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The Crusades |
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A Definition
The Crusaders used the Christian cross as their symbol. They believed that the symbol of the cross made them invincible against the armies of the Muslims. The word "Crusade" came from the Latin word for “cloth cross.” Eventually, the word "crusade" was used to describe the entire journey from Europe to the Holy Land.
Overview of Main Crusades First Crusade: The first crusade was launched by Pope Urban II after the Council of Clermont in 1095 A.D. The Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople sent a letter to Pope Urban II, asking for his assistance against the progressing Muslim invaders. Urban gave a call to Christians throughout Europe to recapture the Holy Land, and especially Jerusalem, from the Muslims. The crusaders of the First Crusade departed in 1096 and eventually recaptured Jerusalem in 1099. On the way to Jerusalem, the crusaders established “kingdoms” for themselves in various cites in the middle east.
Shortly after the First Crusade, the Muslims counter-attacked and captured the city of Edessa in 1144 A.D. St. Bernard of Clairvaux traveled throughout Europe, encouraging people to “take up the cross” and push the Muslims back from what they had retaken. Lacking a clear and persuasive goal, and marked by incompetence in leadership, the Second Crusade was an utter failure.
Third Crusade: The Third Crusade was launched in 1189 A.D. In 1187 A.D., the Muslim armies, led by Saladin, had re-conquered Jerusalem. Although at first a huge army was amassed, the Third Crusade was ultimately unsuccessful. The Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick I Barbarossa of Germany, drowned, under uncertain circumstances, on the way to the Holy Land. Richard the Lionheart of England was able to recapture several coastal cities, but did not attempt to retake Jerusalem due to a lack of resources. Lionheart did negotiate a peace treaty with Saladin, allowing for Christian pilgrims to enter Jerusalem without danger. Fourth Crusade: The Fourth Crusade began in 1202 A.D. Lacking clear direction and strong leadership, the fourth crusade eventually resulted in a battle between Catholic and Orthodox Christians and the conquering of Constantinople by the Christian armies. The conflict destroyed any unity that remained between Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Fifth Crusade:
Sixth Crusade:
The Sixth Crusade was launched in 1228
A.D., and was led by Holy Roman
Emperor F Seventh and Eighth Crusades: The Seventh and Eight Crusades were led by King Louis IX of France. Both were complete disasters. In the Seventh Crusade, Louis recaptured Damietta, but later had his army routed. In 1270 A.D., Louis died before he was able to reach the goal of the Eighth Crusade.
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The Ninth Crusade:
The Ninth Crusade was Led by King Edward I of England in 1271 A.D. It was an attempt to defeat the Mamluk sultan of Baibers. The crusade failed, and Edward returned home to England upon learning of the death of his father, Henry III
The Tenth Crusade: Led by Lord John de Brayne in 2006 was probably the most decisive of all the crusades against that formidable foe The Mighty SARACEN. He had assembled a army of finely tuned warriors who were prepared to lay down their bodies for the honour of the Faithful City. After searching high and low throughout the old and the New World he found a knight of impeccable lineage, the Red Knight, Sir Anthony of Oz. He knew he was the knight to train his his men in the art of attack and defence, lunge and riposte.
The scene was set as weeks of preparation had brought those great warriors into peak condition, even Phillipe von Riykard was amazed at their physical prowess. The hunting pack was hungry for action led by the elderly but massively experienced Earl Windo with his cohorts Earl Fortie and Duke Audii. Followed on by that ladies man Lord Gomers and the fancy footed Sir Drahm, leading the cutting edge of the fleet and sure footed cavalry brought in from below the equator. Guarding the rear was "Le Guillotine" Le Marquis de le Roux, I say again Le Marquis de le Roux. On Sunday 26th March 2006, with drums a-beating, ladies dancing and liquid sustenance flowing, off they set to rid this world of those evil defilers of Christian womanhood, those black hearted fiends they call THE SARACEN!!!
To feel the passion, the excitement the total and utter commitment to victory was to feel close to heaven itself. Cheering, singing and the canting of those great words "Warrriorrrrs Warrriorrrrss" Your heart must surely have skipped a beat as the power encompassed your whole body. Here, was a force that could change the world, could move mountains and could eventually crush those mighty SARACENS. Mile after mile they moved southwards through the infested swamps of the lowlands across the deserts of the central plains until finally their goal was in site. The lair of those mighty SARACENS.
Only your heart can tell you that. Will you wake in the early hours after battle and say "I did my best"!! Will you wake in the arms of a Valkyrie as she takes you gently in her arms and transports you to Valhalla, the Halls of the Hero's . Where you can live a life of constant celebration waiting to return to the battlefield once more to fight for YOUR club. This is not the time for weak hearts, it is a time for valour, strength and determination to wreak devastation on those Mighty SARACENS. This is the time when WE become truly special. Are they in your soul, are they part of your whole being, are the Warriors YOUR team. Then I say from every sinew of my being, stand tall and be part of something really special as we forge forward to a momentous victory.
VICTORY WILL BE OURS!! |
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The Crusades were a series of military
missions, usually organized and promoted by the Pope and/or Roman
Catholic Church. The crusades took place through the 11th and 13th
centuries A.D. The original intent of the crusades was to recapture
“Christian” lands that had been invaded by Muslims. 
Second Crusade:
The Fifth Crusade took place in 1217
A.D., and was led by Andrew II of Hungary and Leopold VI of Austria. The
Fifth Crusade was successful in capturing the city of Damietta, but
could not hold it for long, especially after a crushing defeat at the
Battle of Al-Mansura. Leopold and Andrew were actually offered control
of Jerusalem and other Christian sites in the Holy Land in exchange for
the return of Damietta to Muslim control. However, in his misplaced
arrogance, Cardinal Pelagius refused the offer, turning a victory into
an utter defeat.
rederick II. The Sixth Crusade ended with a peace treaty that
gave Christians authority over several important Christian sites,
including Jerusalem.
They needed a leader, a man of
stature, a man of honour, a man to lead his warriors to victory over the
swarming hoards form the southern reaches of their land. That man was
the mighty SANDERSON! A man of legend who single handily had destroyed
the resolve of those wild tigers from the east.
Following this gathering of fine
Warriors came their followers bedecked in blue and gold, adorned with
headgear to make Sir Gucci shake in his boots.
When historians write about this
illustrious time in our history will YOU be one of those devoted
followers, will YOU be part of this great adventure, will YOU be there
at the moment of greatest need?