Crociati

Crociati is the Italian term for crusaders, medieval Christian combatants who joined the series of religious wars known as the Crusades. The name derives from the cross that crusaders typically wore on their garments, a visible sign of their vow and mission.

The Crusades were proclaimed by the papacy and conducted from roughly the late 11th through the 13th centuries, with later expeditions in subsequent centuries. Participants came from across Western Europe, including many Italian nobles and merchants. Motivations were religious, but political, territorial, and economic factors also played a significant role. Some crociati aimed to defend pilgrimage routes, others sought land, wealth, or prestige.

Crociati ranged from professional knights in military orders to lesser noble and mercantile volunteers. Many sailed from Italian port cities and relied on the support of powerful Italian city-states such as Venice, Genoa, and Pisa to obtain ships, financing, and supplies. The campaigns led to major expeditions in the Holy Land and, in later periods, to crusading efforts in Iberia and the Baltic region, as well as to conflicts and interactions with other Mediterranean powers.

Legacy and usage: the crusading movement influenced medieval politics, trade networks, and culture across Europe, including Italy. The term crociato remains a standard historical label for participants, while crociata (the feminine form) denotes a crusade or any vigorous campaign, often with religious or political aims.