As you all know, our continent is going through a very difficult time. Our lords and the Muslim Turks are going through with a series of Crusades. Because of the crusades that have already taken place, we didn't have the chance to write about them. This newspaper article will recap and inform you about what is going on in the war and in our country of England.
The first Crusade began in 1095, when armies of the Christians from Western Europe responded to Pope Urban ll's plea to go to war against Muslim forces in the Holy Land. Our soldiers captured Antioch in Syria. Then the crusaders entered Palestine killing many. The first crusade, which lasted from 1095-1099, established the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, providing more lands for the crusading knights, who often travelled through Europe to try their fortunes and to visit the Holy Sepulchre.
In the second Crusade, our European rulers sent another crusade to retrieve the lost land. However, they failed in their attempt. However, in 1144 A.D. we succeeded in capturing Edessa, one of the principal Christian outposts in the East. The fall of the city Edessa was followed by the loss of the entire country. This aroused Western Europe to the danger which threatened the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem and led to another crusading enterprise and led to another crusading enterprise.
Not that much time went by after the Second Crusade; the Muslim world found in the famous Saladin a leader for a holy war against the Christians. The third Crusade happened because of the fall of Jerusalem. Three of our kings gathered their armies and headed east to fight Saladin. After a series of problems, Philip returned home. Then Saladin and Philip agreed on a truce.
Last week, Pope Innocent lll called for the fourth Crusade. Merchants from Venice are beginning to use this crusade to weaken their trading rival, the Byzantine Empire. They have convinced the crusaders to attack Constantinople. For the past 3 days, the crusaders have been burning and looting the city. The attack shocked Western Europeans and weakened the Byzantines.
Now our country, England, will battle our hearts out in the fourth Crusade. Hopefully, if we fight hard enough everyone else will surrender to us and the crusades will be over with. If we are the country to defeat all of our enemies we will be the best in history!