Famous People of the Crusades
Bernard of Clairvaux 1090-1153
A Cistercian monk who, much like Peter the Hermit, played a critical role in convincing people to participate in the Second Crusade.
Godfrey of Bouillon 1061-1100
A French knight and one of the chief leaders of the First Crusade, he developed a reputation as a perfect Christian knight. After the capture of a Jerusalem he was made "Defender of the Holy Sepulcher."
Louis VII 1120-1180
A French monarch and one of the first two kings who participated in the Crusades. H, along with Conrad III of Germany, led the Second Crusade from 1147 to its dismal end in 1149.
Peter the Hermit 1050-1115
A French preacher whose passionate words convinced tens of thousands of supporters to follow him to the Holy Land. His followers, unprotected by the professional Crusading soldiers that later followed, were ambushed and slaughtered in August of 1096.
Conrad III of Germany 1093-1152
A German monarchy and one of the first two kings who joined a Crusade. He, along with Louis the VII of France, led the Second Crusade from 1147 to its disappointing and bitter conclusion in 1149.
Frederick II 1194-1250
A Holy Roman emperor who was excommunicated for committing to but then failing to go on the Fifth Crusade. He did, however, lead his forces on a Sixth Crusade in 1228, where he managed to diplomatically win back Jerusalem and sign a ten -year truce with the Muslims.
Saladin 1137-1193
A highly capable Muslim general and leader of Egypt and Syria. After his recapture of Jerusalem in 1187 he was forced to defend his new territories against the participants of the Third Crusade, including his famous counterpart, King Richard the Lion Heart.
Edward I 1239-1307
A king of England who led the Ninth and final Crusade, which reached Acre but accomplished little before it ended in 1272 with his departure for England.
Louis IX 1214-1270
A king of France, he was given the nickname "Saint Louis" and was considered, much like Godfrey of Bouillon, the "perfect Crusader." He led the relatively unsuccessful Seventh and Eighth Crusades, dying of disease during the latter.
Richard "The Lion Heart" 1157-1199
An English king and one of the most famous Crusaders of all time, he answered the call to go to the Holy Land, taking a powerful army with him. He won many battles against the Muslim armies of Saladin and recaptured much land, but he could not win back Jerusalem.
Pope Innocent III 1161-1216
The pope who called for both a Fourth and a Fifth Crusade. The Fourth Crusade attacked the Christian city of Zadar, leading Innocent to excommunicate them. However, this did not end his Crusading zeal and, after careful planning, a Fifth Crusade was called, but he died before it set out.
Pope Urban II 1042-1099
The pope who in 1095 sent out a call to all faithful Christians