The Crusades I: Jerusalem

It's 1095, and the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I has sent an urgent message to Pope Urban II from the heart of his Empire in Constantinople. An invading army of Turks is fast approaching from the East, and the Emperor required immediate support from the Pope to defend his lands, and guarantee Christian access to Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

Hundreds of thousands of people would respond to the Pope's call to arms to defend the Christian faith, inspired by Urban II's stirring oratory. The main body of the Crusader army set off in August 1096, travelling first to Constantinople, before continuing on to Jerusalem, where they intended to take back the Holy City from its Muslim conquerors.

The carnage that resulted would set the stage for hundreds of years of cruelty and mayhem.
The Crusades raged across Europe and the Middle East over four centuries, claiming some two million lives.

Many hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life took part in the Crusades, attracted by the Pope's offer of forgiveness for their sins in return for their efforts to conquer the Holy City, as well as a sense of adventure and a true desire to set foot in Jerusalem.

However, several of the Crusades failed to acheive their stated goals, with the Crusaders often pillaged the cities and countries through which they traveled, and their leaders taking advantage of the situation to seize land and riches. The Crusades were also, however, a breeding ground for chivalry and heroism, with great warrior leaders such as Richard the Lionheart and Saladin emerging during the battles.

The 'Crusades' series is a ten-part account of the Holy Wars that raged throughout the Medieval period. Each book gives a clear and concise account of the people and events that shaped the period, providing the reader with an entertaining and engaging narrative covering one of the most turbulent periods in world history.