Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Jaimie is called the conqueror as he conquered several territories, and extended his
dominion to the Mediterranean coast of Iberia.
Fernando III embarked on major campaigns in Al-Andalus after uniting Castile and
Leon. 1236- conquered Cordoba. 1248- conquered Almohad capital of Seville.
Fernando III is now a saint for his efforts.
Al-Andalus is now reduced to small kingdom of Granada.
Pre-existing treaties among Christian Kingdoms prevented Aragon and Portugal to
conquer Granada. Only Castile and conquer Granada.
Granada isnt very dangerous at this point. A lot smaller than Castile. Paid tribute to
Castile for peace.
Aragon had to deal with Iberian conquest and the acquisition of kingdom of NAPLES,
southern Italy.
Definitely a decline of cultural toleration even though there is very little fighting in
14th century.
Takeaways
Iberia was one of the most culturally diverse and integrated regions of medieval
Europe. But the idea of convivencia, though beloved of tourism boards and popular
historians, tends to gloss over the tensions and inequalities that did exist. It also sits
uncomfortably with the rhetoric of the Reconquista as a whole.
The 1rth century was the Reconquistas hayday. After a long stalemate, the
Christian kingdoms suddenly acquired hide chunks of new territory. But once the
Reconquista stalled the groundwork was laid for serious problems.
11/25/13 (HIST133 LECTURE)
Ayyubids- Saladins dynasty.
In the West, after the 4th crusade, by around 1215, Pope Innocent III began calling
for another Crusade to the Holy Land.
Priest cant command military. Pope is a priest.
This second eastern crusade that was conceived by Innocent III, was known as the
5th crusade.
For the first time, French nobles and knights felt indifferent about going to a
crusade.
This was probably because of their involvement in another crusade in France.
Leaders of 5th Crusade strategically want to attack Egypt.
18-month siege of Damietta.
Crusaders gained advantage because of political disarray in Egypt.
Sultan al-Kamil of Egypt nephew of Saladin and led defense of Damietta. He was
weakened and offered crusaders peace and give all of Latin kingdom of Jerusalem.
Crusaders say no, trying to gain more,
Crusaders take Damietta by force, but fail to press advantage for two years, as
Egypt regrouped.
Crusaders try to advance again, but the 5th Crusade was defeated and forced out of
Egypt.
An 8-year truce and return of true cross (never returned).
5th Crusade lacked strong, central leadership.
The 6th Crusade was led by Emperor Frederick II.
Frederick II- right of inheritance from Mother, he was King of Sicily (all of Southern
Italy), his father was Henry VI and he became Holy Roman Emperor.
Isabella II- acquired the kingdom on her mothers death. On 1223, she was only 11,
but was engaged to Frederick II.
Planned departure was delayed for another two years.
King and queen got married.
1227- 6th Crusade. Frederick II got ill and didnt accompany crusaders.
Pope believed it was an excuse and was trying to delay it.
Frederick II left for Holy Land on 1228, but still excommunicated.
He had very little military strength, many crusaders went home and many didnt
want to associate with someone who was excommunicated.
Isabella died on 1228, but left a son.
Frederick II kept title.
Frederick II had been negotiating with sultan al-Kamil for a couple of years. Al-Kamil
was trying to buy Egypt safety, unaware of Fredericks military weakness.
February of 1229, al-Kamil agreed to surrender Jerusalem and other cities to
Christians.
He said Muslims would keep temple area and city wont be fortified.
In return, Frederick II would protect al-Kamil in a 10-year truce.
Frederick II managed to do by diplomacy what Christians have struggled to take by
force.
He has taken Jerusalem back for Christians.
The restriction on fortifying Jerusalem means that it has no defense.
Pope was invading Southern Italy and Frederick II was forced to go back to protect
his lands.
Frederick IIs succession as Holy Roman Emperor gave him control over Northern
Italy and Southern Italy (Sicily). In the middle of that is the Papal States.
Only two main powers, Frederick and Pope.
When Papal States were surrounded by empire that was hostile to the Church, it
could be said that the Church was in danger.
Pope justified his invasion of Sicily as defense of the Church against someone who
was excommunicated, etc.
People who attacked Sicily got spiritual benefits.
People who participated wore the keys of St. Peter, not the cross.
They dont get full Crusade indulgence.
After 10-year truce, Turks capture Jerusalem.
This prompted King of France to take the cross, King Louis IX.
He was committed to the idea of Crusading.
This was mid-1240s. 7th Crusade.
Hes not given much help from western Europe.
Pope had called a real crusade against Frederick II in Germany and Italy. Another
one in Iberia.
Louis is alone on this crusade.
Following example of 5th Crusade, Louis headed for Egypt.
He landed with massive force and reconquered Damietta.
But like 5th Crusade, Louis suffers delay. 6 months until he advanced.
And when he did advance, bad tactics by his brother Robert got people killed.
Christian army was forced to surrender and Louis himself got captured for ransom.
Louis went home devastated believing that the failure of 7 th crusade was the
consequence of his sins.
7th Crusade- able to overthrow Ayyubid dynasty.
Ayyubid Sultan had died and heir was in northern Iraq and had travelled from there
to Egypt.
Mamluks (slave warriors)
After Louis was defeated, Sultan tried to reduce the Mamluks role.
Mamluks felt it was a slap in the face. Instead of being rewarded, they were
demoted, and assassinated the Sultan.
Became the Mamluk dynasty of Egypt.
This Crusade prevented Frederick from conquering Rome but didnt have much
effect
Frederick II died in 1250.
Popes decision to call crusade within western Europe, prompted hostility from
France.
Louis formidable mother and regent, forbid anyone to go to Crusade.
Threatened to confiscate peoples lands.
Latin rulers in crusader states couldnt agree on how to deal with Mongols.
Some allied with Mongols.
Some refused to ally with Mongols or Mamluks.
Mamluks defeated Mongols in Egypt.
Allowed Mamluks to occupy Syria and clear out Ayyubid rulers who were there.
The Mamluk sultan was assassinated and was replaced by Baibars, he became ruler
of a united Syria and Egypt.
Something that they didnt have since Saladin died.
Later Ayyubid Sultans had been flexible on their stance. Had no sense of urgency
against crusader states. Mamluks didnt feel the same. They were much more
devoted to jihad. Baibars refused any alliance with crusader states. He began
military campaigns that attacked crusader states piece by piece. Their conquest of
latin cities were accompanied by slaughter. Destroy fortifications or entire city.
Louis IX took the cross against the Mamluks. Original goal was Holy Land but decide
to aim Northern Africa. Disease spread and Louis IX died on 1270. (8 th Crusade).
Prince Edward went to Holy Land with small group but didnt achieve much.
Interests on crusades remain high. Kings keep saying they plan to go. But it proved
difficult due to expense and internal and external conflicts within Europe.
Baibars goal to crusader states wasnt realized.
Remaining latin lordships in holy land decide to be ruled by Mamluks, some got
slaughtered and conquered.
1291- acre (last latin crusader state) got conquered by Ashraf Khalil. Khalil refused
negotiations. When city fell, remaining population tried to flee. Those who couldnt
flee were enslaved or killed. (End of Crusader States).
Used to be memorizing dates and battles (history), but most of what historians do
isnt a search for a single universal truth (what happened) but find multiple
historical truths, narratives, and perspectives that define the past and the present.
Some historical narratives arent morally acceptable.
Some historians argue that objectivity isnt possible.
Dont try to be objective, but acknowledge that there is existing biases, and not all
of those biases are bad.
Not just talking about facts, but also interpretation. They way events are
remembered/imagined. The more distant events are, the more layers there are.