Crusades

East - West Schism

Jan 1, 1054

Battle of Manzikert

Aug 26, 1071

Byzantine emperor Romanus IV loses battle to the Turks.

Alexius I Comnenus asks for help, Council of Clermont

Jan 1, 1095

Alexius I Comnenus asks the West for help against the Turks. Urban II responds with Council of Clermont which calls for crusade as an act of mercy.

First Crusade

Period: Jan 1, 1095 to Jan 1, 1099

Beginning of First Crusade

Aug 6, 1096

Peter the Hermit travels around drumming up support. People's crusade heads for Constantinople, doesn't wait for others, destroyed in Anatolia (6, Aug). Prince's Crusade leaves for Constantinople, lead by Godfrey of Bouillon, his bro Baldwin of Boulogne, and Hugh of Vermandois (mid-Aug).

More Prince's Arrive

Jan 1, 1097

Bohemond of Taranto, Count Raymond of Toulouse, and Papal legate Adhemar arrive in Constantinople. All take oath of loyalty to Alexius. At Siege of Antioch Baldwin of Boulogne and Tancred (Bohemond's Counsin) split off from group and take Edessa with Baldwin as ruler. Making it the first crusader state and an important buffer zone.

Battle at Nicea

May 21, 1097

Latin's besieging Nicea, Alexius makes secret treaty with Nicean ruler and takes it over in the middle of the night without telling Latins. Strike 1 against Alexius.

Kerbogha vs. Crusaders

Jan 1, 1098

Bohemond and buddies take Antioch. Turkish leader Kerbogha besieges the town, but the crusaders get rid of them. Bohemnd chosen as ruler of Antioch.

To Jerusalem

Jul 13, 1099

Crusaders march to Jerusalem (January), make pathetic attempt to take the city by storm. After one day where everyone got a little weird and walked around barefoot and signing, they began a siege that lasts from July 13th-15th. On the 15th they successfully take the city.

Who Will Rule? End of 1st Crusade

Jul 15, 1099

Kingship offered to Raymond, he refuses on principle, but is pissed when it goes to Godfrey instead. Raymond starts to leave, but turns around when he hears of the Egyptians attacking fellow Crusaders at Ascelon. After helping he really goes home. Godfrey & Tancred left to defend Jerusalem.

Baldwin I

Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Jan 1, 1118

Godfrey's Heir?

Jul 18, 1100

Godfrey dies. Diambert, Papal Legate & Archbishop of Pisa thinks this is his chance to rule as Patriarch of Jerusalem. Instead crown given to Baldwin of Edessa. On his way to Jerusalem he stops and takes Antioch since Bohemond had been captured.

Baldwin I

Dec 25, 1100

Baldwin I crowned first king of Jerusalem by Diambert. (1100-18). Removes Diambert from office.

"Third Wave" of Crusaders

Jan 1, 1101

Third Wave of crusaders unable to leave earlier arrives. Lambards, Stephen of Blois meet up with Raymond. Lambards destroyed in Anatolia.

Crusaders at Aleppo

Jan 1, 1103

Bohemond released, partners w/Baldwin of Boureq (Ruler of Edessa) & Joscelin of Courtenay to capture Aleppo. Defeated, Joscelin & Baldwin captured. Tancred send by Baldwin I to defend Edessa.

Bohemond Dies

Jan 1, 1111

Hospitallers

Jan 1, 1113

Hospitallers become seperate religious order. Named for the Hospitals they run, however they also have a group of knights who fight.

Baldwin II

Period: Jan 1, 1118 to Jan 1, 1131

Problem of Succession, Balwin II

Apr 2, 1118

Baldwin I dies, problem of succession with no precedent. Baldwin named his bro Eustace of Boulogne but Barons elect Baldwin of Boureq (ruler of Edessa) while Joscelin gets Edessa.

Baldwin II Taken Hostage, Venetian Crusade

Oct 12, 1123

Balak of Aleppo took Joscelin hostage after attacking Edessa in 1122, Baldwin II counter attacks and is captured. 1122-4 Venetian Crusade. Destroy Egyptian armadad, take Tyre, Balak dies, Baldwin II released.

Zengi & Knights Templar

Jan 1, 1128

Zengi has control over Aleppo and Mosul. Most powerful Muslim yet. Hugh of Payns forms Knighs Templar to escort pilgrams. St. Bernard a fan.

Baldwin II Dies, King Fulk

Jan 1, 1131

Baldwin II dies. Last of original crusaders. Lord Fulk of Anjou, wife Melisende (Baldwin II's daughter), and their son Baldwin inherit kingdom.

Melisende & Fulk

Period: Jan 1, 1131 to Jan 1, 1153

Keeping Zengi out of Damascus

Jan 1, 1139

Emir of Damascus asks King Fulk for help keeping Zengi out of the city. Fulk helps so Zengi doesn't get to close to Latin kingdoms.

