The Crusades

 The Crusades are a series of two centuries - long series of battles between East and West, or between Islam and Christianity. These were the struggles of the Christian governments of Europe against the Eastern Muslim world as a symbol of the cross. This series of collisions between the Moon and the Cross played a major role in rewriting the course of world history.

 These battles, which took place between 489 and 691 AH (1096-1292 AD), are known as the Crusades or Crusaders, and the participants were known as the Crusaders. Some Orientalists describe all clashes between Christians and Muslims as crusades.

The Crusades began at the behest of Pope Urban II. At his command, the saint Peter traveled throughout the country and prepared the people for it. Peter, a brilliant orator and mastermind, was quick to ignite religious sentiment in the minds of Christians.

Although it is known as a religious holy war, the Crusaders were driven by material interests. The obvious reason for the Crusaders was religious. In addition, the fragmented churches and governments came together on this issue. Raising the cross, they lined up for battle. Their aim was to liberate Baitul Muqaddas and the birthplace of Jesus Christ from the hands of the Muslims.

Over time, the Western Roman Empire collapsed. Constantine, the founder of the Eastern Roman Empire, later converted to Christianity, making it the official religion of Constantinople. In that way, Christianity was very fortunate. Until then, a religion that was viewed as alien and disgusting became its own and acceptable. It was able to attract a large population.

 The power of the Church increased as the Western Roman Empire declined politically. The daily life of the people began to be ruled by the Church and the Pope. Not just ordinary people; Even great kings and rulers had the experience of having to wait for hours for the Pope's vision and blessing. It is said that the Church and the clergy did not have such a great position and influence before or since.

 There was not much harmony between Rome and Constantinople. This empire, which was far from Rome and adjoining Asia, sought to remain strong and independent. The pope, the religious leader of the Western Empire, wanted to consolidate his power in the East. Conflicts between different Christian denominations accelerated this separation. Christians are divided into two groups. Christians in the Western Empire, with Rome as its capital, were known as followers of the Roman Catholic Church, and Christians in the Eastern Empire, the capital of Constantinople, as followers of the Orthodox Church. Latin Catholics ordained the pope as their ruler. But the Eastern Church refused to recognize the pope.

 In the seventh century, Islam emerged and emerged as a major force. On the one hand it had to face the Byzantine Empire, and on the other hand it had to face various Christian regimes in Andalusia and France. Although these conflicts have a large place in history, they are not technically known as the Crusades. The clashes, which we technically describe as the Crusades, have, among other things, the unification of the Eastern and Eastern Christian churches against Islam. Historical enmity had existed between them for centuries.

 Two major events in the Middle East in the second half of the 11th century AD marked the beginning or acceleration of the Crusades. One is the domination of the Saljukhi Turks in Baghdad. When the Abbasids were exhausted, the enemy rejoiced. Meanwhile, the power of the Saljukhis that had emerged dimmed their dreams. The power of the Saljukhis gradually increased. In 462 AH (1070 AD), they conquered Syria from the Fatimids in Egypt. This hurt the Fatimids a lot. Their minister, Afzal bin Badr al-Jamali, even joined forces with the Crusaders against the Saljukhis.Decisive success at Schmidt. With this the Byzantines were scattered. Many parts of their Asia Minor fell to the Saljukhis. In the end, they had to turn to the pope for help.

 Saljukhis who challenged Constantinople h. In 471 (1078) Baitul Muqaddas captured the Fatimids. Christian devotees at that time were making a pilgrimage to Baitul Muqaddas safely and returning. As Quds and its roads came into the hands of the Saljukhis, some restrictions were imposed for the sake of law and order and the security of the country. This stirred the religious sentiment of the Christians.

 Christians in Europe at that time had an inseparable and emotional connection with religion and pilgrimage. They believed that the pilgrimage to Quds would lead to forgiveness of sins and eternal victory. Devotees who thought their peaceful and safe pilgrimage was being disrupted went back and spread non-existent stories about the Saljukhis and thus the Muslims. This sparked outrage against Muslims in Europe. They vowed that it was their religious obligation to free the Muslims from Quds and the means to it at any cost.

 The place where Jesus' footsteps prevailed and he was believed to be crucified for the redemption of the world was most sacred to them. If the journey itself is sacred, they considered it a great sacred act to liberate it from the hands of Muslims and, if necessary, to fight for it.

The colonial system in Europe existed in the Middle Ages. The children of a number of feudal lords who had been denied inheritance had become dissatisfied. Conflict with the eastern lands and the acquisition of new colonies there gave them hope and relief. Her dream also played a role in the Crusades.The authority of the church should extend to the eastern lands. Thus the whole of the East must come under the Pope. This wish of the Pope also provided water and fertilizer for the Crusades. The increasing influence of war-loving barbarians among Christians also served as an oil in the fires of the Crusades.

 The increasingly feudal system and the growing influence of emperors posed two threats to Western Europe. First of all, the hostility and hatred of this militant community was turning into a big confrontation. As mentioned earlier, the East and the West were divided into two churches, and the Pope's authority was limited to the West. The influence of the emperors threatened even the pope's spiritual authority. Here he saw that a war with the rest of the community was necessary to divert his own community from mutual enmity and to regain the strength and power the pope had lost.