Western Europe in the late 11th century was a landscape of small warring states. Even the position of pope was besieged by rival claimants. In the Middle East, the Seljuk Turks had overrun Palestine and were threatening the Christian Byzantine Empire.

An Arab Muslim regime that had tolerated Christian pilgrims was replaced by the more belligerent Seljuk Turks. In 1095, Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus sent a plea to Pope Urban II for help against the Turkish onslaught. Urban saw this as an fortuitous opportunity. A war against the Muslim East would unite the warring Christian factions of the West, solidify his papal position and establish a permanent Christian presence in the Holy Land.

On Nov. 27, 1095, Urban assembled a gathering of ecclesiastics and knights to denounce the infighting of the West and launch a campaign upon the infidels that would avenge and redeem the Holy Land. His speech was answered with shouts of "Dues lo volt" — "God wills it." This marked the beginning of eight major Crusades that lasted from 1096 to 1270.

The goals of the Crusades would never be realized, but the problems of religious and cultural intolerance remain with us today.

The word Crusade, which comes from the Latin word for "cross," didn't come into use until the 13th century. Before then the endeavors were referred to as "the Expedition of God," "the business of Christ" or "the pilgrimage."

A short history

First Crusade (1096-99)

Led by Godfrey of Bouillon, Raymond of Toulouse, Robert of Flanders and Bohemond of Taranto, this would be the most successful of all the Crusades. A force of five armies, mostly French, succeeded in capturing Antioch in 1098 and Jerusalem in 1099. The leaders divided the conquered lands and set up what would be known as the Latin States.

Peasants' Crusade: Peter the Hermit and a knight known as Walter the Penniless mobilized an army of mostly commoners. This unruly group traversed Europe demanding free food and shelter as they made their way to Constantinople. Many were killed along the way by angry Europeans. The remainder lost their lives at the hands of the Turks.

Second Crusade (1147-49)

Christian control weakened when Edessa, one of the Latin States, was retaken by the Turks. When Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany failed to cooperate, military disasters ensued.

Third Crusade (1189-92)

Saladin united the Muslims and easily defeated the Christian forces at the Battle of the Horns of Hattin. He went on to retake Jerusalem. Only three coastal cities remained in Christian hands: Tyre, Tripoli and Antioch. European leaders Richard I (the Lionheart) of England and Philip II of France also had problems cooperating and managed to achieve only minimal military success. Richard did manage to secure a treaty with Saladin for pilgrims to visit Jerusalem. Frederick I of Germany drowned on his way to the Holy Land.