CRUSADES. The wars known as the Crusades were so called because the Christians who took part in them wore the cross as a badge. It was long a popular idea that the Crusaders eagerness to gain possession of the Holy Land was due purely to an outbreak of religious zeal and unselfish chivalry in the twelfth century. But, as H. B. Workman points out (Hastings' E.R.E.). the conflict was simply a new form of an old struggle between East and West. " The conflict. between Crescent and Cross was bound to be renewed under a new form, with a new champion of Christendom, and in a wider arena, no longer as a frontier war, but one of inter-continental character." There was of course at first a large amount of religious enthusiasm. But in course of time the enter prise degenerated, first into " a romantic tournament between the Christian knight and the Moslem warrior " (Schaff-Herzog), and then into what was little more than a commercial undertaking. To the eleventh and twelfth centuries the East. was " what the New World was to the Elizabethan sailors " (H. B. Workman). " Motives of commerce, wealth, adventure, and religion were united." For convenience, the Crusades are usually divided into seven. The First Crusade (1096-1099) was decided upon at the Council of Clermont (Nov. 1095) under Pope Urban II. Before the main expedition was ready, a lawless multitude set forth under Peter the Hermit, Walter the Penniless, and Walter de Poissy, and met with disaster. The main Crusade was led by Godfrey of Bouillon, Hugh of Vermandots, Robert of Normandy, Robert of Flanders, Raymond of St. Gilles and Toulouse. and others. The Crusaders captured Antioch, and eventually Jerusalem (July, 1099). On the 22nd of July. 1099, Godfrey of Bouillon was elected king of Jeru&alem or " Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre." His death occurred in July, 1100. The Second Crusade (1147) was due to the con quest of Edessa by the Muhammadans under qm5d-al Din Zengi, or Zanghis (Latinized. Sanguinens. 1127 1146). It was inspired by the preaching of St. Bernard of Clairveaux in France and Germany, and was led by the Emperor Conrad HI. of Germany and King Louis VII. of France. The Germans under Otto of Freising met with disaster near Laodicea, and Louis was routed in Phrygia. The whole crusade was a failure, and the feeling against St. Bernard was very bitter. " He saved his fame as an inspired prophet by declaring the crusading armies unworthy of victory, and the defeat a divine punishment of their sins" (Schaff-Herzog). The Third Crusade was caused by the capture of Jerusalem by Kurd Saladin (Salah-al-Din, b. 1137), Vizier of Egypt, in October 11S7. The new crusade was preached by Pope Gregory VIII., and his call to arms was answered
by Frederick Barbarossa, Emperor of Germany, Philip Augustus, King of France, and Richard 1. (Cmur-cle Leon). King of England. The French king quarrelled with Richard and returned home. Richard 1. severely defeated Saladin at Arse. but never succeeded in captur ing Jerusalem. Ultimately lie made terms with Saladin, by which the Christians were allowed free access to the Holy Sepulchre. Frederic Barbarossa was drowned during the crusade, but after the death of Saladin (March, 1193), the Germans gained a great victory. The Fourth Crusade was preached by Pope Innocent III. The Crusaders assembled at Venice; but Venice, in different to all motives except gain, demanded for their transfer to the Holy Land a greater sum than they were able to pay. They went therefore first. to Dalmatia, and then to Constantinople. which they conquered in April. 1204. Venice had as a matter of fact by treaty with the Sultan of Egypt undertaken to divert the crusade. In 1212 Pope Innocent summoned a new crusade. "He was answered by the children." " In France arose a movement in 1212 which even the government was not able to suppress. Thousands of children, boys and girls. often of the tenderest age, took the cross. and rushed in feverish enthusiasm towards the Holy Land. Some swarms reached Italy; and there they melted away, by hunger and disease, in the waves, and in the slave markets " (Schaff-Herzog). The Fifth Crusade was preached by Innocent III. in 1215, and the cross was taken by Andrew II. of Hungary (1217) and by the Emperor Frederick II. (1220). Frederick II. was excom municated by Pope Gregory IX. for delaying to take the field, and iu consequence could not prevail upon the Military Orders to fight under him. But he contrived to obtain the cession of Jerusalem. Bethlehem, and Nazareth, and in 1229 crowned himself King of Jeru salem. In 1244. however, the Templars and Hos pitallers were defeated by the Charismians, allies of the Sultan of Egypt, and Jerusalem was sacked. The Sixth Crusade was led by Louis IX. of France (124S). who, however, never succeeded in reaching Jerusalem. He was defeated and captured on his way to Cairo. To secure his release, France had to pay a heavy ransom. In spite of this, he started on a new crusade, the Seventh Crusade, in 1270. As a preliminary be invaded and besieged Tunis. He died in August of the same year during the siege. Edward of England went to Tunis i-n October of the same year, and succeeded in saving Acre from the Muhammadans. The Crusades led to the insti tution of various orders of military monks. See Schaff He r7A)g, ; Hastings' E.R.E.