The history of the crusades: how the army of children went after the Holy Sepulcher

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The Crusades were among those events that define the face of medieval Europe. Eight "numbered" crusades to the Holy Land are widely known, however, today historians identify 18 similar events in medieval Europe. Some of them are so terrible and absurd that they amaze modern man. So, in 1212, the "Crusade of Children" took place.

So, the 1212 campaign in Palestine was preceded by the well-known 4th Crusade, which ended in a real ideological collapse: the cherished dream of Christians never came true, but Jerusalem, like several other cities, was plundered. The hike showed many leaders the pretense of the hike itself. The behavior of many knightly orders in the Holy Land played an important role in the final split of the Western Catholic Church and the Eastern Byzantine. Nevertheless, the dream of the return of the Holy Sepulcher did not leave ordinary Christians. As soon as the knights had time to disperse their homes, rumors of a new campaign began to circulate in Rome again.

It all began in Germany, in the spring of 1212, presumably in the month of May. The German army was sent to Italy in order to embark on ships and go to Palestine. It was great surprise for the soldiers when in Cologne they were joined by a myriad of children and adolescents, whose leaders declared that they were crusaders and were also heading for the Holy Land. The German army faced a similar phenomenon in France. Approximately 30,000 French teenagers have joined the 25,000 children and teenagers from Germany. All of them went under the leadership of the shepherd Stephen of Clois. According to him, himself Jesus appeared to him in a dream in the guise of a monk and ordered him to gather the children and lead a crusade to Palestine without weapons and horses in order to take the city of Jerusalem and “free the Holy Sepulcher with only the name of the Lord on his lips.” “” - called Stephen.

Today it looks at least strange. But it should be borne in mind that the Children's Crusade had very serious political support. The children's trek was approved not only by the commander of the German army, but also by the Franciscan Order, who were widely known for their sermons on asceticism and humility. The order had weight in Rome, and therefore, the campaign was approved by the Pope.

The number of crusader children grew steadily. By the time they approached the Alps, it was no longer possible to calculate their exact number. Today, many researchers believe that most of the children of the Crusaders were nevertheless adolescents and young men. Nevertheless, many medieval chroniclers and chroniclers also mention older peasants, including women and old people. Not infrequently, criminals hiding from justice joined the procession.

It is easy to guess that the children's trip had virtually no serious organization, despite all the spiritual and political support. The children's army was forced to endure many hardships and hardships. Even in Germany, the participants in the campaign began to die of hunger and disease. A particularly difficult period for the army was the crossing of the Alps. Several thousand children froze to death in the snowy mountains. However, despite all this, more than half managed to reach Italy. During the alpine journey, the army of the children split into several parts. Upon arrival in Italy, the main groups slowly formed from scattered detachments. The first consisted mainly of German children, of whom very few remained. The second is from the French. The children from France soon made their way to southern Italy. The procession of the troops was accompanied by daily mass prayers. That was children's view of the world … However, the sea never parted before the righteous army. However, local merchants agreed to help the campaign, they provided the children with ships to Algeria.

Having reached the shores of Africa, the campaign ended without setting foot on the lands of the Kingdom of Heaven. As it turned out, European merchants were in conspiracy with Arab slave traders. Thousands of children were sold into slavery. The fate of children from Germany was just as unenviable, most of them were killed by robbers or sold into slavery, only small scattered detachments of crusader children returned from a failed campaign. Neither Rome nor any of the orders reacted in any way to this event. Many historians point to evidence that the wallets of some merchants, knights and even churchmen increased tenfold during this "Crusade".

Despite all the horrors of the children's crusade, Rome did not abandon the idea of liberating the Kingdom of Heaven. Five years later, in 1217, a new campaign to the Holy Land will begin, which will be called the "fifth." During this "sluggish" and unsuccessful campaign, thousands of crusaders, both knights and ordinary soldiers, will lay down their heads. The unbelievers will give the Christians the much-desired city, but this will not start with the beginning of an era of peace, but only as a prologue to a new chapter of bloody events.