The Era of Crusades: Timeline of the First Two Crusades by Kitsada Edmonds

The First Crusade (1095-1099)

decentdeity — 2025-04-28 18:18:02 UTC

Council of Clermont (November 17-21st 1095)

decentdeity — 2025-04-28 18:20:37 UTC

At the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II gave a speech asking for volunteers to free Jerusalem from Muslim rule, for it is their "holy right." In his speech, he promised full forgiveness of their sins through indulgences and spiritual rewards if they joined in the Crusade.

Siege of Antioch (Oct 20, 1097–June 28, 1098)

decentdeity — 2025-04-28 18:26:26 UTC

A huge breaking point during the First Crusade was the "Siege of Antioch." In this siege, the Crusading forces invaded the fortified city of Antioch for eight months before finally breaching its walls on June 28, 1098. Shortly after, they defeated a large backup army under Kerbogha, who was the opposing army general. This victory proved that the Crusading force could hold territory despite being so far from home.

Capture of Jerusalem (June 7–July 15, 1099)

decentdeity — 2025-04-28 18:28:44 UTC

After a five-week siege, Crusaders stormed the walls of Jerusalem on July 15th, 1099, reclaiming the city. This victory led to the founding of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, turning a pilgrimage into a permanent Christian state.

The Second Crusade (1147-1149)

decentdeity — 2025-04-28 18:30:06 UTC

Bull Quantum praedecessores (Dec 1, 1145)

decentdeity — 2025-04-28 18:34:39 UTC

Pope Eugenius III issued a "Quantum praedecessores" to call a new Crusade after the city of Edessa fell to the Muslim leader Zengi. In this call, he promised that the Crusader's families and property would be protected at home. In addition, this was the very first papal bull written solely to launch a Crusade.

Bernard at Vézelay (Mar 31, 1146)

decentdeity — 2025-04-28 18:50:08 UTC

The French abbot, Bernard of Clairvaux, stood on a hill outside Vézelay and read the Papal bull of Pope Eugenius. This was aimed at inspiring nobles, like King Louis VII, to take up the cross and participate in the Crusade. Due to this, thousands of volunteers joined the cause, which shows how influential religion was in Europe during this time period.

Siege of Damascus (July 24–28, 1148)

decentdeity — 2025-04-28 19:00:08 UTC

The Crusader armies led by Louis VII and Conrad III attacked the city of Damascus but withdrew after only four days, as they were unable to breach its strong walls. This defeat left the Crusader states on the defensive and showed that the Second Crusade would not match the success of the first.

Collapse, Retreat, Failure? End of the Crusades?

decentdeity — 2025-04-28 19:06:22 UTC

By 1149, without winning any new territory, the main armies of the Crusades disbanded, and secular leaders returned home disappointed. This would not be the end, though, as in 1189, a third call for a Crusade would be sent out by Pope Gregory VIII.