Saladin (1137/1138–1193) was a Muslim military and political leader who as sultan (or leader) led Islamic forces during the Crusades. Saladin’s greatest triumph over the European Crusaders came at the Battle of Hattin in 1187, which paved the way for Islamic re-conquest of Jerusalem and other Holy Land cities in the Near East. During the subsequent Third Crusade, Saladin was unable to defeat the armies led by England’s King Richard I (the Lionheart), reuslting in the loss of much of this conquered territory. However, he was able to negotiate a truce with Richard I that allowed for continued Muslim control of Jerusalem.
http://www.history.com/topics/saladin
The First Crusade was the first of a number of crusades that attempted to capture the Holy Land, called for by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in 1095. Urban called for a military expedition to aid the Byzantine Empire, which had recently lost most of Anatolia to the Seljuq Turks. The resulting military expedition of primarily Frankish nobles, known as the Princes' Crusade not only re-captured Anatolia but went on to conquer the Holy Land, which had fallen to Islamic expansion as early
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade
The Byzantines were Greek Orthodox Christians but, since 1054, had been in a state of schism with the Catholic Church. The launch of the crusade presented Urban with a chance to move closer to the Orthodox and to heal the rift. Crusaders embark for the Levant. From 'Le Roman de Godefroi de Bouillon', France, 1337.
http://www.historytoday.com/jonathan-phillips/crusades-complete-history
The Crusades were a series of religious and political wars fought between 1096 and 1291 for control of the Holy Land. Pope Urban II initiated the First Crusade (1096–1102) in order to aid the Christian Byzantine Empire, which was under attack by Muslim Seljuk Turks. As a result of this crusade, Europeans captured Jerusalem in 1099.
http://dcc.newberry.org/collections/the-crusades-motivations-administration-and-cultural-influence
Urban was responsible for the spiritual well-being of his flock and the crusade presented an opportunity for the sinful knights of western Europe to cease their endless in-fighting and exploitation of the weak (lay people and churchmen alike) and to make good their violent lives.
http://www.historytoday.com/jonathan-phillips/crusades-complete-history
In June 1097 the crusaders and the Greeks took one of the emperor's key objectives, the formidable walled city of Nicaea, 120 miles from Constantinople, although in the aftermath of the victory some writers reported Frankish discontent at the division of booty.
http://www.historytoday.com/jonathan-phillips/crusades-complete-history
First Crusade. The First Crusade (1095–1099) was the first of a number of crusades that attempted to capture the Holy Land, called on by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in 1095.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade
What impact did the success of the First Crusade (1099) have on the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities of the eastern Mediterranean? What was the effect of crusading on the people and institutions of western Europe? How did people record the Crusades and, finally, what is their legacy? Academic debate moved forwards significantly during the 1980s, as discussion concerning the definition of a crusade gathered real steam.
http://www.historytoday.com/jonathan-phillips/crusades-complete-history
The First Crusade (1095–1099) was the first of a number of crusades that attempted to capture the Holy Land, called for by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in 1095. Urban called for a military expedition to aid the Byzantine Empire, which had recently lost most of Anatolia to the Seljuq Turks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade
Shortly before the First Crusade, Pope Urban II had encouraged the Iberian Christians to reconquer Tarragona, using much of the same symbolism and rhetoric that was later used to preach the crusade to the people of Europe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade
what did the first crusade accomplish
The First Crusade was the first of a number of crusades that attempted to capture the Holy Land, called for by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in 1095.