Second Crusade

Battle of the Field of Blood

1119

Roger, the Regent of Antioch, attempts to take the Muslim stronghold of Aleppo, believing the Muslims to be too disunited to properly defend it. A complete failure, as the Seljuks respond by attacking Antioch and engaging Roger in the Battle of the Field of Blood, where his entire army, except 2 survivors, are killed. He also dies. Beginning of conflict with the Seljuks and threats to the outremer.

Imad ad-Din Zenghi rise to prominence

1127

Zengi aims to unite the disparate Muslim communities, believing it to be the cause of the loss of so many territories in the first crusade. He essentially plans to wage his own holy war - a jihad - against the Christian invaders. He successfully takes Mosul, Homs, and Aleppo, threatening the security of the outremer.

Zengi takes the Castle of Montferrand

1137

Zengi takes Montferrand, a crusader fortress on the way to Damscus, to probe the area and see how ready the crusaders are to defend against possible future attack. He decides that they are not - the leaders of the outremer are very disunited.

Zengi takes Edessa

1144

Count Joscelin of Edessa and Raymond of Antioch do not like each other, and are so unwilling to defend each other that Count Joscelin actually allies with Kara Arslan (a Muslim leader). Zengi takes advantage of this disparity and successfully takes Edessa, prompting the Second Crusade.

Pope Eugenius III calls for crusade

1145

In response to the fall of Edessa, Pope Eugenius III calls for a crusade, to little response.

Bernard of Clairvaux

1146

Bernard of Clairvaux, a passionate monk, preaches the second crusade and gets Louis VII of France and Conrad III, the Holy Roman Emperor, on side

Zengi dies

1146

Zengi is murdered as he sleeps by a slave he had condemned to die the next morning. His death and the scramble for power that followed allowed the Christians to consolidate and prepare for crusade.

Nur al-Din takes power

1146

Nur al-Din, son of Zengi, takes control of his father's army and territories

Conrad III arrives

1147

Conrad III arrives and is swiftly moved across the Bosphorus, as the Emperor Manuel I is deeply suspicious of the crusaders intentions with regard to pillaging Byzantine territory.

Second Battle of Dorylaeum

1147

Conrad III splits his army into two and is soundly defeated at the second Battle of Dorylaeum

Battle of Laodicea

Jan 1, 1148

The Seljuks ambushed the second force and the rest of Conrad's army was also defeated

Louis VII arrives

Feb 2, 1148

Louis arrives after pillaging Byzantine territory

Conrad returns to Constantinople

Mar 3, 1148

Conrad gets sick and returns to Constantinople, where he is attended by Manuel I. The two become friends, putting Conrad against Louis VII as Louis sides with Roger of Sicily (who doesn't like the Byzantines or Conrad III)

Louis's pilgrimage

Apr 4, 1148

Louis makes a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to purify his soul before the holy war begins. He encounters Muslim skirmishes on his way, and is unassisted by the Byzantines, affirming his alliance with Roger II of Sicily.

Council of Acre

May 5, 1148

After meeting at Damascus, a formal council is called between the crusaders and the leaders of the outremer to work out a strategy and to consolidate their different goals. Raymond of Antioch wants to take Aleppo, while Count Joscelin is fixed on re-taking Edessa and Raymond of Tripoli wants to reclaim Montferrand. They decide to attack Damscus, a strategic decision however it puts them against the one Muslim city in the region who has not attacked the crusaders.

Attack of Damascus

Jun 6, 1148

The crusaders attack Damscus, but, being unfamiliar with the territory, they mistakenly attack the orchard. Damascus calls for relief forces, provided by Nur al-Din, and the crusaders are driven into the open. Overwhelmed by the relief force, Louis and Conrad flee with their armies.

Siege of Ascalon

1149

Louis and Conrad make plans to besiege Ascalon, but Louis explains that he needs to 'do something first'. Conrad goes to Ascalon and waits for Louis' assistance, but he doesn't show, having withdrawn to Jerusalem. Conrad gives up and goes home.