Lecture 16: Crusader Jerusalem

The Crusader period last from 1099 to 1291, beginning with the capture of Jerusalem by Godfrey de Bouillon. The crusades can be defined as a Holy War--a battle between Roman Catholic forces against Muslims and other political enemies of the pope. Crusaders took vows and were granted penance for their past sins (these grants were known as "indulgences"). It is generally understood that the crusades were an attempt to recapture Jerusalem from Islam, as they were launched in response to the Westward expansion of Muslim Seljuk Turks in Anatolia (Turkey). 

There is much dispute over what caused the Crusades. Politically, the crusades can be seen as a reaction to the expansion of Islam. Or, it can be seen as a call for justice, as Islamic slave trade begins to rise in Southern Europe. Some scholars do not agree with this explanation, for they believe that there are religious reasons for the crusades: they hold the conviction that the conquest of Jerusalem stems as a late reaction to the persecution of the Christians in Jerusalem.From this perspective, Caliph Al-Hakim's destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in 1009 can be seen as a major catalyst in the crusades. Finally, there are many scholars who argue that there is a socioeconomic reasoning behind the crusades, known as the phenomenon of the second and third son. Because, in this time period, the first son received all of the inheritance, the second and third sons may have started the crusade in order to make a name for themselves. However, there is much skepticism regarding this final reason.

Important to note is Pope Urban II's speech, which is believed to have started the first Crusade, which lasted from 1097 to 1099. He uses language such as "vile race" to incite anger, and he promises redemption for those who die in the name of the Lord. The first crusade ends in 1099 with the capture of Jerusalem by Godfrey de Bouillon. Then, his brother, Balwin, becomes the "King of Jerusalem" in 1100. 

Muslim unrest after the first crusade ends in the calling of a second crusade, preached by St. Bernard at Vezelay in 1146. St. Bernard describes the Christian soldiers of the second crusade (which mostly composed of French and German Crusaders) as not only righteous in their demeanor, but strong in their military might. 

Then, on July 4, 1187, Salah ad-Din (Saladin) routs the Crusaders at Horns of Hattin (Galilee). But, in his siege of Jerusalem, he does not commit mass murder, which is why he becomes a sign of chivalry even in many Christian texts.

Architectural reforms mark the Christian influence during this time period. For instance, the crusaders modify existing Islamic monuments, converting the Dome of the Rock to the Templum Domini and the Al Aqsa Mosque to the Templum Solomonis. Also occurring during this time period is the rebuilding of Byzantine Churches, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Church of Ascension (on the summit of the Mount of Olives), the Church of St. Mary (near Gethsemane), and the Church of St. Lazarus (also on the Mount of Olives). From these architectural feats, it is apparent that the Crusaders were expanding Zion from the East Hill (where it was during Judaism and Islam), to the West Hill. More evidence of this fact can be found in the establishment of the Armeninan Quarter in the Southwest region of Jerusalem. 

During the Crusades, Jerusalem was divided into four quarters. The Patriarch's Quarter (Northwest) housed the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Citadel/Tower of David, and the Muristan (this is where the Hospitallers, French Crusaders, were located). The Templars Quarter, located in the Southeast, was home to the Templum Domini, Templum Solomonis, and Solomon's Stables (this is where the Knights Templar, founded in 1118, were based). The Syrian Quarter, in the Northeast, was established for Christians from Syria after the expulsion of the Jews. And Finally, the Armenian Quarter was located in the Southwest. Note, with the exception of the Armenian Quarter, that the four quarters established at this point are different from modern Jerusalem's four quarters.

A lot of our information for this period comes from Illuminated Manuscripts, such as the Hague Map of Jerusalem (created in 1170). Maps like this one serve as a major source for understanding the city.

Among the Order of the Knights Templar (in Templar's Quarter) and the Hospitallers (in the Patriarch's Quarter), were many other orders, such as the Teutonic Knights (German Hospitallers) from 1128 in the Syrian Quarter and the Order of St. Lazarus in 1120s.

Further modifications of the Haram al Sharif during the Crusader period involve the conversion of the Dome of Ascension (believed to be the place of the ascension of Mohammed) to a bapistry. 

A turn in the Crusader period comes in 1187, with the rise of Saladin, who establishes Ayyubid Jerusalem. During his reign, the Haram al Sharif is reconverted back to a Muslim shrine, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is given to the Greek Orthodox, and Jews are allowed back into the city (Jews from Ashkelon settle in Maghribi's Quarter, which eventually becomes the Jewish Quarter in 1190). However, after Saladin's death, his successors struggle for power, leading to more conflict between the Ayyubids and Crusaders. Rising enmity leads to a third Crusade in 1189-1192, a fourth one in 1199-1204 (led by Innocent III), a fifth one in 1217 - 1221 (in 1219, the walls of Jerusalem are dismantled, people flee for lack of defense, and the population of Jerusalem goes down significantly), and a sixth one in 1228 - 1229 (led by Frederick II, but not blessed by the Pope). After the sixth crusade, the Crusaders regain control of Jerusalem when Al Kamid cedes Jerusalem for ten years in a treaty. Then in 1291, Akko, the last Crusader Outpost falls, marking the end of Crusader Jerusalem.