crusading between 1177 and 1124 Flashcards
what was the background to the fourth crusade
Pope Innocent III (elected 1198) aimed to restore papal leadership over Christendom.
15th August 1198: Issued papal bull ‘Post miserabile’, calling for a new crusade.
Attempts to unite England & France:
Papal legate Peter Capuano tried to arrange peace.
Richard I (England) had been captured on return from the Third Crusade, leading to conflict with Philip II (France).
Richard threatened to castrate the legate but later signed a five-year truce with Philip.
Richard’s sudden death (April 1199) disrupted plans.
Transport negotiations:
Papal legate Soffredo sought Italian city-state support.
Genoa was uninterested but Venice, led by Doge Enrico Dandalo, entered talks.
Recruitment efforts:
Popular preachers (Martin of Pairis, Fulk of Neuilly) encouraged participation.
November 1199: Count Theobald of Champagne held a tournament at Ecry-sur-Aisne to promote the crusade.
Count Louis of Blois & Count Baldwin of Flanders (married to Theobald’s sister Marie) also joined in early 1200.
what happened with venice joining the fourth crusade
French barons planned to sail to Egypt first, using it as a base to recapture Jerusalem.
Lacked a fleet, so negotiated with Venice.
Six French representatives (including chronicler Geoffrey of Villehardouin) struck a deal with Doge Enrico Dandalo.
Venetians’ terms:
Transport & provisions for 33,500 troops for one year.
Cost: 85,000 marks (~25,000kg of silver).
Venetian fleet: 50 war galleys at no upfront cost, but Venice would receive half of all plunder.
Fleet to be ready by 29th June 1202.
Treaty ratified by Pope Innocent III.
Venetians successfully built & prepared the fleet on time.
how did the French break the promises of the Byzantines
Count Theobald of Champagne died in May 1201, and Boniface of Montferrat replaced him.
Crusaders began arriving in Venice in June 1202, but only 11,000 arrived (far fewer than the promised 33,500).
By July 1202, the 11,000 crusaders still owed 34,000 marks to Venice.
Doge Enrico Dandalo proposed a deal: Venetians lend the 34,000 marks if crusaders help recapture Zara (a Venetian possession).
Zara was a Christian city under protection of King Emeric of Hungary, who had taken a crusading vow, making the attack controversial.
Peter Capuano, papal legate, was ordered to ensure the crusade proceeded but tacitly accepted the attack on Zara. He left for Rome, distancing himself from the crusade.
Doge Dandalo took a crusading vow, and Venetians rejected Capuano’s status as papal legate.
what were the problems with the conquest of Zara
After conquering Zara in April 1203, crusaders expected support for young Alexius in Corfu, but faced violent resistance instead.
The majority of crusaders considered abandoning the journey to Constantinople and returning to Outremer, but leaders had to beg them not to.
Crusaders agreed to continue on the condition that they spend no longer than a month at Constantinople.
Pope Innocent III sent Peter Capuano to Outremer without the crusaders for disobeying his instructions.
The crusaders arrived at Constantinople in June 1203, expecting a quick coup but faced opposition from the Greeks who rejected young Alexius.
Emperor Alexius III feigned ignorance of their cause, and the crusaders wrote to Innocent III seeking forgiveness. Innocent forgave them but excommunicated the Venetians for their role.
Venetian greed was blamed by Innocent III for many problems.
In December 1202, Boniface of Montferrat rejoined the crusade, and German envoys brought a deal from young Alexius.
Alexius promised 200,000 marks, an army, knights, and obedience of the Greek church to Rome in exchange for the throne.
Simon de Montfort opposed the diversion to Constantinople, but the crusade needed funds, so leaders accepted the deal despite Pope Innocent III’s opposition.
what were the problems with Alexius IV
After the crusaders’ arrival in Constantinople in June 1203, they expected a quick coup to install young Alexius as emperor, but the Greeks opposed him because of his alliance with the Latins.
The crusaders attacked the city, leading to the flight of Emperor Alexius III, and the restoration of Isaac II and his son Alexius IV as co-emperors.
Tensions developed when Alexius IV struggled to pay the crusaders, relying on plundering Byzantine wealth, including sacred church icons, which angered the Greeks.
