What were the Crusades? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 1 the Crusades were a series of holy wars called by popes with the promise of indulgences for those who fought in them and directed against external and internal enemies of Christendom for the recovery of Christian property or in defense of the Church or Christian people. This essay is going to outline the main events, and explain the reasons for, the first three crusades, by giving the timeline of main events that took place and telling as to why the Crusades happened. The First Crusade was initiated in November 1095 by Pope Urban II in the town of Clermont in France. It took place in Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor, and Levant. The people who were involved in the First Crusade were Raymond of Saint-Gilles, Godfrey of Bouillon, Hugh from the family of Vermandois and Bohemond of Taranto, with his nephew Tancred (they led the four armies of Crusaders which were formed by different Western European regions). Along with the notorious Count Emicho (he led another group of Crusaders). As well as the Egyptian Fatimid’s and Alexius, who at this time was the …show more content…
Before any of this had occurred, Saladin had begun a major campaign against the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. His troops destroyed the Christian army at the Battle of Hattin and took the city. Such damage inspired the Third Crusade. On the 12th of July 1191: Richard and Philip captured the port of Acre. On August 3rd, 1191 Philip abandoned the Third Crusade. On 7th September 1191, Richard’s army defeated Saladin’s forces at the Battle of Arsuf. The Crusaders tried four attempts on the City of Jerusalem, but they were unsuccessful. On the 2nd of September 1192, the Treaty of Jaffa was signed bringing an end to the Third