Second Crusade

Second Crusade. The Second Crusade was a major military campaign initiated by Pope Eugene III in response to the fall of the County of Edessa to the Seljuk Turks in 1144. This event was seen as a significant blow to the Crusader states established during the First Crusade, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Principality of Antioch, and County of Tripoli. The Crusade involved prominent figures such as King Louis VII of France, King Conrad III of Germany, and Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, who would later play important roles in the Third Crusade and the Fifth Crusade.

Background

The Second Crusade was preceded by the First Crusade, which resulted in the establishment of the Crusader states in the Levant. However, the County of Edessa, one of the earliest Crusader states, was conquered by the Zengid dynasty under Imad ad-Din Zengi in 1144, prompting a call to arms from Pope Eugene III. The Council of Clermont and the Council of Reims played significant roles in promoting the Crusade, with Bernard of Clairvaux and Suger, Abbot of Saint-Denis being key figures in its organization. The Crusade also drew support from Theobald II, Count of Champagne, Alfonso VII of León and Castile, and Roger II of Sicily.

Causes and Preparations

The fall of Edessa to the Zengid dynasty in 1144 was the primary cause of the Second Crusade, as it threatened the stability of the Crusader states. Pope Eugene III issued the Bull Quantum praedecessores, calling for a new Crusade to retake Edessa and protect the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Crusade was also supported by King Louis VII of France and King Conrad III of Germany, who saw it as an opportunity to expand their territories and influence in the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of France. The preparations for the Crusade involved the Diet of Speyer, the Diet of Frankfurt, and the Council of Étampes, where Bernard of Clairvaux and other prominent clergy promoted the Crusade and secured support from Henry the Proud, Leopold IV, Duke of Bavaria, and Ottokar III of Styria.

Military Campaigns

The Second Crusade began in 1147, with the Army of the Kingdom of France and the Army of the Holy Roman Empire marching towards the Levant. The Crusaders were defeated at the Battle of Dorylaeum and the Battle of Mount Cadmus, and were forced to retreat to Antioch. The Crusade then focused on the Siege of Damascus, which ended in defeat for the Crusaders. The Crusade also involved the Wendish Crusade against the Wends in Northern Europe, led by Albert the Bear and Conrad, Margrave of Meissen. Other notable military leaders involved in the Crusade included Raymond II, Count of Tripoli, Raymond of Poitiers, and Manuel I Komnenos.

Consequences and Aftermath

The failure of the Second Crusade had significant consequences for the Crusader states and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The County of Edessa was not retaken, and the Zengid dynasty continued to pose a threat to the Crusader states. The Crusade also led to increased tensions between the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as between the Crusader states and the Byzantine Empire. The aftermath of the Crusade saw the rise of Nur ad-Din Zengi and the Ayyubid dynasty, who would eventually conquer the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the Battle of Hattin and the Siege of Jerusalem. The Crusade also had an impact on the Templar Order and the Hospitaller Order, who played significant roles in the Third Crusade and the Fifth Crusade.

Historiography

The Second Crusade has been the subject of extensive historical study, with notable historians including William of Tyre, Otto of Freising, and Guibert of Nogent. The Crusade has been seen as a significant turning point in the history of the Crusader states and the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and has been studied in the context of the First Crusade, the Third Crusade, and the Fifth Crusade. The Crusade has also been the subject of study by historians such as Steven Runciman, Jonathan Riley-Smith, and Malcolm Lambert, who have examined its causes, course, and consequences. The Second Crusade has also been compared to other military campaigns, including the Reconquista and the Norse Crusade, and has been seen as part of a broader historical context involving the Byzantine Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Kingdom of France. Category:Crusades