The Fifth Crusade

The Fifth Crusade (1217-1221) was a military campaign launched by European Christians to regain control of the Holy Land from Muslim authorities. It began with an attempt to capture Egypt, viewed as a stepping stone to Jerusalem. Crusaders captured the port of Damietta but ultimately failed to advance further. Poor planning, internal conflicts, and a strong resistance from Muslim forces led to a disastrous defeat in 1221. The crusade highlighted the challenges and complexities of the conflict between Christianity and Islam during the medieval period, and it ended without achieving its primary goal of reclaiming Jerusalem.