The Second Crusade: When Allies Became Enemies
- Davit Grigoryan
- Mar 19
- 11 min read
The Second Crusade (1147–1149) began with grand promises but ended in a resounding failure. The European kings — French Louis VII and German Conrad III — set out to reclaim Edessa, but instead of glory, they found discord, betrayals, and defeats. The armies suffered from poor coordination, the leaders' ambitions hindered strategy, and the siege of Damascus symbolized their incompetence. Even clergy like Bernard of Clairvaux, who had inspired the campaign, lost their authority.
But the failure bore unexpected fruits: Europe realized that Byzantium was not an ally, but an obstacle. This later led to the looting of Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade. Additionally, some knights, having lost their way, helped capture Lisbon, becoming a rare ray of light in this story.
The campaign did not save the Holy Land, but it changed Europe. Instead of faith, there was cynicism; instead of unity, there were disputes. Yet, this failure became a lesson, without which there would have been no future victories.
The World After the First Crusade
After the First Crusade, everything seemed calm... but not for long. The Muslims, who had been pushed back, began to regain strength. The Emir of Mosul, Imad ad-Din Zengi, stood out the most. In 1144, he stormed Edessa and took the entire County of Edessa. For Christians, it was like a bolt from the blue. Edessa was seen as the main shield against Islam — and now this shield was shattered to dust.
So, what did the neighboring Crusaders do? Honestly, nothing. The County of Tripoli just shrugged and said, "We had a quarrel with Edessa before, so we won't help." The ruler of Antioch, Raymond, also didn't rush to help — he was fighting with Byzantium and didn't get along with the king of Edessa. Only Queen Melisende of Jerusalem (the widow of Fulk) tried to help by sending troops. But it was too late — the city had already fallen.
And what about Europe? Things weren’t great there either. Pope Eugene III, who was supposed to organize a new crusade, was barely holding onto power. Political chaos raged in Rome, and some Arnold of Brescia was stirring up the people against papal authority. It was quite a mess: instead of saving the Holy Land, the church itself needed saving.
German King Conrad III? He also had no time for crusades — he was fighting with the Welf clan. So, neither the Pope nor the monarchs were eager to start a war across the sea. But, as always, there was one enthusiast — French King Louis VII. The idea of a heroic deed in the Holy Land inspired the young and romantic king (like a true knight!). They say he wanted to "cleanse his soul" — rumors spread that he was involved in the massacre at Vitry.
But emotions weren’t enough. Louis asked his mentor, Abbot Suger, for advice. Suger replied, “The idea is good, but prepare properly!” The king listened and began to check whether the people and the church would support him. Pope Eugene was, of course, delighted — finally, someone stepped up! He entrusted the preaching of the crusade to... guess who? Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.
What a character! Bernard was like a "media star" of the 12th century. His speeches fired up the crowds. In 1146, in the town of Vézelay, he put on quite a show: he sat next to Louis, placed a cross on his shoulder, and began speaking about duty to God. People wept, shouted "Deus vult!" ("God wills it!") and eagerly joined the crusade. The French army turned out to be impressive — somewhere between 15,000 and 70,000 soldiers (the numbers vary, and historians still debate it).
But then things got weird. The idea of the crusade spread to Germany like a virus — along with rumors against the Jews. People said, "Since we're going to fight the infidels in the East, why not start cleaning up here?" Bernard had to rush across the Rhine to calm the crowd: "Guys, we're fighting for a holy cause, not for pogroms!"
And what about Conrad III? The German king hesitated at first, but Bernard eventually got to him too. Around New Year's Eve in 1147, they held a grand meeting. After a solemn mass, the Pope spoke so passionately about defending the faith that Conrad gave in: "Alright, we're in too!" Germany exploded with enthusiasm, and the army gathered quickly — everyone was eager for battle.
It seemed like two powerful armies — the French and the Germans — would now show the Muslims what they were made of. But… you remember how it all ended, right? Well, that's a story for the next section.
How the Second Crusade Began: Two Armies, Two Egos
So, France in 1147. King Louis VII gathered an army — estimates say it was up to 70,000 men. Imagine: all those knights, infantry, and supply wagons... The goal was clear as day — to reclaim Edessa from Emir Zengi. It seemed like a powerful army with a clear plan. But, as often happens, everything went wrong from the very start.
The first mistake? The Germans. German King Conrad III convinced Louis to take the route through Hungary and the Balkans. He argued, "It’s safer, and the Byzantines are already informed." The French, on the other hand, had originally wanted a shorter route — through Italy. There, they had an ally, King Roger II of Sicily, who was ready to help with ships. Plus, logistics would have been simpler: just sail across the sea, and you'd be in Syria. But no, Conrad convinced Louis: "Let's go together, we can’t split our forces!"
