes: the strengthening of the influence of the popes, as well as the power of the kings; Impoverishment of the nobility and the rise of urban communities; The emergence of a class of free farmers from the former serfs, who were granted freedom through participation in the crusades.