Crusades in Europe and the Middle East
by When Emperor Alexis Comnenus wrote a letter to the Pope Urban 11 for assistance in defending his city against the Muslim Turks, he stated, “When you come you will find reward in heaven and if you do not come you will be condemned”. This letter was the beginning of the first holy war, or crusade, which was started in 1006 when Pope Urban 11 put together between 50,000 and 60,000 knights to fight this crusade.
Crusades were wars which spread throughout Europe, the holy land and Northern Africa. They were battles consisting of the knights of Europe and the Muslims. A brave knight reported the reported the following in an old interview.
Alexis Commenus, the Emperor of Byzantine asked for help to fight the Muslims by way of an appeal to the Count of Flaunders, Robert in 1093 Pope Urban11 read this message also. The outcome was to gain control of the” holy land”, by means of a crusade or “holy war” with the Muslims as they were threatening to take over Constantinople. The crusaders or military people fought for 200 years in different wars to gain back Jerusalem, their “holy land” from the Muslims. In three years time between 50,000 and 60,000 knights were turned into crusaders wearing red crosses over their armor and chanting “it is Gods will!” fighting for economic and religious reasons. Most knights died in battle chanting this but to die in battle meant a place in heaven.
With no idea how to take over Jerusalem or the holy land they were fighting for let alone being prepared for such a battle. Crusaders from all over came to Constantinople most being French but also Englishmen, Scots, Italians, Spaniards and Germans. Finally in the early 1097 after studying Jerusalem a gang of 12,000 crusaders came and two years later they gained control of the city only to have the Turks take over the land in 1144.
After many battles and a third attempt to take over the land by Europe’s leading men the German Emperor Fredik, French King Philip the English King Richard failing, a truce was formed because of respect between Saladin and Richard The Muslims controlled the land and Christians were then able to go to Jerusalem.
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