The crusaders, under pressure to pay off their debts to the Venetians, were forced to stay longer than planned. They agreed to remain until March 1204.
In August 1203, an anti-Latin riot broke out, leading to further violence and destruction in Constantinople. Crusaders also attacked a mosque and set fire to parts of the city.
By December 1203, relations with Alexius IV had deteriorated, and crusaders began raiding for payment of his debts.
In January 1204, a palace coup deposed Alexius IV and his father. Alexius IV was killed in February 1204, and Alexius V replaced him as emperor.
what was the sack of Constantinople
The Crusaders demanded that Alexius V honor the agreement with Alexius IV, but when he refused, they assaulted Constantinople.
On 8 April 1204, the attack failed due to strong Byzantine resistance and bad weather. The Latin clergy justified the attack by calling the Greeks ‘schismatics’ and claiming God was testing the crusaders. Despite Pope Innocent III’s orders not to attack, his letter was suppressed.
Alexius V fled, and on 12 April, aided by strong winds, the Venetians scaled the walls and entered the city. By 13 April, the Crusaders had completely taken Constantinople.
The Sack of Constantinople lasted for three days. The city was looted, many were raped or killed, and churches were destroyed despite threats of excommunication.
Looted wealth from Constantinople was over 800,000 silver marks. The Venetians received 150,000 marks, and the crusaders received 50,000 marks. Much of the remaining wealth was kept by individual looters.
The Crusaders placed Baldwin of Flanders as emperor, but Pope Innocent III was filled with shame at their actions, disowning the Crusaders. The Fourth Crusade collapsed.
what was the general European response for the third crusade
Pope Gregory VIII issued the papal bull ‘Audita tremendi’ on October 29, 1187, calling for the Third Crusade.
William II of Sicily sent a fleet of 50 ships and 200 knights in 1188 to protect Tripoli and Antioch from Saladin. His death in 1189 forced the fleet’s withdrawal.
In April 1189, Ubaldo Lanfranchi, Archbishop of Pisa, arrived with 52 ships, crucial for defending Tyre and aiding the siege of Acre.
In September 1189, a fleet of Danish and Flemish ships arrived off the Syrian coast.
Between September 1189 and June 1190, many nobles from England, France, and other parts of Western Europe arrived in Outremer to assist the Kingdom of Jerusalem, led by Guy of Lusignan.
Henry of Champagne, a wealthy noble and nephew to Philip II of France and Richard I of England, arrived in June 1190, leading the advance guard of the French crusade.
what was the German expedition during the third crusade
Frederick I Barbarossa organized a grand army of up to 100,000 men (likely exaggerated) and set out on the overland route to the Holy Land in 1189, traveling through Hungary and Serbia.
Byzantine Emperor Isaac II Angelus opposed Frederick’s passage, seeing him as a threat to his own position. He had Frederick’s envoys imprisoned, leading to Frederick forcing a peace treaty with Isaac II in November 1189 at Adrianople.
Frederick had an agreement with the Turkish Sultan of Iconium (Konya) for free passage, but the agreement broke down. In May 1190, Frederick captured and sacked Iconium.
On 10th June 1190, Frederick tragically drowned in the Selef River while crossing Anatolia, which caused most of the German forces to disband and return to Germany.
Frederick’s younger son, Duke Frederick of Swabia, took over command of the diminished army and led it to Antioch, where his father was buried. The remaining forces arrived at Acre in October 1190.
what was Richard I’s journey on the third crusade
September 1190: Richard I and Philip II arrived in Sicily. After the death of King William II of Sicily, Tancred of Lecce seized power. Richard demanded the release of his sister, Queen Joan, but when Tancred refused, Richard seized a monastery and the castle of La Bagnara.
October 1190: Messina revolted, demanding that foreigners leave. Richard responded by attacking and capturing the city, where he remained until March 1191.
April 1191: Richard left Sicily and stopped at Rhodes. His sister Joan and fiancée Berengaria of Navarre were shipwrecked on Cyprus.
