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Nov 1, 1095
Pope Urban 11 calls the first Crusade
The pope responded to the request of Byzantine who wished to repel and liberate Jerusalem and Christians from Muslim power. He sent out knights to journey from France to the Holy land. -
Jan 1, 1097
The conquest of Nicaea
Thousands of knights took upon the pope's request and in 1095 they reached Constantinople and crossed into the Asian Minor. The Greek Orthodox forces took the walled city of Nicaea from the Seljuk Sultan Kilij Arslan I. -
Jun 1, 1098
The Siege of Antioch
The crusaders broke into the city of Antioch. They discovered what they thought was a piece of the Holy Lance, then they eventually took control over the entire city. -
Jun 1, 1099
The Capture of Jerusalem
In July the walls of Jerusalem were breached and the city's Muslim and Jewish defenders were slaughtered. Majority of the Europeans returned home and Crusader states were established. -
Jan 1, 1144
The Siege of Edessa
The crusader state (Edessa) fell to the ruler Zengi. IT was the first major setback for the Christians, and it made Pope Eugenius 111 to call the second crusade led by France and Germany. This was the first royal nvolvement and campaigns were made against Muslims in Iberia and heathens in the Baltic states. -
Jan 1, 1147
The Crusaders enter Damascus
The expedition to the Holy Lands was a disaster. The untrained armies were repeatedly attacked by the Seljuk Turks as they crossed the Asian minor. A group of Anglo-Norman, Flemish and Rhineland crusaders entered Damascus, yet after four days they were forced to retreat. This severed all crusade enthusiasm in Europe. -
Jun 1, 1187
The Battle of Hattin
Soon after the Crusaders steadly lost ground to the Ayyubid sultan Saladin had a huge success in defeating the crusaders. This led to the fall of nearly all the crusaders, including Jerusalem. -
Jan 1, 1201
The Mamluks
The sudden appearance of the Mongol invaders and the rise of the Mamluks, former slave soldiers, meant the crusaders power over the Holy Land weakened dramatically. -
Jan 1, 1204
The Sack of Constantinople
Warriors of the Fourth crusade (originally launched in 1202) soon reached the walls of Constantinople. The city was attacked, with the brutal murders of Byzantine Christians that slaughtered their own co-religionists. From there, a new Latin empire was established. -
Jan 1, 1213
The Fifth Crusade
Pope Innocent 111 launched the fifth crusade. The aim was to land on the coast of Egypt and head towards Jerusalem. They soon invaded the Holy Land. -
Jan 1, 1221
The Crusaders advance was halted
The crusaders attempt to capture the Holy Land was halted rapidly, because of it's unsuccessful attempt to capture Cairo. They eventually retreated when they could not capture any land. -
Jan 1, 1228
The Sixth Crusade
The Roman Emperor Frederick 11 got excommunicated, yet he managed to peacefully negotiate the return of Jerusalem to the Christians. -
Jan 1, 1244
Jerusalem returns to Muslim hands
The Holy lands were recaptured by the Muslims. -
Jan 1, 1250
The battle of Mansourah
In response to Jerusalem returning to the Muslims, Louis 1X of France led the seventh crusade into Egypt. He succeeded in claimed small early victories, then his forces were defeated by the Ayyubids in the battle of Mansourah in 1250. -
Jan 1, 1291
The Fall of Acre
In the midst of of fighting and further weakening of trade routes, it was chaos. The sultan al-Ashref took this opportunity to smash the city of Acre, taking th Holy Land from the Christians. -
Jan 1, 1312
The Knights of Templar
Despite the defeat of Acre, crusading remained a popular idea. However, one of the era's great institutions was brought down with the suppression of the order of the knights Templar.