The Second Crusade: A Failed Attempt to Reclaim the Holy Land

The Outset of the Second Crusade

The Second Crusade, a pivotal chapter in medieval history, was precipitated by the fall of the County of Edessa to Zengid forces led by Imad ad-Din Zangi on December 24, 1144. Edessa, the first of the Crusader States established in 1098 during the First Crusade, was a critical stronghold for the Christian presence in the Levant. The loss of Edessa, marked by the slaughter and enslavement of its Western Christian inhabitants, while the local Armenian and Syriac Christians were often spared, sent shockwaves through Christendom, leading to urgent appeals for military intervention from the West.

The Papal Call to Arms

Pope Eugene III's response to the fall of Edessa was the issuance of the papal bull Quantum Praedecessores on December 1, 1145. This document called for a new crusade to restore the lost territories, offering participants full indulgence—forgiveness for all confessed sins—and assurances of the security of their estates while they were away. The Pope also provided economic incentives, such as the alleviation of debts and the suspension of interest payments, to encourage participation. This appeal framed the crusade as a holy endeavor, promising spiritual rewards and temporal benefits.

The Leadership and Composition of the Crusading Armies

The Second Crusade was notable for the involvement of European royalty, with King Conrad III of Germany and King Louis VII of France leading their respective forces. Conrad's army, composed mainly of infantry, numbered around 20,000, while Louis's contingent, which included a significant cavalry component, was about 15,000 strong. Notably absent were the English and Scottish monarchs, King Stephen and King David I, due to internal conflicts and political advice, respectively.

The Muslim Adversaries

The Muslim resistance was orchestrated by the Zengid dynasty, with Sultan Nur ad-Din, the son of Zangi, and his brother Saif ad-Din Ghazi I at the helm. Their forces consisted of seasoned professional soldiers, predominantly of Turkish origin. They were supported by the ahdath, local Arab militias with fervent religious zeal, and supplemented by Turkmen and Kurdish auxiliaries, who provided additional manpower during military campaigns.

The Crusaders' Arduous Expedition

The German and French crusaders embarked on separate paths to the Levant. The Germans traversed the land route, experiencing strained relations with Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos and suffering a significant defeat at the hands of the Seljuq Turks in Anatolia. The French, under King Louis VII, faced hardships through Hungary and Byzantium and were similarly afflicted by Turkish attacks. After considerable attrition due to combat and disease, Louis VII's forces ultimately took to the sea to reach Antioch.

The Siege of Damascus and the Crusade's Demise

In the Levant, the crusaders launched an assault on Damascus, a key Muslim stronghold, initiating a siege on July 23, 1148. However, the siege was poorly executed and, facing stiff resistance, the crusaders were compelled to withdraw by July 28. The Second Crusade concluded in disarray, with substantial losses and no significant conquests. The endeavor fostered distrust among the Christian allies and failed to bolster the prestige of Conrad III, though Louis VII managed to salvage some respect from his subjects.

The Wider Repercussions of the Second Crusade

The Second Crusade's influence extended beyond the Near East. Concurrently, the Wendish Crusade targeted pagan Slavic tribes in the Baltic region with limited success in conversion efforts, while the Reconquista in Iberia saw the successful siege of Lisbon, aiding King Alfonso I of Portugal. Despite these localized victories, the overall failure of the Second Crusade in the East cast a pall over Christendom, setting the stage for the Third Crusade in the wake of Jerusalem's fall to Saladin in 1187.