cruzados

Cruzados, in historical contexts, were the knights, soldiers, and supporters who joined the Crusades, a series of religious and military campaigns sanctioned by the Latin Church from the late 11th century onward. The campaigns aimed to recover Jerusalem and other Christian holy sites in the Levant, defend Christendom against Muslim powers, and extend Christian influence in the Mediterranean world. The term derives from cruz, or cross, reflecting the religious motivation that underpinned the expeditions.

The Crusades were initiated after a call by the papacy, beginning with Pope Urban II’s address in 1095 at the Council of Clermont. They attracted nobles, knights, and numerous followers from across Western Europe, driven by a mix of religious fervor, promises of indulgences, and ambitions for land and prestige. Military orders such as the Templars, Hospitallers, and Teutonic Knights emerged to organize and sustain Christian forces throughout the campaigns.

Major campaigns include the Primera Cruzada (1096–1099), which established the Crusader states after the capture of Jerusalem, and the subsequent series of crusades aimed at reinforcing or retaking territories. The Tercera Cruzada (1189–1192) was led by European monarchs such as Richard the Lionheart. The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) controversially diverted to Constantinople and resulted in its sack. In addition to campaigns in the Levant, later efforts continued in Iberia as the Reconquista and in the Baltic region as the Northern Crusades. The Crusading movement in the Holy Land concluded with the fall of Acre in 1291, though related expeditions and military religious campaigns persisted in various forms for centuries.

The Cruzados left a lasting impact on medieval geopolitics, trade, and intercultural contact, while also generating enduring legacies of conflict and memory that continue to be examined by historians.