Monthly Archives: May 2023

Holy Land Crusades: Acre in 1215

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Ruth

By the time of the Fifth Crusade, the medieval port of Acre was not only the capital of the “Kingdom of Jerusalem,” it pretty much was the kingdom. But if you had to choose one city to pretend was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam History D: Crusades | Comments Off on Holy Land Crusades: Acre in 1215

Europe’s Crusades: Teutonic Knights, 1209 forward

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Ruth

In 1190, some German merchants set up a field hospital at the siege of Acre. The hospital soon became an Augustinian monastery, then a military order like the Templars. It was called the Order of the Brothers of the German … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam History D: Crusades | Comments Off on Europe’s Crusades: Teutonic Knights, 1209 forward

Europe’s Crusades: the Children, 1212

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Ruth

If the Children’s Crusade took place, the year was 1212. Whatever happened, that was the year. Pope Innocent III had been preaching Crusade, and more Crusade, for years. He was promoting the Spanish Crusade, the Crusade against the Cathars, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam History D: Crusades | Comments Off on Europe’s Crusades: the Children, 1212

Europe’s Crusades: Spain, 1194-1212

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Ruth

During the Third Crusade’s years, power in Spain swung back in the Muslim direction, but by the time of the Fourth Crusade, the Christians were again ascendant. As in the Middle East, the key to not losing was to stop … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam History D: Crusades | Comments Off on Europe’s Crusades: Spain, 1194-1212

Europe’s Crusades: Cathars, 1209-29

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Ruth

The Crusades that took place entirely within Europe aren’t really part of the narrative of the Muslim Empire, and its contacts and conflicts with Europe, that I’m primarily telling. However, it’s worth seeing how the idea of “crusade” developed during … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam History D: Crusades | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Europe’s Crusades: Cathars, 1209-29

Saladin’s Empire: Ayyubid Egypt, 1192-1250

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Ruth

Saladin’s empire was split up among four sons, with his brother al-Adil receiving two important castles in Jordan. The oldest son was not a natural ruler. Uncle al-Adil had to broker peace among the brothers several times, until basically he … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam History D: Crusades | Comments Off on Saladin’s Empire: Ayyubid Egypt, 1192-1250

Francocracy: the Greek World Ruled by Latins, 1204-61

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Ruth

After the Fourth  Crusaders destroyed Constantinople in 1204, they set up a new government. It is known as the Latin Empire of Constantinople, but in Latin, it was Imperium Romaniae, so we could translate it as the Empire of Romania. … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam History D: Crusades | Comments Off on Francocracy: the Greek World Ruled by Latins, 1204-61

The Disastrous, Shameful Fourth Crusade, 1203-4

Posted on May 9, 2023 by Ruth

The Fourth Crusade’s sudden diversion to attacking Constantinople took the city completely by surprise. Byzantine in-fighting had used many plot twists, but this was the first time a deposed prince had found a full army to rent instantly, waiting nearby. … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam History D: Crusades | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Disastrous, Shameful Fourth Crusade, 1203-4

The Byzantine Prince and the Over-booked Cruise, 1195-1203

Posted on May 9, 2023 by Ruth

Byzantine Emperors and their relatives met many violent deaths. The favored ways of getting someone out of the way were poison, strangling, and blinding. The last one was the fate of Emperor Isaac who had married his sister to Conrad … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam History D: Crusades | Tagged | Comments Off on The Byzantine Prince and the Over-booked Cruise, 1195-1203