6 May 1191: Richard’s fleet arrived at Lemesos (Cyprus) and captured the city. The island’s despot, Isaac Komnenos, resisted, but Richard successfully conquered Cyprus. This conquest proved to be one of the most significant long-term achievements of the crusade.
what happened at the siege of Acre
The siege lasted from August 28, 1189, to July 12, 1191.
Guy of Lusignan arrived on August 28, 1189, attempting to surprise the Muslim garrison, but the initial assault failed. Guy set up camp outside the city to wait for reinforcements.
From October 1189 to April 1191, the crusaders and Saladin’s army engaged in a double siege: the crusaders besieged Acre, while Saladin’s forces besieged the crusader camp.
Conditions in the city and the crusader camp were harsh. Food was scarce, water became contaminated, and epidemics spread, leading to numerous deaths.
In July 1190, Queen Sibylla and her daughters died, leading to a shift in power. Guy lost his claim to the throne but refused to relinquish his position.
Conrad of Montferrat claimed the throne after his marriage to Isabella, leading to a conflict with Guy.
In April 1191, Philip II of France arrived, and Richard I joined him in June. The siege finally succeeded in July with the fall of Acre.
After the fall, Philip II returned to France, leaving Richard in command. In a controversial move, Richard had 2,700 Muslim prisoners executed after failed negotiations with Saladin.
what happened at Arsuf and the marches on Jerusalem
Richard I began marching down the coast from Acre in August 1191, making regular rest stops and marching only in the morning to avoid the heat. The fleet supported his movements, providing supplies and refuge.
On 7th September 1191, Richard’s forces faced a battle at Arsuf. Despite attempts to disrupt their cohesion, Richard led his forces to victory after the Hospitallers broke ranks and charged, allowing the entire army to attack.
The victory at Arsuf secured the southern coastal area of Palestine, including Jaffa, making the capture of Jerusalem feasible.
By January 1192, Richard was only 12 miles from Jerusalem, but he pulled back due to the proximity of Saladin’s army and another army approaching from Egypt.
Richard then captured Ascalon, rebuilding the walls Saladin had destroyed, and threatened to invade Egypt.
Conrad was fully recognized as king in April 1192 but was assassinated later that month. Henry of Champagne married Isabella in May.
On June 7, 1192, Richard set out again towards Jerusalem but ultimately pulled back after skirmishes with Saladin’s forces. His army was not large enough for a prolonged siege, and he eventually decided to focus on Egypt.
what was the truce with Saladin
Battle of Jaffa (27th July 1192): After Richard I began his withdrawal from hostile territory, Saladin laid siege to Jaffa. Richard quickly gathered a small army, including Italian sailors, and rushed south. He showed personal bravery and led a force of 54 knights, a few hundred infantrymen, and 2,000 Genoese and Pisan crossbowmen to successfully repulse Saladin’s forces.
Treaty of Jaffa (September 1192): The battle’s outcome marked the end of Saladin’s counter-offensive. The treaty put an end to hostilities between Richard and Saladin. Key terms:
Christian pilgrims were granted special rights to travel in Palestine and Jerusalem.
Richard had captured the cities of Daron, Jaffa, Acre, and Ascalon (although the latter’s fortifications were dismantled).
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was left weak, unable to secure territory beyond 10 miles inland, and remained in a fragile state.
why did the fourth crusade fail due to poor organization
Overestimation of Crusader Numbers: Only about 12,000 out of 33,500 expected crusaders arrived, leading to over-preparation of transport and supplies, which caused heavy debt to the Venetians (85,000 marks).
Indebtedness to Venetians: This debt left the crusaders vulnerable, as the Venetians had different goals and pushed for an attack on Zara, leading to desertion by many, including Simon de Montfort.
Poor Leadership: The death of Theobald, absence of Boniface, lack of a unifying king, and young Prince Alexius complicated leadership.
Pope Innocent III’s Weak Leadership: Although he stirred up the crusade, he failed to decisively intervene or stop the attack on Zara and Constantinople, and his letters were ignored.
Delays and Defiance: Repeated delays led the crusaders to ignore their leaders, agreeing only to a limited diversion to Constantinople, which wasn’t honored.
