The Crusades defined the Middle Ages with two centuries of religious warfare between Christianity and Islam. While history books focus on the battles for Jerusalem, the actual campaigns involved bizarre alliances, tragic mistakes, and moments of unexpected chivalry. For instance, the most successful crusade involved no fighting at all. Furthermore, a famous king and sultan exchanged gifts and doctors while their armies killed each other. Prepare to march to the Holy Land.
Crusades
A goose supposedly led a group of crusaders. A band of German peasants followed an enchanted goose that they believed the Holy Spirit guided. They marched behind the bird until it eventually died, leaving them confused and leaderless.
The Fourth Crusade destroyed a Christian city instead of a Muslim one. The knights sacked Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, to pay their debts to Venice. They looted churches and destroyed ancient art in the very city they originally swore to protect.
Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine rode to war with her own guard. The wealthy queen accompanied her husband, Louis VII, to the Second Crusade. Reports claim she and her ladies dressed as Amazon warriors to inspire the troops, though this likely caused more scandal than morale.
Saladin sent fresh fruit and snow to his sick enemy. When Richard the Lionheart fell ill with a fever, the Sultan sent his own doctors to treat him. He also dispatched fresh peaches, pears, and snow from the mountains to cool the king’s drinks.
The “Children’s Crusade” ended in slavery and tragedy. Thousands of children marched toward the Mediterranean Sea, believing their innocence would cause the waters to part. Instead, merchants captured them and sold them into slavery in North Africa, or they died of hunger on the road.
Frederick II won Jerusalem without shedding a drop of blood. The Holy Roman Emperor led the Sixth Crusade while excommunicated by the Pope. He spoke fluent Arabic and negotiated a peace treaty with the Sultan, gaining control of the city through diplomacy rather than war.
Cannibalism occurred during the Siege of Ma’arra. Starving crusaders ate the bodies of their dead enemies to survive the winter famine. This horrific act terrified the local population and left a dark stain on the reputation of the Latin armies for centuries.
The knights built castles that still stand today. The Knights Hospitaller constructed Krak des Chevaliers in Syria, a fortress so strong that Saladin refused to attack it. It remains one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the world.
A secret sect of killers hunted crusader leaders. The “Hashishin” (Assassins) operated from mountain fortresses and targeted political figures on both sides. The word “assassin” enters our modern vocabulary directly from this mysterious group.
Richard the Lionheart and Saladin never met face to face. Although they exchanged chivalrous gifts and respected each other as warriors, the two famous leaders never stood in the same room. They communicated entirely through messengers and letters.
Heavy armor cooked the knights alive. Many European soldiers died from heatstroke because they wore wool and heavy chainmail in the Middle Eastern summer. They eventually learned to adopt local clothing styles to survive the desert climate.
A peasant found the “Holy Lance” to boost morale. Peter Bartholomew claimed visions led him to the spear that pierced Christ’s side buried under a church floor. The discovery inspired the starving army to break the Siege of Antioch, though many doubted the relic’s authenticity.
Different nations wore specific cross colors. To distinguish themselves on the battlefield, the French wore red crosses, the English wore white, and the Flemish wore green. This early system of identification helped commanders control their multi-national forces.
The wars introduced sugar and lemons to Europe. Returning knights brought back spices, fabrics, and foods that Europeans had never seen before. These new luxuries fundamentally changed Western cuisine and fashion.
Finally, the Pope charged interest on crusade loans. To fund these massive expeditions, the Church developed complex financial systems. The Knights Templar eventually became the bankers of Europe, inventing an early form of checking accounts for pilgrims.