King Fulk Dies, Melisende & Baldwin III Rule

Jan 1, 1143

Baldwin III

Period: Jan 1, 1143 to Jan 1, 1153

Siege of Edessa

Dec 24, 1144

Zengi besieges Edessa; Joscelin & best troops gone, ask Reymond of Antioch for help but he's a little girl so he refuses out of spite. Melisende sends help, but too little, too late. Dec. 24th Zengi takes Edessa, shatters Christian confidence.

Eugene III Calls for Second Crusade

Jan 1, 1145

St. Bernard of Clairvaux drums up support. Louis VII really into the idea.

Second Crusade

Period: Jan 1, 1146 to Jan 1, 1148

Zengi Killed in His Sleep

Sep 14, 1146

Crusading Escapades

Jan 1, 1147

Flemish, Normon, & English crusaders leave, stop in Lisbon to help Alfonsi siege it.
Conrad II takes his Germans & doesn't wait for others. Marches on Antioch, gets destroyed at Dorylaeum, go back to wait at Nicea.
Manuel I orders troops to protect Byzantine citizens, leads to Christians fighting more Byzantines than Arabs.

Next Round of Escapades, End of 2nd Crusade

Jan 1, 1148

Louis VII sails to Antioch, orders troops to march, they get massacred by Turks. July 24th, siege of Damascus begins, ends 4 days later. Embarrassing for Christians, empowering for Muslims.
Conrad II goes to Constantinople, Louis VII dicks around for a while.
2nd Crusade ends with more damage down to East/West relations than anything else.
Nur ed-Din strengthened.

Baldwin III takes Ascalon

Jan 1, 1153

With Melisende gone, Baldwin III successfully sieges Ascalon, putting all of Palestine under Latin control. However while he's doing that Nur ed-Din takes Damascus.

Amalric

Period: Jan 1, 1153 to Jan 1, 1174

William of Tyre important in his court as historian of the Crusades

Baldwin III & Mauel I

Jan 1, 1158

Baldwin III and Manuel I make alliance; Manuel will march on Antioch & then help Baldwin against ed-Din. Baldwin marries Manuel's niece Theodora.

Asshole Reynald

Jan 1, 1159

Manuel I takes Antioch but lets Reynald rule as a vassal. Maks agreement with ed-Din preserving current boundries, honored by all by asshole Reynald. in 1160 Raynald taken hostage and nobody willing to pay his ransom.

Baldwin III dies, Amalric takes over

Jan 1, 1163

Baldwin III dies & Amalric takes throne, first gets marriage annuled & children declared legit.

Egypt Shenanigans Begin

Jan 1, 1164

Vizier of Egypt, Shawar, asks Amalric for help against Shirkuh, ed-Din's Kurdish General. Amalric besieges Shirkuh at Bilbeis, while ed-Din attakcs Latins near Antioch. Amalric agrees to leave Egypt if Shirkuh does.

Egypt Continued

Jan 1, 1167

ed-Din sends Shirkuh back to Egypt, Amalric helps Shawar again. Besieges Alexandria & take it from Shirkuh. Shawar controls Egypt but pays Latins to leave behind troops in Cairo.

Amalric Betrays Shawar, Appearance of Saladin.

Jan 1, 1168

Amalric marches on Egypt, Shawar goes to old enemy ed-Din for help.Shirkuh sent into Egypt AGAIN, w/army of Damascus. Latins take Bilbeis & march to Cairo. Shirkuh beats them there, leaving Amalric no option but to go home, humiliated. Shirkuh kills Shawar, takes over Egypt, dies 2 months later. Nephew Saladin takes over.

Amalric & Nur ed-Din Dies, Baldwin IV Takes Over

Jan 1, 1174

13 year old Baldwin IV takes over; he's a leper. Saladin takes Damascus; unifies Islam by pacifying Zengi's relatives & marrying ed-Din's widow.

Baldwin IV

Period: Jan 1, 1174 to Jan 1, 1185

Leper

Marriage of Sibylla

Jan 1, 1176

Seljuk Turks crush Byzantine forces. Baldwin IV's sister, Sibylla, marries William Longsword at behest of Regent Count Raymond III of Tripoli.

William Dies, Sibylla Gives birth to Baldwin

Jan 1, 1178

Saladin Consolidates Power

Jan 1, 1180

Makes 4 year treaty with Franks and alliance with Mosul

Guy of Losignon Made Regent

Jan 1, 1183

Guy marries Sibylla & becomes regen to Baldwin IV. Falls out of favor when he waits out an attack by Saladin instead of counter-attacking.

