Crusades

Great Schism

Jul 20, 1054

The Christian Church breaks along eastern and western lines -- the western church (or Catholic Church) centered in Rome, and the eastern church (or Orthodox Church) centered in Constantinople.

1061-1091: Conquest of Sicily

1061

Norman forces invade and take over Sicily from Muslims in a 30-year-war. Normans continue to take over all of Southern Italy.

Pope Urban II Calls the First Crusade

Nov 27, 1095

After the Orthodox Byzantine Empire requests Catholic help in fighting Muslims in Asia Minor (present-day eastern Turkey), Pope Urban II calls for the first crusade on this date, to preserve Byzantine Christian rule in Asia Minor.

Massacre of Jews

1096

Crusaders massacre European Jews in the spring and summer of 1096 whilst travelling to Asia Minor.

Official Beginning of the First Crusade

Aug 15, 1096

Pope Urban II declares this date as the official beginning of the crusade.

Battle of Civetot -- decisive defeat for People's Crusaders

Oct 6, 1096

People's Crusaders under Peter and Walter are massacred at Civetot by Seljuk Muslim forces, despite the Muslims being outnumbered.

Fall 1096-Summer 1098: Crusaders invade Asia Minor, siege Antioch

Oct 21, 1097

Crusaders pledge loyalty to Byzantium and begin their invasion of Asia Minor, culminating in a siege of Antioch, which carries into 1098. Muslims defending Antioch finally surrendered in June 1098.

Capture of Jerusalem

Jul 15, 1099

Jerusalem is conquered, with crusaders killing Muslims, Jews and Eastern Christians in the subsequent sacking of the city. Godfrey is elected King of Jerusalem. Baldwin is chosen as first Crusader King of Jerusalem next year. Urban dies, never hearing the news of the victory of Jerusalem.

Second Crusade Begins

1147

The Second Crusade begins, focusing on retaking Iberia from Muslims, and conquering pagans in Northern Europe, whilst also defending the crusader states of Jerusalem, Tripoli, Edessa and Antioch.

Capture of Lisbon

Oct 25, 1147

Lisbon, the present capital of Portugal, is captured from Muslims.

Saladin establishes Ayyubid dynasty

1171

Saladin establishes his Ayyubid dynasty, and over the ensuing decades wages an extremely successful campaign against Christians.

Saladin Retakes Jerusalem for Muslims

Oct 2, 1187

Saladin retakes Jerusalem, ending Frankish rule in the city. He officially controls Egypt, Damascus, Antioch, Aleppo and Jerusalem at this point.

Third Crusade Begins

May 11, 1189

King Henry II of England and King Phillip II of France end their own war to ally to fight Saladin and retake Jerusalem. King Henry soon dies and is succeeded by King Richard. Kaiser Frederick also joins, but dies en route to the Middle East.

Saladin surrenders Jaffa to Richard

Sep 2, 1192

Richard and Saladin sign a treaty formally ending the Third Crusade after a string of victories, placing much of the Mediterranean coast and Cyprus under Crusader rule.

Fourth Crusade Begins

1202

Supposedly intent on retaking Jerusalem, Pope Innocent III calls the Fourth Crusade. Catholics soon forget about Jerusalem and turn their attention towards attacking Orthodox Christians.

Constantinople Sacked

Apr 13, 1204

Fourth Crusade ends with the sacking of Constantinople and the further division of the Eastern and Western Churches. A "Latin Empire" is founded in Constantinople, aligned with Rome.

Fifth Crusade Begins

1217

Pope Honorius III calls the Fifth Crusade, to retake Jerusalem. Christian forces invade Egypt.

Crusaders Surrender to Al-Kamil

1221

After initial successes, Al-Kamil defeats a starving and undersupplied crusader force outside of Cairo. He provides the crusaders with food and supplies, and allows St. Francis of Assisi to preach in Cairo. A peace treaty is negotiated.

Jerusalem Returns to Christian Rule

1229

Kaiser Frederick II invades Egypt without the support of western Christians in 1228; again the crusade is defeated, but al-Kamil cedes Jerusalem to Christian forces via a treaty, as long as Muslims are allowed access to holy places.

Siege of Cordoba ends with Christian Victory

Jun 29, 1236

King Ferdinand III of Castile defeats the Muslim forces at Cordoba, a fatal blow to Muslim rule on Iberia.

Tatars Sack Jerusalem

1244

Tatars sack Jerusalem, expelling the Christians and slaughtering the Jews. Christians would never again control Jerusalem.

Seventh Crusade Begins

1248

Louis IX of France begins the seventh crusade; it is a miserable failure and ends in 1254 with his capture by the Mamluks.

Byzantines Recapture Constantinople

Jul 25, 1261

Latin rule is ended in Constantinople after a long and bloody siege; Constantinople is returned to Byzantine and Orthodox rule.

Eighth Crusade Begins and Ends Swiftly

1270

Eighth Crusade begins with King Louis IX of France siegeing Tunis; Louis dies during the siege and the crusade ends.

Siege of Acre

May 18, 1291

The final outposts of Crusader rule in the Middle East are taken by the Mamluks with the successful Siege of Acre; remaining forces retreat to Cyprus, and the Great Crusades ended.