A series of conflicts (1096-1204) in which European conscripts called by the Catholic Church attempted to conquer the Holy Land. The First Crusade (1096-1099) was actually an answer to the Byzantine Empire's (the surviving eastern half of the Roman Empire, and the largest Christian country at the time) call for assistance fighting the Muslims. Pope Urban II asked the Catholics to go on an "armed pilgrimage" to the Holy Land and establish a kingdom there. This call wasn't answered by any monarchs, and very few nobles or knights. For the most part, the "crusaders" were an angry mob of commoners such as peasants, merchants, and prostitutes. Somehow this mob managed to establish a kingdom in Jerusalem, which later fell to the Muslims. The Second Crusade (1147-1149) was a bit better organized, but was met with heavy Muslim resistance. The Third Crusade (1189-1192) was answered by King Richard I of England, King Philip II of France, and Frederick I Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire (Germany). Frederick drowned in a river on the way to the Holy Land, and Philip and Richard began fighting among themselves. The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204) was the last major one. These crusaders weren't even after the Holy Land this time; they sought to defeat the Byzantine Empire, and thus were fighting other Christians.
The fact that the Crusades even happened is sadly ironic, as Jesus' teachings were of love and peace.
by MX December 17, 2003
When a person likes someone of the opposite sex with the intentions of things going into a relationship non-existant or the intentions just being to hook-up with that person, and these normally end with many people being very confused or emotionally hurt.
by MLweaponX December 30, 2011
War fought by Western Europe to stop the encroching Muslium Armies of the East, also to regain Spain from the earlier Muslium conquest.
Due to the Attack on the Byzentine Empire the Roman Pope called for a Crusade to help the Eastern Empire defend itself.
by wes July 24, 2003
A term that has gained prominence in the Western media and Muslim networks (such as Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabya) since the September 11, 2001, attacks prompted the production and release of audio tapes by jihadists (some of whom are in the terrorist network al-Qaeda, aka The Base) in which Western governments, and their military forces, are referred to as The Crusaders. Presumably, this is a throwback to Medieval times when Christian states in Europe occupied Muslim lands in the name of religion while actually promoting old-fashioned Roman-style imperialism. "Imperialists" and "Crusaders" are interchangeably used in the audio tapes, videos, and published statements of terrorist and jihadist leaders throughout the middle east.
"The crusader war against Islam has intensified. The world is split into two. Part of it is under the head of infidels, Bush, and the other half under the banner of Islam," it said."
“The blockade which the West is imposing on the government of Hamas proves that there is a Zionist, crusaders’ war on Islam,” said the tape, which U.S. intelligence officials think is authentic.
“The blockade which the West is imposing on the government of Hamas proves that there is a Zionist, crusaders’ war on Islam,” said the tape, which U.S. intelligence officials think is authentic.
by Joeyscock February 8, 2011
by cdixon619 December 3, 2020
by Gym monkey June 2, 2011
by Goats anon January 16, 2004