From Epics of History: More Prisoners of Eternity.

Frenchman Hughes de Payans was one of the founding members of the Knights Templar in 1118, its mission was to protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land during the time of the crusades, a series of military operations with designs on defeating the mighty armies of the Muslims in Palestine.

Although the location of the Nativity story israel hardly celebrates Christmas at all.

Reasons for the start of the Crusades and motives.

The bad sides of nationalism.

An article about The Crusades.

From Epics of History: More Prisoners of Eternity.

Before the Crusades there were Jewish communities throughout Europe and the Middle East. Some of these communities were quite large and had survived over many centuries. The Jewish communities were an easy and attractive target for any Crusader looking for infidels to attack and riches to loot.

In a meadow outside the cathedral at Clermont Ferrand, Pope Urban II preached his crusade sermon and started a world revolution that was to affect western society for 500 years. The crusades were part of the struggle between Muslims and Christians to control the Holy Land which centred on Jerusalem, the holiest city in the world, revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews. Several events and the political and religious climate at the time were the catalyst that caused the First Crusade.

Women during the crusades suffered as much hardship and danger as their menfolk even when they were left at home. The Crusades were holy wars and women were as eager to be forgiven their sins and get straight into heaven taking part in freeing Jerusalem from the Infidels as were the men. Both women and men were unprepared for the danger and difficulties they would face in the Holy Land and after the failure of the First Crusade, Pope Urban II said that women, the elderly and the very young should not fight. In spite of this prohibition, women still joined the soldiers in the East.