Overthrow of Alexius IV: After his overthrow in February 1204, the crusaders had no food or money and attacked and sacked Constantinople as the best option to continue the crusade.
why did the fourth crusade fail due to deliberate diversion and greed
Venetian Involvement:
Anti-Venetian Attacks (1171): 10,000 Venetians were arrested in Constantinople, and Venice lost privileges until 1182-84, receiving 1,500 pounds of gold as compensation.
Dandalo’s Role: The Venetian Doge, Dandalo, negotiated a deal with the crusaders, potentially inflating crusader numbers and prices to place them in debt, using this to leverage the crusade for Venice’s benefit.
Venetian Motivation: Venice had significant economic interests in Constantinople, wanting to secure trading privileges and weaken their Genoese and Pisan rivals.
Venetian Actions: Venice supplied warships and invested heavily in the crusade, threatening Alexius IV in December 1203 and supporting the sack of Constantinople in April 1204.
Crusader Motivation:
Greed for Wealth: Crusaders were motivated by the prospect of massive wealth from the sack of Constantinople, which could make them staggeringly rich after Alexius IV paid 100,000 marks to settle debts.
Philip of Swabia’s Influence:
Intrigues in Byzantium: Philip of Swabia, King of Germany, and his kinsman Boniface of Montferrat, leader of the Fourth Crusade, may have intentionally diverted the crusade to Constantinople for political reasons.
Family Ties to Alexius IV: Philip’s marriage to Irene (Alexius’s sister) strengthened his interest in Byzantine affairs, making him likely to support Alexius IV’s bid to reclaim the throne.
why did the fourth crusade fail due to poor relations between Latins and Byzantines
Long-Term Divisions:
Byzantine Perceptions: Byzantines viewed the Latins negatively, believing they undermined crusading efforts (e.g., Second Crusade) and resented Isaac II’s alliance with the Ayyubids.
Latin Perceptions: Latins saw Byzantines as undermining the crusades, especially through actions like the arrest of Venetians in 1171 and the Massacre of Latins in 1182.
Alexius IV’s Struggles:
Unpopularity of Latins: Alexius IV’s imperial claim was weakened by his association with the unpopular Latins, which required military intervention by the crusaders in July 1203.
Unmet Promises: Alexius IV promised large sums (e.g., 200,000 silver marks, 10,000 soldiers) and political concessions (obedience of the Greek Church to Rome), but failed to deliver, leading to the crusaders’ breach and the eventual sack of Constantinople.
Byzantine Resistance:
Failure to Pay: The Byzantine people resented paying the crusaders and obstructed the collection of promised funds, especially after Alexius IV’s rise to the throne.
Refusal to Obey Rome: The Byzantines refused to submit their Church to the authority of Rome, further alienating the crusaders.
Tensions Leading to Conflict:
Attack on Mosque (1203): A crusader attack on a mosque and a subsequent fire further inflamed anti-Latin sentiment among the Byzantines.
January 1204 Attempted Ambush: Alexius IV tried to destroy the Venetian fleet, marking a major turning point in the conflict.
Hostility from Latin Priests: Latin priests declared the Greeks as “schismatic” (April 1204), justifying violence against them, deepening centuries-old mutual distrust.
Who was Philip of Flanders and what role did he play in the Crusades?
Philip of Flanders travelled to Outremer in 1177 to join a planned invasion of Egypt, but sought to gain control of the kingdom for one of his vassals. When he failed, he went to Antioch and participated in the unsuccessful siege of Harim.
What was the significance of the Battle of Montgisard in 1177?
Baldwin IV’s surprise victory over Saladin in 1177 convinced many in Western Europe that the threat to Outremer had been exaggerated.
What was the perception of Western Christians regarding luxury in Outremer?
Western Christians thought the Franks of Outremer had a higher standard of living and could fund their own defense, which led to a lack of further support.
What were the results of the small crusade in 1183 led by Duke Henry of Louvain and Ralph of Mauleon?
The crusade achieved very little despite responding to Pope Alexander III’s appeal.
Who was Henry II of England and what was his role in the crusades?
Back:
Henry II refused to take the keys to Jerusalem offered in 1184, but sent men and money to support the crusaders.
What were the “Keys to Jerusalem” offered to in 1184?
The keys were offered to Philip II of France and Henry II of England, but both refused.
