Outremer

Outremer refers to a collection of Frankish states established in the Levant during the Crusades, roughly from the late 11th to the late 13th centuries. These territories, including the Kingdom of Jerusalem, were founded by European crusaders aiming to control the Holy Lands and protect Christian pilgrims. Outremer represented a significant interaction between European and Middle Eastern cultures, influencing trade, politics, and architecture. Over time, these states faced challenges from Muslim forces, leading to their eventual decline and loss of territory, culminating in the fall of Acre in 1291, which marked the end of Crusader rule in the region.