History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 82, the fifth Crusade Roman numeral 1.

Hello again.

Last week we examined the children's crusade. This week, thankfully, we will be restricting ourselves to

crusading adults as we start a series of episodes on the fifth Crusade. Now as we've seen from previous

episodes Pope Innocent is an ambitious man. He's not only ambitious, he has the drive and determination to see his plans through to the end.

For this energetic and intelligent man, there is one theme that drives his and

intelligent man there is one theme that drives his papacy

and all his talents and verve are focused on this one theme.

Can you guess what this theme is? It could be summarized in one word, a word of seven letters

beginning with C. That's right, Crusade.

In 1213, the year following the disastrous Children's Crusade,

let's see how this theme is panning out for Pope Innocent.

He's already been the instigator of one major crusade, the fourth crusade, which, disappointingly for Pope Innocent, did not result in the recovery

of Jerusalem, but instead resulted in the sacking of the magnificent Christian city of Constantinople.

Seemingly undeterred Pope Innocent and his adherents have been whipping up

crusading fever across Europe since the end of the fourth

crusade. This sparked not only the Children's Crusade, but the Crusade against the Cathars in southern France and a

crusade against the Muslims in southern Spain. So in 1213 Pope Innocent is surrounded by Crusades, but it's not enough.

For Pope Innocent, a successful crusade is one which recovers Jerusalem for the Latin Christians.

None of his crusades, however, have made it to the Middle East.

In 1213 Pope Innocent decided that this has to change.

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