Colonel Paul’s Corner – Crusaders Then and Now

In modern usage, a “crusader” is a person who campaigns vigorously for political, social, or religious change; a campaigner. Originally, a crusader was a Christian fighter traveling to the Holy Land to free the city of Jerusalem from the Muslims.

The Muslims controlled Jerusalem from 635 until 1099. Life was generally peaceful and uneventful. The Treaty of Umar, dating from the seventh century, specified that Jews and Christians would be guaranteed safety and religious freedom as long as they paid a head tax and accepted an inferior role in government and society.

In 1095, Pope Urban II decided Muslim control of Jerusalem could no longer be tolerated. He declared the need for a crusade of Christians to travel to the Holy Lands and free Jerusalem. He said, “God wills it”! Urban II sponsored the first and only fully successful of eight major crusades. Christian forces took control of Jerusalem in 1099. After taking control, the crusaders massacred much of the city's Jewish and Muslim population. Muslim forces recaptured the city in 1187.

The most famous crusade was the third. Among the crusaders were Richard the Lionheart of England, Philip II of France, and Frederick Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire. Barbarossa never made it to Jerusalem as he drowned along the way. The crusade was only partially successful as a temporary truce was negotiated with the Muslim leader, Saladin.

Some of the crusades deteriorated into little more than a mob. The fourth crusade switched its goal from Jerusalem to the Christian city of Constantinople, which they thoroughly sacked and plundered. Constantinople, today called Istanbul, was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Other crusades fell apart along the way in Egypt and Tunis. The last of the crusades ended in failure in 1291.

The most disastrous of the crusades was the “children's crusade” in 1212. Pope Innocent III refused to endorse the crusade. He actively opposed it. The sponsors of the crusade were convinced that pure hearted children of faith would be aided by God and would succeed where force had failed. The children were the poorest of Europe, sometimes accompanied by their starving families. The crusade never made it to Jerusalem. Along the way, many of the children died of cold and hunger. Others were sold into slavery.

Hollywood movies mostly portray the crusades as a grand adventure. We see knights in shining armor putting the sword to evil, dark-skinned Saracens. Real history is far less attractive and inspiring. Nonetheless, we owe it to ourselves to understand the reality of human nature. We must not be misguided. Some things are not as truthful or glorious as they initially seem. There is some good in the worst of us and some bad in the best of us.

"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, you might better stay home". James A. Michener, 1907-1997

By Paul Warrick: March 6, 2026 - Great Falls, Mt