And what about Roger of Sicily? He was offended. Louis had promised to go through Italy but then changed his mind. So, Roger decided, "If you're not going to help me, I'll find other friends." And he did... with the Muslims! His fleet started raiding Byzantine islands, captured Corfu, and even allied with the Egyptians. In the end, instead of helping the Crusaders, he created chaos in the Mediterranean.
In the summer of 1147, the Crusaders set off. The Germans went first, and the French followed a month later. And this is where the real "fun" began. Conrad’s army marched through the Balkans like a bull in a china shop: they looted villages and trampled fields. Byzantine Emperor Manuel I, hearing about the approaching "guests," almost turned gray. He begged Conrad, "Cross into Asia through Gallipoli, just don’t come near Constantinople!" But the Germans were stubborn: "No, we’re going through the capital!"
By September 1147, a furious German army was at the walls of Constantinople. They didn’t hold back: looting the surrounding areas, demanding supplies, and making threats. Manuel already knew the French were following right behind — and then two raging crowds of Crusaders could have easily swept Byzantium off the map. On top of that, there were reports about Roger II, who was terrorizing the islands... The only thing the emperor could do was pray.
So, why did everything get so tangled? Let’s break it down:
Two armies — two egos. The Germans and the French never managed to unite. They marched separately, argued over the route, and in the end, lost precious time.
Roger — a genius of betrayal. Instead of offering help, he launched a pirate raid against Byzantium, achieving only one thing — everyone ended up hating him and the Crusaders.
Byzantium — not an ally, but a victim. The Crusaders behaved like occupiers, not "liberators." Instead of gratitude, Manuel received plundered provinces.
An interesting fact: if Louis had insisted on the Italian route, things might have turned out differently. The Sicilian fleet would have transported the army directly to Edessa, bypassing hostile lands. But history doesn’t deal in "what ifs"...
By the way, about the Crusaders' behavior. These were no noble knights from legends! Along the way, they looted everyone — even fellow Christian Byzantines. Imagine: you’re going about your business in Serbia, and suddenly a horde of armed "defenders of the faith" takes your cattle and burns your barns. It’s no wonder the locals hated them.
The result? By early 1148, the Crusaders had reached Asia Minor — hungry, tired, and already having lost half the battle. But the most epic failure was still ahead of them…
Allies and Traitors: How Byzantium and Sicily Doomed the Crusaders
While the Crusaders were looting the Balkans, the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I came up with a brilliant (and sneaky) plan. He made an alliance... with the Seljuk Turks! Yes, those very same "enemies of the faith." Officially, it was to protect Constantinople from the unruly Europeans. But in reality, he betrayed the Crusaders like a bunch of losers. Now the Seljuks knew: the Byzantines wouldn't help the "Latins." The war became a one-sided game.
And what about the other "allies"? King Roger II of Sicily was already making friends with the Egyptian sultan. So, the Crusaders found themselves caught between two betrayals: Byzantium with the Seljuks and Sicily with Egypt. But Louis and Conrad didn't even suspect this.
Meanwhile, the Germans crossed into Asia Minor. Manuel, eager to get rid of them quickly, even provided ships. But their rest in Nicaea ended in a scandal: 15,000 Crusaders declared, "We can handle it ourselves!" and left along the coast. The rest, Conrad led through Dorylaeum — right into a trap.
On October 26, 1147, near Dorylaeum, the Seljuks set up a bloody massacre for the Germans. They marched without scouts, confident in their strength. The Turks attacked from ambush — Conrad's army was destroyed in just a couple of hours. The survivors fled back to Nicaea, where the king was waiting for the French... as his last hope.
And what about Louis VII? His army was stuck near Constantinople at that time. Remembering the French friendship with Roger II, Manuel decided to get rid of them quickly. He spread a rumor: "The Germans are already defeating the Seljuks! You'll miss out on the glory!" The French, like children, believed it — and demanded to be transported to Asia.
When they arrived, they found out that the Germans had been defeated, and Conrad barely escaped with his life. The kings met in Nicaea and decided: "Now we go together!" But the road south was covered with the bodies of their own allies. To avoid demoralizing the army, they turned west — through Adramyttium and Smyrna.
It was a nightmare. The Seljuks attacked from every ravine, stole horses, and plundered supplies. The army was dwindling before their eyes. Louis, it seemed, thought he was going on a picnic: he brought along a luxurious convoy, his wife Eleanor, and a bunch of courtiers. In the end, they had to abandon the wagons, food, and even armor — just to keep moving forward.