Baldwin IV Dies

Jan 1, 1185

Baldwin V

Period: Jan 1, 1185 to Jan 1, 1186

Baldwin V Dies, Problem of Succession

Jan 1, 1186

Raymond remains regent while Pope & Kings of Ger/Fr/Eng decide which of his 2 daughters will reign. Joscelin III pulls a fast one on Raymond & tricks control of Jerusalem away from him.
Sibylla can be queen only if she divorces Guy, does, gets crowned, then remarries and crowns him right after.
Raymond pissed, forms alliance with Saladin against Jerusalem.

Guy & Sibylla

Period: Jan 1, 1186 to Jan 1, 1190

Horns of Hattin, Call for 3rd Crusade

Jul 3, 1187

Reynald pissed Saladin off, so he declares war. Guy knows to wait Saladin out, Reymond agrees. Others convince Guy to make treck across desert to reclaim fallen Tiberias. In desert near Hattin troops make camp, get surrounded by Muslims. Next day crusaders rush to volcano (Horns of Hattin) & end up getting slaughtered. All killed or taken captive except Raymond & a few friends. Latin lands have no defensive army, Oct 2 Saladin takes Jerusalem. Greg VIII calls for new crusade.

3rd Crusade

Period: Jan 1, 1188 to Jan 1, 1192

Start of 3rd Crusade

Jan 1, 1189

Henry II & Philip II leave. Barbarossa leaves with largest army yet, Isaac II makes treaty w/Saladin to slow Fred down. Crusaders side w/Guy in spat between him and Conrad. Guy besieges Acre, Conrad looks petty, must join. Richard I crowned.

Barbarossa Dies, Guy looses to Conrad

Jan 1, 1190

Isaac stops harrassing after Fred takes Adrianople. After entering Turkish lands, on June 10 Fred dies. German armies splinter, most go home. Duke Frederick leads remaining. Guy looses claim to thronw at Sibylla's death. Conrad forces Isabella (Amalric's daughter) to have her marriage annuled and marry him, and is made King.

Isabella

Period: Jan 1, 1190 to Jan 1, 1205

Richard Capture Cyprus, Kingship back to Guy

Jan 1, 1191

Isaac Comnenus (not emperor) captures and imprisons some of Richard's men on Cyprus. Richard responds by taking over Cyprus & uses it as important supplier for 3rd Crusade.
Dick promises to support Guy, he and Philip agree Guy gets it until death then Conrad or his heir. Dick wins Arsuf, later takes Jaffa & Ascelon. Restores confidence.

Guy & Conrad can't Let Go of the Kingship Issue, Jerusalem

Jan 1, 1192

Dick & others get close to Jerusalem, decide it can't work, & go back. Pisses of rank & file. Kingship issue STILL not settled; Conrad will get Jerusalem & Guy gets Cyprus. King Conrad murdered by assassins shortly after. Dick's nephew, Henry of Champagne marries Isabella & takes over as ruler but never king.

2nd March on Jerusalem, Peace Treaty, End of 3rd Crusade.

Jun 1, 1192

Richard leads 2nd march on Jerusalem, decides it won't work again, wants to take Egypt 1st. Others disagree, Dick says he'll fight but not lead an attack on Jerusalem, w/out him leading nothing really happens. Richard gets sick, and settles 3 year peace with Saladin. Dick goes home. 3rd Crusade ENDS.

Saladin Dies

Mar 4, 1193

Innocent III Calls for New Crusade

Jan 1, 1198

Not satisfied with assurance of safe passage, wants more.

Treaty with Venetian Doge

Jan 1, 1199

To raise money for crusade, Pope makes deal with Venetian Doge for ships and supplies. Tons of people answer call, but nobody knows where to go and when. Only a few thousand show up in Venice on appoined day, Barons are short money; Doge says give what you have and stop at Zara to put down a rebellion.

4th Crusade

Period: Jan 1, 1201 to Jan 1, 1204

Zara Debacle

Jan 1, 1202

Crusaders arrive at Zara to find that rebellion is led by King of Hungary who gets his money from fellow crusader. Frankish King asks Pope for help, Pope says anyone who fights the rebels will be excommunicated. So they will be excommunicated by man who sent them on crusade if they fight battle necessary to fund said crusade. Fuck it, fight anyways.

Constantinople Mess

Jan 1, 1203

Alexius Comnenus (Isaac II's son) asks for help deposing Alexius III, claims he's bad, & will pay Crusaders debts in exchange. Innocen III says don't do it, they say, screw it & go. People of Constantinople fight crusaders b/c they like Alexius III. Isaac II hears & gives empire to Alexius IV.
One day crusaders set mosque on fire, it spreads to city. Aleixus IV asks general for help, general tricks him, throws him in prison, & declares himself emperor. Innocent III says figure out your own shit.

4th Crusade Out.

Jan 1, 1204

End of 4th Crusade