;
Feedback
What do you think about us?
Your name
Your email
Message
The Second Crusade, led by European royalty, faced the formidable Zengid dynasty in the Levant. Despite initial zeal, the crusaders' efforts culminated in the failed siege of Damascus in 1148, leading to a disheartened retreat and setting the stage for future crusades.
Show More
The loss of Edessa to Zengid forces in 1144 sparked urgent appeals for a new crusade from the West
The Papal Bull Quantum Praedecessores
The papal bull issued by Pope Eugene III in 1145 called for a new crusade to restore the lost territories and offered participants full indulgence and economic incentives
King Conrad III of Germany and King Louis VII of France led their respective forces, while the English and Scottish monarchs were absent due to internal conflicts and political advice
The Muslim resistance was led by the Zengid dynasty, with Sultan Nur ad-Din and his brother Saif ad-Din Ghazi I at the helm
German and French Crusaders' Routes
The German crusaders took the land route and faced difficulties with the Byzantine Empire and Seljuq Turks, while the French crusaders faced hardships through Hungary and Byzantium before taking to the sea
Composition of Crusader Forces
The German army was mainly composed of infantry, while the French contingent included a significant cavalry component
Professional Soldiers and Local Militias
The Muslim forces consisted of professional soldiers of Turkish origin and local Arab militias with fervent religious zeal
Supplemental Forces
The Muslim forces were supplemented by Turkmen and Kurdish auxiliaries during military campaigns
The crusaders launched an unsuccessful assault on Damascus, a key Muslim stronghold, in 1148
The Second Crusade concluded in disarray with substantial losses and no significant conquests
Other Crusades and Victories
Concurrently, the Wendish Crusade and Reconquista in Iberia saw limited success in conversion efforts and the successful siege of Lisbon, respectively
Overall Failure and Future Crusades
The failure of the Second Crusade in the East cast a pall over Christendom and set the stage for future crusades, such as the Third Crusade in 1187
00
Edessa, established in ______ during the ______ Crusade, was vital for Christians in the ______.
1098
First
Levant
01
Pope Eugene III's response to Edessa's fall
Issued Quantum Praedecessores on Dec 1, 1145, calling for a new crusade.
02
Main goal of Quantum Praedecessores
To restore territories lost with Edessa's fall through a new crusade.
