Search Results for: lent

Fourth Lateran Council, 1215

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Ruth

The Fifth Crusade was Pope Innocent III’s second attempt to organize and lead a Crusade. He had learned from the Fourth Crusade: the key lessons were not to lose control and to raise enough money. In 1215, the Pope hosted … Continue reading →

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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 →

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Saladin Builds an Empire with Holy War, 1171-87

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Ruth

When Saladin became Vizier of Egypt, he was technically the agent of at least two higher powers. One was Nur ad-Din, the ruler of Aleppo, Mosul and Damascus; the other was, of course, the Sunni Caliph in Baghdad, who wasn’t … Continue reading →

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Second Crusade: Prester John’s Letter, 1165

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Ruth

“Prester John” was the unlikely name of a legendary Christian king somewhere far in the East. From century to century, people kept hearing and passing on rumors of his wealth and piety. A medieval Obi-Wan Kenobi, he was thought to be … Continue reading →

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The Komnenos Imperial Family, 1118-46

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Ruth

The Byzantine Empire was central to all of these events, but we often overlook their role in the Crusader kingdoms since the Franks were so often opposed to the Greeks. The Crusaders acted alone most of the time, after the … Continue reading →

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Candlemas: End of Christmastide

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Ruth

The formal end of the holiday season was Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation or Purification. It commemorated the day when, according to Jewish law, Mary presented herself at the Temple for ritual purification. It was 33 days after a … Continue reading →

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Advent Fasting: Fish

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Ruth

The chief issue in fasts was to avoid all animal products, so most obviously, meat was right out. Fish, on the other hand, was okay for some reason. I don’t think there’s any real logic to it, though maybe others … Continue reading →

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Two Sieges of Antioch, 1098

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Ruth

Antioch had been the regional capital of Roman Palestine. It was a walled city, with the Orontes River dividing it into two parts connected by bridges. Each bridge had a tower and could be defended; there was also a separate … Continue reading →

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Nizaris: Assassins in the 1090s

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Ruth

Muslim regions were no longer unified in any real way, by the time the real Crusaders arrived. I’ve previously explained the three most significant blows to Muslim unity: Fatimid evangelism, North African puritanism, and the rapid conquest of Turks from the east. In … Continue reading →

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First Crusade Jewish Massacre in Germany

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Ruth

In 1096, many of Germany’s Jews were massacred by the minor knights and paupers gathering for “pilgrimage.” When we look back from the 21st century, the event doesn’t seem surprising because we know the end of the story. But that’s … Continue reading →

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