-
In November 1095 the First Crusade was called by Pope Urban II in the town of Clermont located in central France. He called on the knights of Europe to re-take the city of Jerusalem from Muslim control.
-
The Crusaders march across Europe to Constantinople. From there, they're guided by Armenian Christians through Turkey and Syria to Jerusalem. They begin a five week siege of the city in June, and on July 15th, 1099, Jerusalem falls to the Crusaders.
-
The second crusade was called by the Abbott Bernard of Clairvaux with the aim of taking Damascus. At this point the Muslim army had re-gained strength and the Crusaders were easily repelled. The second crusade lasted from 1147 - 1149.
-
During the third crusade, the Crusaders advanced their interests by capturing the cities of Cyprus and Acre. The third crusade lasted until 1192.
-
The target of the fourth crusade was Egypt, but on their way the Crusaders became involved in a dispute over power between different dynasties of the Byzantine empire. They were promised large sums of gold by the Venetians to help take control of Constantinople, and in 1204 the city is sacked by the Crusaders.
-
Claiming to be recipients of divine visions a group of young peasants attempt a crusade to re-take Jerusalem. They feel that their purity will grant them divine support. They make it as far as Genoa where they are refused passage to the East. Their lack of funds and any real plan causes the endeavor to fail.
-
The fifth crusade was initiated by Pope Innocent III just prior to his death in 1216. The Crusaders again attempted to conquer Egypt, this time with a two-pronged land and sea assault. The Crusaders eventually surrender to Al-Malik al-kamil in 1221.
-
The sixth crusade occurred when Emperor Frederick II negotiated with al-Kalil for the peaceful transfer of Jerusalem to Crusader control. The Muslim forces re-took Jerusalem 10 years later, once the peace treaty had expired.
-
The seventh crusade was led by Thibault IV of Champagne. By 1241 the Crusaders had regained control of Jerusalem, but in 1241 an army raised by the sultan of Egypt had taken it back.
-
Led by King Louis IX of France, the eight crusade targeted Egypt again. His army is defeated at Mansura the following year.
-
In 1261 the Byzantines re-take the city of Constantinople.
-
Outraged by the destruction of Antioch by Mamluk forces, King Louis IX retaliates. He will die two years later, on August 25th, 1270, while fighting in Tunisia.
-
In 1271 the Sultan Baibars of Egypt captures the Crusader stronghold of Montfort Castle located in what is now Israel.
-
The city of Acre falls to the Muslim army, effectively ending the Crusaders control of their last stronghold in the region.
