Crusades initiated by the Papacy

The Crusades were a series of religious wars initiated by the Papacy from the late 11th to the late 13th centuries. Primarily aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim control, these military campaigns brought together Christians from various backgrounds. The First Crusade, called by Pope Urban II in 1095, succeeded in capturing Jerusalem, but subsequent Crusades faced mixed results. The movement was fueled by religious fervor, the desire for land, and political power, ultimately influencing Christian-Muslim relations and shaping medieval European history. The legacy of the Crusades remains complex and contentious today.