and why did the Crusade movement ultimately fail

The crusades were military expeditions launched against the Muslims by the Christians in an attempt to regain the Holy Land. They took place between 1095 A.D. and 1270 A.D. The word crusade, which is derived from the Latin crux ("cross") , is a reference to the biblical injunction that Christians carry their cross . Crusaders wore a red cloth cross sewn on their tunics to indicate that they had assumed the cross and were soldiers of Christ . The causes of the Crusades were many and complex. Religious beliefs, political considerations and economic circumstances all lead to a long line of Crusades.

In a time of social and religious movements in the west "the crusades were the most obvious manifestation of the papal claim to the leadership of Christian society" 1 The original object of the First Crusade was to free the Holy Land from Muslim control, especially Jerusalem. When Jerusalem fell to the Turks, pilgrimages to the middle east became dangerous. Pope Urban then called "for a great Christian holy war against the infidels."2 Reclaiming the Holy Land, from the Mulsim's fulfilled the ideal

In Political terms the Crusades Created a "inheritance of deep bitterness"12 between Islams and Christians because of the persecution pursued by Christian kings. Relations between Muslins and their Christian and Jewish subjects worsened.

11) M Chambers, R Grew, D Herlihy, T.K. Rabb, I Woloch, The Western Experience Vol 1. Pg. 288

Political considerations were also important. The Crusades were a response to appeals for help from Alexis Comnenus of the Byzantine Empire. The Emperor was constantly threatened by the advance of the Seljuk Turks. The year of 1071 had seen both the captures of Jerusalem and the decisive defeat of the Byzantine army at Manzikert.

Although the First crusade was lead by nobles from all around Europe and a commander in chief was never really settled on. They however persevered, and pressed on because "God wills it" the battle cry of the crusades. There are few stronger motivational forces than faith itself.

After the First Crusade, four Crusader States were established:

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