The History of the Crusades (vol. 3 of 3)
The History of the Crusades (vol. 3 of 3)
Translated by William Robson
''The History of the Crusades (vol. 3 of 3)'' by Joseph François Michaud, published in the early 19th century, provides a detailed historical account of the latter stages of the Crusades, covering the years A.D. 1255 to 1396. This volume examines the conflicts between Christians and Muslims following the Eighth Crusade led by Louis IX of France, highlighting the political upheavals, battles, and internal discord among Christian factions. Michaud's work illustrates the rise of the Mamelukes, the tensions between Genoa and Venice, and the broader implications of these struggles on the power dynamics of the era.
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“but the Genoese, at the sight of such a rich booty, paid no respect to the capitulation, and massacred without pity a disarmed and defenceless people. This””
— J. Fr. Michaud
“The war-cry of the Christian soldiers was: “Christ lives, Christ reigns, Christ commands.”[233]””
— J. Fr. Michaud
“The Christian warriors fought like lions, animated by their war-cry “Victory or Death!” Baldwin””
— J. Fr. Michaud
“if they fell, heaven would be open to them; if they triumphed, the fame of their victory would be spread throughout the Christian world. There could be no safety in flight; their home was beyond the seas; in the East there was no asylum for the conquered.” After””
— J. Fr. Michaud
“These differences with Tancred did not impede Baldwin’s wars against the infidels, or””
— J. Fr. Michaud
“Godfrey of Bouillon surpassed all the captains of his age in his skill in war; and if he had lived some time longer, would have merited a name among great kings.””
— J. Fr. Michaud
“Thus all the citizens of the kingdom were judged by their peers, and enjoyed the benefits of an institution which has not been despised in ages much more enlightened.””
— J. Fr. Michaud
“The first obligation of a subject or a vassal towards his prince or his lord, was to defend him or avenge him in every case of outrage, and to protect the honour of his wife, his daughter, or his sister; to follow him in all perils, and to surrender himself as hostage for him, if he fell into the hands of his enemies.[227]””
— J. Fr. Michaud
“The king was to undertake to maintain the laws, to defend the Church, to protect widows and orphans, to watch over the safety of both people and lords, and to lead in war. The””
— J. Fr. Michaud
About The History of the Crusades (vol. 3 of 3)
Chapter Summaries
- BOOK XV
- This book details the internal strife among Christian factions in Palestine (Genoese, Venetians, Templars, Hospitallers) after Louis IX's first crusade. It chronicles the rise of Mameluke sultans Aibek and Bibars, the fall of Bagdad to the Moguls, and Bibars' systematic conquest and destruction of Christian cities like Cæsarea, Arsouf, Sefed, and Antioch. Louis IX launches a new crusade to Tunis, where he dies of plague; his son Philip III concludes a truce and returns to France. Prince Edward of England arrives in Palestine, achieves minor victories, but also makes peace and departs, effectively ending the major crusades for the Holy Land.
- BOOK XVI
- This book describes the period after the fall of Ptolemaïs, where European crusading zeal waned significantly, replaced by political and economic concerns. Popes like Nicholas IV and Clement V struggled to rally support, while figures like Raymond Lulli and Sanuti made fervent but unsuccessful efforts to revive the holy war. The Ottoman Turks emerged as a dominant force, expanding into the Byzantine Empire and the Balkans, leading to the disastrous Battle of Nicopolis where a European crusade was crushed by Bajazet. Tamerlane's temporary defeat of Bajazet offered a brief reprieve, but the Ottomans quickly recovered, and the Greek Empire continued its desperate, often futile, pleas for Western aid.
- BOOK XVII
- The fall of Constantinople to Mahomet II in 1453 sparked initial terror in Europe, but genuine crusading efforts remained fragmented. Popes like Nicholas V, Calixtus III, and Pius II (Æneas Sylvius) made fervent appeals and organized assemblies (e.g., Mantua) to unite Christendom against the Turks, but European monarchs were largely preoccupied with internal conflicts. Hunniades and John Capistran achieved a notable victory at Belgrade. Mahomet II continued his relentless expansion, conquering Bosnia and Otranto, causing widespread alarm in Italy. Despite papal efforts to forge alliances and levy taxes, Christian disunity and self-interest persisted, until Mahomet II's death brought a temporary respite and internal Ottoman struggles.
Key Themes
- Decline of Crusading Zeal
- The book vividly illustrates how the fervent religious enthusiasm of earlier crusades gradually gave way to indifference and political pragmatism in Europe. Monarchs became more concerned with domestic affairs and inter-European conflicts, while the clergy resisted taxation for distant wars, and the general populace lost interest in the Holy Land.
- Christian Disunity and Internal Conflict
- A recurring theme is the fatal disunity among Christian factions, including rivalries between Italian maritime republics (Genoa, Venice), military orders (Templars, Hospitallers), and European princes. These internal squabbles consistently weakened their collective strength, making them vulnerable to unified Muslim adversaries and often leading to mutual destruction.
- Rise and Consolidation of Muslim Empires
- The narrative meticulously tracks the ascendancy of two formidable Muslim powers: the Mamelukes in Egypt and Syria, and the Ottoman Turks in Anatolia and the Balkans. These empires, characterized by military discipline and religious zeal for conquest, systematically dismantled the remaining Christian states in the East.
Characters
- Louis IX (St. Louis)(protagonist)
- The pious King of France who led the Eighth Crusade, fortified Christian cities in Palestine, and died of plague in Tunis, leaving a legacy of justice and devotion.
- Bibars(antagonist)
- The fierce and ambitious Mameluke Sultan of Egypt, known as 'the pillar of the Mussulman religion and the father of victories,' who systematically conquered Christian strongholds in Palestine and Syria.
- Charles of Anjou(supporting)
- Brother of Louis IX, crowned King of Sicily by the Pope, whose political ambitions in Italy and Greece often overshadowed the crusading cause.
- Philip III (Philip-le-Hardi)(supporting)
- Son and successor of Louis IX, who accompanied his father on the Tunis crusade, inherited the French throne, and returned to France with the royal remains.
- Edward (Prince of England)(supporting)
- Son of Henry III, who took the cross and arrived in Palestine after Louis IX's death, achieving minor victories before concluding a truce and returning to England.
- Gregory X (Thibault)(supporting)
- Archdeacon of Liege who became Pope, having witnessed the miseries in Palestine, and who zealously attempted to revive the crusading spirit and unite Christian forces.
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Michaud, J. Fr.. The History of the Crusades (vol. 3 of 3). Lex, lex-books.com/book/the-history-of-the-crusades-vol-3-of-3-e72ccd01-371f-4c28-a6e7-6c1d379641ab.Michaud, J. F. (n.d.). The History of the Crusades (vol. 3 of 3). Lex. https://lex-books.com/book/the-history-of-the-crusades-vol-3-of-3-e72ccd01-371f-4c28-a6e7-6c1d379641abMichaud, J. Fr.. The History of the Crusades (vol. 3 of 3). Lex. https://lex-books.com/book/the-history-of-the-crusades-vol-3-of-3-e72ccd01-371f-4c28-a6e7-6c1d379641ab.
