A Decisive Battle? Richard the Lionheart vs Saladin at Arsuf
While Arsuf was a tactical and operational success, it was far from “decisive” – or even very significant – on the strategic level.
Writing the History of the Sultan Saladin
Jonathan Phillips talks about his new book on Saladin and researching the historical sources related to his life and times.
The Cross of War in the Age of the Crusades
Talking about the carrying of the True Cross during battles in the crusades.
900-Year-Old Crusader Sword discovered by scuba diver
The sword’s discovery suggests that the natural anchorage where it was found was also used by ships in the Crusader period.
Mass grave of crusaders discovered in Lebanon
A new study has revealed details about the remains of 25 soldiers from two mass graves discovered within the dry moat of Sidon Castle, Lebanon.
‘The Worthiest Man’: The story of Count Philip I of Flanders
Philip I Count of Flanders was one of the most controversial nobles in twelfth-century France. His choleric temperament was equaled only by his reputation in many historical and literary works. Where he went, trouble and greatness followed.
Theatres of War: Crusade, Colonialism and Chivalry in the Middle Ages
Were the Crusades an early example of European colonialism? What value did the crusading frontier hold for the knights who fought to defend it? What was the relationship between the Crusades and the knightly culture of chivalry?
Maria Comnena: Byzantine Princess, Queen of Jerusalem, and Lady of Ibelin
Helena Schrader tells the story of Maria Comnena and the role she played in the Crusader States during the twelfth century.
Mercenaries and Crusaders (1202-1480s): An Interdisciplinary Conference
Call for Papers for a conference taking place June 22–24 2022, at the University of Debrecen, Hungary.
The War of Saint Sabas and the naval battle in Acre’s harbor
The rapidly growing maritime power of these two republics placed them on a collision course.
Religion and the Military: The Good Duke as a Christian Warrior
How Louis II, Duke of Bourbon, melded his role as a warrior with his Christian piety.
Saladin and the Crusades: medieval and modern perspectives
What has been the legacy of the Crusades in Europe and across the Muslim world in modern times? Why is the evolution of the Saladin legend throughout history so remarkable?
Tower Design and the Influence of Mechanical Artillery in the Thirteenth Century
There is plenty of evidence to suggest that lighter traction trebuchets were employed on the tops of certain towers in a defensive role.
Prostrating Wall and Artillery Balls: A Re-evaluation of the 1188 siege of Sahyun / Saone
The power of medieval artillery is often taken for granted and historians tend to rely on anecdotal descriptions in the absence of quantifiable evidence. But descriptions of these engines and the damage that they inflicted can be misleading when evaluated out of context. The siege of Saone in 1188 is one such example.
The Development of Mechanical Artillery during the Crusades
The Development of Mechanical Artillery during the Crusades Paper by Michael S. Fulton Given at The Art of Siege Warfare and Military Architecture…
The Two Towers: Crusader Acre and its Defences
The Accursed Tower and Tower of the Flies were the infamous defences of the city of Acre. Strange legends surround both towers, and they would prove to be formidable challenges to besieging armies during the Crusades.
The Fourth Crusade, as told by Robert de Clari
The Fourth Crusade is best known for being the campaign that attacked the Byzantine Empire in 1204. In this episode of The Medieval Podcast, Danièle is joined by Peter Konieczny to talk about Robert de Clari, who wrote one of the accounts of this unusual crusade. What did this French knight say about how the crusaders went from wanting to attack the Holy Land to conquering Constantinople?
Call for Papers: Handbook on the Later Crusades conference
Taking place in Frankfurt, Germany from 13-14 July 2021
The Colonial Fourth Crusade, with George Demacopoulos
Was the Fourth Crusade an act of colonialism? This episode of Byzantium & Friends features an interview with George Demacopoulos, author of Colonizing Christianity: Greek and Latin Religious Identity in the Era of the Fourth Crusade.
Engaging the Crusades
What do the crusades mean today? A new book series entitled Engaging the Crusades takes a look.
Mamluks vs Crusaders
This column will focus on the wars between the Mamluks and the Crusaders / Franks in the Near East. It was a struggle that began in the thirteenth century and would last until the end of the Middle Ages.
The Challenge of State Building in the Twelfth Century: the Crusader States in Palestine and Syria
The crusader states in the twelfth century do not conform to the stereotypical constructs of historians and economists; instead they present a series of paradoxes.
New Medieval Books: The Crusades
Five new publications about the crusades.
Crusaders in the Red Sea: Renaud de Châtillon’s raids of AD 1182–83
This fresh look at Renaud’s exploit is intended to clarify some of the motives, facts and geographical details of the campaign, though much still remains obscure.