Joseph Francois Michaud - The History of the Crusades - Volume II (of III)

TRANSLATED BY W. ROBSON. WITH PREFACE AND SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER BY HAMILTON W. MABIE. Most know the purpose of the Crusades was the re-capture of Jerusalem by Christian forces from the sweeping Muslim victories of previous centuries and to protect pilgrimages to the Holy sites. Beginning with the 1st Crusade in 1096 and ending with the 9th (which is sometimes grouped with the 8th although it should be noted other expeditions both military and economic are sometimes were also called 'Crusades' and some re-numbering exists from the 5th Crusade onwards) in 1271 their history is a fascinating example of how disparate Western Nations under Papal authority (and sometimes lack of) allied and fought together. It is also a shocking example of how these same nations fought and squabbled amongst themselves most tragically in the 4th Crusade when it sacked Orthodox Christian Constantinople and later crusades when it fought in Egypt as a means to cut off supply lines to the Holy Land. Despite many early successes there were equally many failures. In these volumes the French historian Joseph François Michaud (1767-1839) examines and brings this centuries long series of engagements to historical review.