The funniest part? If they had taken the direct route through Dorylaeum, they would have at least saved time. But no — they chose the "safe" detour. As a result, they lost everything: people, equipment, and most importantly — faith in success. By 1148, from the "mighty army," only a pitiful handful remained. But this was still not the end. The most humiliating part awaited them near Damascus…
The end of the Second Crusade
By early 1148, the armies of Conrad and Louis had dwindled to a minimum. Byzantium had once estimated their forces at 90,000, but now there were barely 10,000 left. The kings arrived in Ephesus, where they received a letter from Byzantine Emperor Manuel I, offering them a rest in Constantinople. Conrad agreed and went by sea, while Louis struggled to reach Antioch.
In Antioch, Raymond, the local ruler, hosted a grand reception for the French. However, the attention was drawn to Queen Eleanor, who grew closer to Raymond. This cooled her relationship with Louis, leaving the king with little motivation to continue the campaign.
Meanwhile, Conrad III, upon arriving in Constantinople, cooled toward the alliance with Byzantium. In the spring of 1148, instead of heading to Antioch, he went to Jerusalem, where King Baldwin III persuaded him to attack Damascus. This decision contradicted the goals of the campaign: the main threat was not Damascus, but Mosul, ruled by Nur ad-Din, the son of Zengi, who had taken Edessa.
In the summer of 1148, the combined forces of Louis, Conrad, and Baldwin besieged Damascus. The city was well-fortified, and the Seljuks of Nur ad-Din were rushing to its aid. The Crusaders initially attacked a weak section of the walls, but then, influenced by rumors of the enemy's approach, they moved their camp to a desert area. Sources mention a possible betrayal: it is claimed that the Jerusalem barons, bribed by the Muslims, deliberately misled the army.
The siege dragged on. In the desert, there was a shortage of water and supplies, and the cavalry could not operate effectively. When news arrived about Nur ad-Din's approach, the Crusaders retreated, having achieved no success.
Conrad III, disillusioned, left the Holy Land in the fall of 1148. Louis VII hesitated: some advised waiting for reinforcements, while others suggested returning to France. By 1149, he too sailed back home.
Meanwhile, Nur ad-Din, having strengthened his position, defeated the Antiochians in the Battle of Inab on June 29, 1149. Raymond of Poitiers was killed, and the eastern lands of the principality fell under Muslim control.
The results of the Second Crusade
The Second Crusade is like an expensive ship that proudly set sail, only to crash against the first rocks. Starting with grand speeches and hopes, it ended in bitter disappointment. Instead of weakening the Muslims, the Crusaders became targets of ridicule. Emir Nur ad-Din, the son of Zengi, was gaining strength, while the Christians lost land and faith in themselves.
The campaign exposed all the cracks in the Christian world. The Germans and the French, instead of brotherhood, despised each other. After Conrad III's defeat, even the Allies mocked the German knights. Palestinian Christians, who had lived among Muslims for fifty years, seemed like strangers to the Europeans: they were accused of greed, corruption, and immorality. The army, which had come to "save the East," became mired in disputes and intrigues.
The failure struck those who had inspired the campaign. Saint Bernard, called the "messiah of the Crusaders," suddenly became a "false prophet." Pope Eugene III, who had blessed the expedition, lost the trust of his flock. Even Louis VII, who had dreamed of knightly glory, returned home with a stain of shame. An attempt to organize a new campaign in 1150 failed: the people no longer believed in the "divine mission."
But even in the ashes of defeat, seeds for the future were found. Europeans began asking the question, "Why did we lose?" The answer was simple: it was Byzantium's fault. It was said that the "schismatic Greeks" had hindered the unification of forces. This idea, like a virus, spread across Europe and, half a century later, led to the Fourth Crusade — the one where the Crusaders looted Constantinople instead of Jerusalem.
Not everything was so bleak. Some of the Crusaders, separated from the main army, helped the Portuguese King Alfonso capture Lisbon in 1147. This became a rare success amidst the overall failure. However, most of the knights preferred to stay in Spain rather than head to the defeated Damascus.
What was left in the end?
The Muslims grew stronger, while the Christians lost their authority.
Europe was divided: Germans vs. French, the Pope vs. Bernard, and the West vs. Byzantium.
Faith was replaced by cynicism. Where Crusaders once marched "for the Holy Sepulchre," now they marched for plunder.
The Second Crusade became a turning point. It showed that the era of naive faith and knightly ideals had ended. Ahead lay an age of pragmatism, political games, and Crusades... against the Christians themselves.
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