The Second Crusade 1147 - 1149 Flashcards
overview
what was the situation preceding the crusaders states before the Fall of Edessa?
The rebellion of Hugh of Jaffa: rumoured to be having an affair with Melisende, Fulk of Anjou’s wife, Hugh fled and made a deal with the mulsims that resulted in the King marching an army to Jaffa. Hugh died, and hs death raised support against newly appointed king Fulk and forced him to communicate more closely with the crusaders, as over-promotion of Angevins antagonised the native crusaders. Fulk had favoured his people as Baldwin II had insisted that the kingdom be ruled by Melisende, Fulk and their son Baldwin, when he grew up, which Fulk found too limiting.
showed that there were internal divisions within the crusading states.
What were the relations with the Byzantine Empire in the 1130s and 1140s?
A succession dispute in Antioch caused by the death of Bohemond II, who’s daughter, Constance, married Raymond of Poitiers in 1136. Before this, Bohemond’s widow Alice had ruled. however, in 1137-38 and 1142-43, John Comnenus appeared with an army claiming an ancient right as overlord of Antioch that had existed before the First Crusade - Raymond swore homage to him, but there was never a Byzantine attack on Antioch as john was wary of bringing a western crusade on his head.
events were a reminder of the uneasy relations between the sides
Who was Imad al-Din Zengi?
Rose to power in the 1120s as Seljuk sultan of Baghdad, famous for his temper and ruthlessness, even to his own soldiers. Had previously shown little interest in attacking the franks, his focus was on capturing Damascus, and was more concerned with southern Syria. From 1143 he was fighting minor princes of the northern territories, and it is as a result of a pact between one of those princes and Jocelyn II he attacked Edessa.
How did Zengi capture Edessa in 1144?
By early 1140s, crusading states seemed secure, mostly due to muslim divisions. In autumn 1144, Zengid spies informed him that Jocelyn had left the city and left behind the Archbishop Hugh. Zengi reached Edessa in November, and begun a siege. Jocelyn tried to assemble a relief force – Melisende sent help, but Raymond of Antioch prevaricated. Upon entry, Christians fled to the citadel, hundreds died in the crush. The citadel held out for two days. Zengi ordered the native christians be spared, but the Franks to be slaughtered, women enslaved and the churches burnt.
Why did Edessa fall?
Zengi’s main aim had not been Edessa but Damascus. Emir of Damascus formed a treaty with the crusaders in 1140. This treaty between Jeruslaem and Damascus forced Zengi to look north, and when Fulk died in a hunting accident in 1143, Melisende and Baldwin III were in no position to defend the north. Edessa had mainly fallen due to its remote location and the speed of Zengi’s attack, but the lack of support from the Byzantine forces and the divided crusader factions was significant
What were Zengi’s achievements?
Zengi was portrayed as a champion of the jihad by his supporters. Jihad revival relied on Islamic intellectual and spiritual movements being translated into political ambition and action. Surrounded by poets and scholars urging their fellow Muslims to embark on jihad against the crusaders. Jihad rhetoric was partly a religious revival and partly good politics. Religious leaders encouraged holy war as an Islamic duty, and at the same time it suited political leaders to expand their territories. Zengi was most concerned with crushing his Muslim enemies and used jihad as a means of constructing alliances.
What were the main reasons for the calling of the Second Crusade in 1146?
- Fall of Edessa 1144 (zengi’s strength and weakness of the city)
- weakness of the crusaders (divisions within the ruling elite and the poor relations with the byzantine empire)
- need for strength within the papacy (quantum praedecessores, eugenius’ issues)
The poor leadership of Louis and Conrad was the most important reason for the failure of the
Second Crusade. How far do you agree?
Assess the consequences of the Second Crusade.
- many western Europeans were turned against the whole idea of crusading
- papacy lost prestige
- Muslim revival would intensify in the years ahead
- Crusades now became strictly military operations, whose objectives were strictly military ones
- Relationships between Byzantium and the crusaders deteriorated further
