Second Crusade

By History And Culture Media

1/26/2025

The Second Crusade: Causes, Campaigns, and Consequences

The Second Crusade (1147-1149) was the second major expedition launched by European Christians to the Holy Land. Despite high hopes and significant royal involvement, it ended in failure, marking a turning point in crusading enthusiasm and strategy during the Middle Ages.

Background to the Second Crusade

Fall of Edessa

The immediate cause of the Second Crusade was the fall of Edessa in 1144 to Zengi, the Muslim ruler of Mosul and Aleppo. Edessa was the first Crusader state established during the First Crusade, and its loss shocked Christian Europe.

Call to Crusade

In response, Pope Eugene III issued the papal bull Quantum Praedecessores in 1145, calling for a new crusade to recapture Edessa and defend Christian holdings in the East.

The crusade was fervently preached by Bernard of Clairvaux, whose charisma and eloquence inspired many nobles and commoners to take the cross.

Leadership and Forces

The Second Crusade was notable for being led by two reigning monarchs:

King Louis VII of France
Emperor Conrad III of Germany

Their involvement underscored the importance of the crusade but also contributed to disunity and poor coordination during the campaign.

The Campaigns

Journey Through Anatolia

Both armies faced immense hardships crossing Seljuk-controlled Anatolia. Conrad III’s forces were ambushed and nearly destroyed at the Battle of Dorylaeum (1147). Louis VII’s army also suffered severe losses due to starvation, disease, and Turkish attacks.

Siege of Damascus (1148)

The main effort of the Second Crusade shifted to an attack on Damascus, a city previously friendly to the Crusader states but targeted for strategic reasons.

The siege in July 1148 was poorly planned and executed. After only four days, the crusaders retreated in disarray, leading to humiliation and a loss of prestige for the Western forces.

Other Theatres of the Second Crusade

Iberian Peninsula

In Spain, the crusade took the form of campaigns against Muslim-held territories. Crusaders assisted in capturing Lisbon in 1147, marking a rare success of the Second Crusade.

Baltic Crusades

The crusade was also directed against pagan Slavs in northeastern Europe, where German and Danish crusaders sought to convert and conquer Baltic peoples.

Results and Significance

Failure in the Holy Land

The failure to capture Damascus damaged crusader morale and reputation. Muslim unity under leaders like Nur ad-Din strengthened, laying the groundwork for future counter-crusades.

Decline of Crusading Zeal

The Second Crusade’s failure undermined the ideal of crusading. Critics questioned its religious justification, while nobles became wary of investing resources in uncertain campaigns.

Shifting Strategies

The failure influenced subsequent crusades to be more focused and better organized, though internal divisions continued to plague later expeditions.

Conclusion

The Second Crusade (1147-1149) was a pivotal moment in medieval history. Despite its grand scale and royal leadership, it failed to achieve its objectives in the Holy Land, revealing the limitations of crusading power and reshaping Christian-Muslim relations in the region for decades to come.