The Crusades by Ella May Long

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 41.

The Crusades.

By Ella May Long

AMONG the numerous religious wars which have darkened the annals of the world's history, the Crusades of the Dark Ages stand foremost. They were undertaken by the Catholics of Europe for the purpose of rescuing Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Moslems. A desire for visiting Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, Calvary, and the tomb of the Saviour, became a passion of the Christians during the early ages. Under Constantine the Great, Christianity arose from darkness and obscurity to the zenith of worldly glory. Helena, the beautiful and pious mother of Constantine, visited Jerusalem in the beginning of the fourth century, and had a magnificent church erected over the Saviour's sepulcher. In the following ages of ignorance and superstition this church was regarded with peculiar veneration. Pilgrims from every part of Christendom thronged to the Holy Land.

In 637 A. D. the city was captured by the Saracens, who treated the Christian pilgrims with every mark of respect. In 1065 the Moslems, having conquered Palestine, determined to prevent the pilgrims from visiting Jerusalem and treated them in the most cruel and heartless manner. The pilgrims returned home bearing dismal tales of their woes and sufferings. All classes of society were filled with burning indignation. Among the pilgrims was Peter the Hermit, a man remarkable for his zeal, eloquence, and perseverance, and a friend of Pope Urban II., by whose command he visited all the crowned powers of Europe, entreating them to march to the rescue of the Holy Land. A meeting was held at Clermont, in France; addresses were made by Peter and the Pope to an immense audience; the people were moved to tears by their burning eloquence, and the cry, “Deus vult!” arose on every hand. The Pope, believing that God had inspired them with these words, commanded them to be made their battle-cry. Their banner was emblazoned with the holy cross, and each soldier wore a red cross on his shoulder.

The Pope considered the invasion of Asia a means of promoting Christianity among the Infidels, and kings expected great victories and an increase of dominion. Thousands upon thousands hastened at the call of Pope Urban to engage in the Holy War, which enlisted the highest sympathies of human nature, as it had been sanctioned by the ministers of religion and was regarded as the will of God. It is said that in the spring of 1096 not less than 6,000,000 souls were in motion toward Palestine. Peter the Hermit and Walter the Penniless were the leaders of the first Crusade; they marched through Hungary and crossing the Bosphorus entered Asia Minor, where they conquered Nice on the 24th of June, 1097; then passing into Syria they took Antioch, after a siege of seven months. During those seven months thousands perished by famine and disease. Many brave warriors lost heart and began to desert. Among the list of cowards was Peter the Hermit, who had planned the enterprise.

When Antioch was conquered the Crusaders were in turn besieged by 20,000 Moslems, but after a long and bloody battle, victory again crowned the efforts of the Crusaders, and the way to Jerusalem was opened. On a bright summer morning in 1098, after a weary march, barefooted, over desert, plains, and rugged hills, 40,000 Crusaders, all that remained of that once vast army, from the heights of Mount Emmaus obtained their first glimpse of Jerusalem. It was a sublime scene; the joy was so intense that strong men wept like children. After a siege of five weeks the grand object of the expedition was realized. On Friday evening, the 15th of July, at 3 o'clock, the very day and hour of the Passion, Jerusalem was rescued from the power of the Infidels. The question then arose who was to be made king of conquest; who would take upon himself the melancholy duty of defending the Saviour's sepulcher. Godfrey Bouillon, a brave knight, assumed this perilous honor; but he would not accept a kingly crown on the spot where our blessed Saviour had worn a crown of thorns.

For a while after conquering the Holy City the Christians rested in peace. Temples and churches were repaired, and everything went on smoothly, but by mismanagement nearly all the advantages they had gained were lost, and about 1744 they appealed to Europe for aid; this gave rise to the second Crusade, of which Conrad III. of Germany and Louis VII. of France were leaders. They were defeated and Jerusalem returned to the possession of the enemy.

In 1190 a third Crusade was led by Philip II. of France, and Richard the Lionhearted of England. A glorious but fruitless effort was made to regain Palestine. Richard's deeds of valor were spread far and wide; armed with a battle-ax he never hesitated to rush single-handed into the midst of the enemy, and many and bloody were the contests led by this brave warrior. But he was defeated and returned home in 1192.

The fourth Crusade was led by Henry VI. of Germany. This proved successful, until his death, when his soldiers returned home.

In 1248 Louis IX. of France led the fifth Crusade. He embarked for Palestine in 1250. He was defeated and taken prisoner. A heavy ransom was paid for his release. He returned home, raised another army, and embarked again for Palestine, but never reached his destination, having died at Carthage in 1270. His soldiers went on to Palestine but were defeated. Thus ended the sixth and last of the Crusades.

Jerusalem and the Holy Land were then left in the power of the Saracens. Many disasters attended the Crusades from first to last—army after army was destroyed, still there were glorious victories which showed that the old Crusaders were heroes of a valorous age. More than 3,000,000 of Europeans lie buried in the East, many of whom were noble, chivalrous, and virtuous. All this bloodshed was caused by failing to obey the Saviour's injunction, who taught that the Father was no respecter of place, and was to be worshiped everywhere. It seems strange that such delusions could have filled the souls of believers of the New Testament. Our Saviour plainly taught that the warfare of his kingdom was a spiritual contest with sin, and that those who struggled with the sword should die by the sword.—Ella May Long, in the Guardian.