The Second Crusade

• Why was a good relationship needed with Manuel I?

  • Military support = In the first Crusade, they had been provided with a Byzantine general Tacticus, who knew the areas very well
  • Supplies = Manuel was able to open markets and supply ships and ports throughout Asia Minor
  • Byzantine loyalty = Manuel had signed a treaty with the Turks at Konya, meaning if there was a poor relationship the crusader's location could be vunerable
• Conrad's relationship with Manuel I

  • Strong alliance as they both formed an alliance against the southern italian normans
  • Came under strains when Conrad's forces journeyed through Hungary to Constantinople
  • Conrad's forces were being watched by Byzantine army, and there were several violent incidents - Frederick of Swabia tried to burn down a monastry
  • Conrad was made to swear an oath to no act against Manuel's wishes
• Louis VII's relationship with Manuel I

  • Somewhat more strained due to his ties with Roger of Sicily, who had Norman origins
  • Louis' inital plan was to crusade with Roger of Sicily
  • When he tried to build bridges with Manuel in Autumn of 1146, Manuel wanted an oath of homage - highlights his distrust of the French
  • Mistrust was furthered when Roger's general, George of Antioch began to attack parts of the Byzantine Empure in Autumn of 1147
  • When Louis arrived in October 1147, he was made to swear an oath of homage and not to take any Byzantine lands
• The Antioch Plan in 1148

  • The plan was to help the Antiochene military capture Aleppo and Shaizar
  • Realistic as it had almost been captured in 1138 with the help of Byzantines
  • Louis rejected the plan as his only interest was to reach Jerusalem
  • Raymond tried to use his wife as a pawn, creating an even bigger rift between the 2 leaders
• The Jerusalem Plan June 1148

  • French Barons, German dukes and nobles of Jerusalem met at the council of Acre to discuss the objective of the second Crusade
  • It included a: Northern campaign to Edessa; Southern campaign to capture Ascalon or Eastern campaign to take Damascus
• Why was the Damascus plan selected?

  • No point in Northern campaign since Edessa was already destroyed and Raymond had withdrawn his support
  • Ascalon was no immediate threat and had castles surrounding it
  • Truce between Damascus and Jerusalem had come to an end due to Nur ad-Din's ruse to power in Aleppo
• The siege of Damascus July 1148

  • The siege started well, with Baldwin III's, Louis and Conrad's troops establishing a camp outside the city with a supply of food and water
  • July 27th 1148, they outlined the Eastern section of the walls
  • Bad decision as no food or water supply, meaning they got exhausted and retreated after 3 days
• End of the Second Crusade

  • Conrad realised the 2nd Crusade was over and began his departure on October 8th
  • Louis stayed in Jerusalem until April 1149, where he departed with Roger of Sicily and was attacked by the Byzantines
  • Raymond of Antioch was killed at the Battle of Inab in June 1149
  • Baldwin III sold the castles in Edessa and the county was abandoned for good
• Louis VII

  • Very sizable kingdom due to his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine
  • Wanted to fulfil his brother's vow of going on a crusade as well as an act of penance for burning a church at Vitry
  • He was committed during Bernard of Clairvaux's sermon at Easter 1146 and set his departure date for June 15th 1147
• Conrad III

  • Had an army of 30-35 thousand
  • His enemies, such as Duke Welf VI of Bavaria were forced under his command when he made his crusader vow at Speyer on December 18th 1146
  • He set his departure date for May 1147, giving himself 6 months to prepare
• The Journey to Constantinople

  • Conrad's journey went through Hungary in order to reach the Byzatines, going by with caution after recently being defeated by King Geisa II of Hungary - his only option due to poor relations with Roger of Sicily
  • Louis rejected Roger of Sicily's offer to transport the french contingent - one to not antagonise Conrad and to limit Roger's ambition to control Sicily (Under control of Eleanor's uncle)