Thibaud of Champagne;
Aimed at recapturing Jerusalem through Egypt; Crusaders
diverted from their original objectives to capture the
Hungarian dependency of Zara for Venice and sacked
Constantinople on April 13, 1204, after failing to secure
agreed transportation to the East. The Latin kingdom of
Constantinople was established––a kingdom that would
earn the hatred of the Greeks. A total disaster.
Fifth Crusade (1218-1221):
Papal Legate Cardinal Pelagius;
Aimed to capture Egypt. Damietta captured in November
1219. Christian forces negotiated an eight-year truce and
withdrew after the failure of Frederick II’s forces to appear.
A frustrating failure.
Sixth Crusade (1228-1229):
Frederick II of Germany;
Despite being under the penalty of excommunication for
delaying to fulfill his vow to go on crusade, the German
Emperor secured control of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and
Nazareth through negotiation. A surprising success.
Seventh Crusade (1248-1254):
St. Louis IX of France;
Aimed at recapturing Jerusalem lost to the Turks
in 1244. The Crusaders won a major victory at
Damietta in Egypt in June 1249 but were later defeated at Mansura on February 8, 1250. Captured
by the Egyptians on April 6, 1250, St. Louis was forced to pay a large ransom for his release. He
returned to France four years later after failing to secure an alliance with the Mongols. Another
frustrating failure.
Eighth Crusade (1270-1271):
St. Louis IX of France and Edward I of England;
Aimed at propping up the flagging fortunes of the
Christians after the fall of Antioch to the Mamelukes in
1268. St. Louis landed at Tunis and besieged the city
before contracting the plague and perishing. His brother,
Charles of Anjou, took control of the army, negotiated a
treaty with the Moslems, and retreated to France. Edward I
continued on to Acre where, after fighting a number of
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