The Crusades

The Peasants Crusade

Oct 1, 1096

The People's Crusade is part of the First Crusade and lasted roughly six months. It is also known as the Peasants' Crusade or the Paupers' Crusade. Led by Walter Sans Avoir and Peter the Hermit, the army was destroyed by the Seljuk forces of Kilij Arslan.

Zangi conquers Edessa

Jan 1, 1144

The Crusader state of Edessa is recaptured by the Muslim leader Zangi.

The Second Crusade

Jan 1, 1147

The Second Crusade (1147–1149) was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade (1096–1099) by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098. While it was the first Crusader state to be founded, it was also the first to fall.

The Battle of Hattin

Jul 4, 1187

The Battle of Hattin (took place on Saturday, July 4, 1187, between the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem and the forces of the Ayyubid dynasty.

The Third Crusade

Jul 2, 1189

The Third Crusade (1189–1192), also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin (Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb). It was largely successful, but fell short of its ultimate goal—the reconquest of Jerusalem.

King Richard conquers Acre

Jul 3, 1191

King Richard the Lion heart recaptures Acre from the Muslims.

Saladin's Death

Mar 1, 1193

Saladin dies from a fever in Damascus, not long after Richard's reparture.

The Fourth Crusade

Jan 1, 1202

The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) was initially meant to conquer Jerusalem which was being controlled by the Muslims by invading Egypt. But in 1204 the Crusaders from Western Europe invaded Constantinople, the Christian Orthodox Empire.

The Siege of Constantinople

Jul 3, 1204

The Crusaders capture and loot the Christian city pf Constantinople.

The Children's Crusade

Jul 3, 1212

The Children's Crusade is the name given to a disastrous Crusade by Christian children to expel Muslims from the Holy Land.

The Sixth Crusade

Jul 2, 1228

The Sixth Crusade started in 1228 as an attempt to regain Jerusalem. It began seven years after the failure of the Fifth Crusade. It involved very little actual fighting. The diplomatic maneuvering of the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II resulted in the Kingdom of Jerusalem regaining control of Jerusalem and other areas for fifteen years.

The Seventh Crusade

Jan 1, 1248

The Seventh Crusade was lead by Louis IX, from 1248 to 1254. 800,000 bezants were given a ransom for King Louis who was captured, along with his troops by the Egyptian army led by the Ayyubid Sultan Turanshah supported by the Bahariyya Mamluks led by Faris ad-Din Aktai, Baibars al-Bunduqdari, Qutuz, Aybak and Qalawun.