The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated, supported, and sometimes directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. These conflicts were primarily aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim rule, but they also extended to other regions and had various political and economic motivations.
The Crusades began in 1095 when Pope Urban II called for a campaign to aid the Byzantine Empire, which was under threat from Seljuk Turks. This appeal was made at the Council of Clermont, where Urban II preached the First Crusade. The motivations included:
Responding to Pope Urban II's call, several armies from Western Europe gathered and marched through the Byzantine Empire, eventually capturing Antioch and Jerusalem. This led to the establishment of several Crusader States.
Called by Pope Eugenius III, this crusade was in response to the fall of Edessa. It was less successful, with the major effort ending in the defeat at Damascus.
Following the recapture of Jerusalem by Saladin, leaders like Richard I of England, Philip II of France, and Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor embarked on this crusade. Although they did not recapture Jerusalem, they secured other coastal cities and negotiated access for Christian pilgrims.
This crusade deviated from its goal due to political and economic pressures, resulting in the sack of Constantinople, which led to the establishment of the Latin Empire.
Subsequent crusades include the Children's Crusade, the Fifth Crusade, the Sixth Crusade led by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, and the Seventh and Eighth Crusades led by Louis IX of France. These were less effective in achieving their goals.