Which crusades were the most significant?

Answer 1

Many historians place the the first and third crusades as the most significant. The reasons are as follows:

1. The First Crusade in 1096 because it was a well organized military expedition under the leadership of Godfrey of Bouillon. This crusade drove the Moslems from part of Palestine and established a Christian kingdom in the Holy Land and gained control of Jerusalem; and

2. The Third Crusade that began in 1189. This crusade was led by three kings. They were Frederich Barbarossa, Philip Augustus of France, and Richard the Lion Hearted of England. Although this crusade failed to capture Jerusalem, King Richard persuaded the Muslim leader Saladi to grant safe passage to Jerusalem.

Answer 2

It is partly a matter of opinion. If your question is part of a homework assignment, the 'correct' answer is probably somewhere in the book you are supposed to study.

There have been a large number of crusades, many of them not even reaching the Holy Land, let alone Jerusalem. The most noteworthy according to many historians are:

- The first crusade, as it was the only one to achieve the goal of taking Jerusalem and reclaiming the holy places;

- The second crusade: although a total failure in the Holy Land and despite it having led to wholesale killing of Jews in western Germany, it was a success because the northern European knights that participated went to Muslim-dominated Portugal instead, drove the Muslims from most of Portugal and conquered Lisbon

- The third crusade was noteworthy because king Louis of France and Richard the Lionhearted of England participated. Militarily it was a limited success, but an agreement was reached with Saladin, giving traders and pilgrims free access to Jerusalem and the holy places

- The fourth crusade became notorious in history for the participants not even heading for the Holy Land, but instead turning on the (Christian!) Byzantine Empire, laying siege to Constantinople, murdering thousands of its citizens and carrying away anything that was not nailed to the floor.