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Jan 1, 1095
Pope Urban II Preaches the First Crusade at Council of Clermont
Pope Urban II called for Christian Nobilitiy, as well as peasants, to engage in a fight against what he called "the vile race." The fight was to be done in the name of God. Pope Urban II promised entry to Heaven for all of those who faught in the crusade to reclaim holy sites. Pope Urban II saw the crusade as an opportunity to unite a religiously divided Europe by asking them to fight under the name of God. -
Period: Jan 1, 1095 to Dec 31, 1291
The Crusades
The timespan for my timeline includes the overall timespan for the Crusades. The start date for the Crusades I selected was after the declaration of Pope Urban II for Christians to engage in a fight under the name of God. However, there were numerous factors that built up to the start of the Crusades, such as the Great Schism of Eastern and Western Christianity in Europe in 1054. Pope Urban II also used the threat of Muslim Arabs threatening European mainland as a way to bolster support for war. -
Jul 15, 1099
Crusaders Arrive in Jerusalem
The Crusaders reach Jerusalem and seige the city. The Crusaders massacred approximately 70,000 Muslims and Jews. Muslims fled to Masjid al-Aq, but were killed as they tried to escape. The Dome of the Rock was turned into a Christian church. -
Aug 9, 1099
Baghdad Learns Jerusalem Was Captured
Abu Saad al-Harawi, a respectable Muslim judge, burst into the main mosque of Baghdad, eating publicly during Ramadan. He wanted to get the attention of the Muslim people to bring them the news of the loss of the Jerusalem. The people of Baghdad cried for the Holy City. -
Jan 1, 1144
Imad al-Din Zengi Leads Muslims
Imad al-Din Zengi, the emir (which is a title showing someone is a high official within the Muslim community) of Aleppo and Mosul, successfuly led Muslim troops in reclaiming the city of Edessa and became one of their first succesful leaders. -
Jan 1, 1145
Nur al-Din Zengi Takes Leadership of Muslim Troops
Nur al-Din, the son of Imad al-Din Zengi, continued his father's fight and attacked the city of Antioch, which was held by the Crusaders. He made an alliance with the emir of Damascus to unite the Muslim cities of Aleppo and Damascus. -
Jan 1, 1160
Nur al-Din Zengi Sends Muslim Forces to Aide in Egypt
The Shi'a Fatimad Empire in Egypt was growing weak. The Crusaders planned to invade Egypt in hopes of conquering it, particularly while the Empire was growing weak. Nur al-Din Zengi sent his army to help his Muslim brotheran. He appointed Shirkuh to lead the Muslim forces. Shirkuh also brought his nephew, Salah al-Din. The Muslim forces defeats the Crusaders and rescue their fellow Muslims. -
Jan 1, 1174
Salah al-Din Becomes Leader
After Nur al-Din Zengi died in 1174, Salah al-Din is left as the effective leader of the Muslims in Syria and Egypt. He sought to unite the Muslims to prepare for an attack from the Crusaders. -
Jan 1, 1182
Salah al-Din Develops an Army
Salah al-Din developed an army that was prepared to potentially liberate the Holy City of Jerusalem. Salah al-Din and his troops crossed into Crusader territory in 1182 and began confronting Crusader troops. -
Jul 4, 1187
Battle of Hattin
In a quick and decisive battle, Salah al-Din and his forces devestate the Crusaders in the Battle of Hattin. The Crusader forces were not prepared for a battle in that kind of terrain. After this battle, cities held by the Crusaders fell to the Muslims. -
Oct 2, 1187
Salah al-Din Liberates the City of Jerusalem
On October 2, 1187, Salah al-Din and the Muslim forces liberate the city of Jerusalem over 88 years after it was captured by the Crusaders. Salah al-Din allowed everyone to peacefully leave the city, including the poor that could not pay the small ransom he had asked for. -
Jan 1, 1189
The Third Crusade Begins
The Third Crusade was the Crusaders attempt to recapture Jerusalem from Salah al-Din. Richard the Lionheart made peace with Salah al-Din and formed a compromise that allowed Christians to have control of the coast while Salah al-Din remained leader of the city of Jerusalem. Christian pilgrims were granted access to the Holy City. -
Jan 1, 1219
St. Francis Assisi Visits the Sultan
St. Francis Assisi travels to Egypt to meet with Sultan al-Kami to try to put an end to the Crusades. Initially he wanted to convert the Sultan to Christianity, but as he traveled he made the decision to try to dissuade war and come in peace. -
Mar 17, 1229
Peace Treaty Between Frederick II of Hohenstaufen and Sultan al-Kamil
Hoping to redeem himself after the failure of the Fifth Crusade, Frederick II launched a Sixth Crusade in hopes of reclaiming the Holy Land. Fearing that his crusaders could not take the Muslim forces, he tried a new tactic. Frederic II approached Sultan al-Kamil in hopes of recovering Jerusalem through diplomacy. Because the Sultan was preoccupied with strife in Syria, he agreed to give Jerusalem, Nazareth and a few others towns to the Crusaders in exchange for a decade long truce. -
Jan 1, 1244
Jerusalem Regained By Muslims
In 1244, Jerusalem is attacked by the Muslim forces by the Egyptian Sultan in hopes of reclaiming the Holy City. The Muslim forces invade Jerusalem, which was then held by the Christians and regain control of the city. Jerusalem is not recaptured by the West again until 1917. -
The Holy Lands in World War I
The Holy Lands of Palestine and Jerusalem remained in Muslim hands until 1917. During World War I, British troops invaded and captured the Holy Lands. The image shows the British campaign in the Holy Lands.
