1. First Crusade (1095-1099):
- The primary goal of the First Crusade was to recapture Jerusalem from the Seljuk Turks and secure access to the Holy Land for Christian pilgrims.
2. Second Crusade (1147-1149):
- This crusade aimed to respond to the capture of the County of Edessa by the Muslims in 1144. Its main objective was to reinforce the Christian presence in the Holy Land and prevent further Muslim conquests.
3. Third Crusade (1189-1192):
- Following the defeat at the Battle of Hattin in 1187 and the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin, the Third Crusade sought to retake Jerusalem and regain control of the Holy Land.
4. Fourth Crusade (1202-1204):
- Instead of heading directly to the Holy Land, the Fourth Crusade was diverted to Constantinople, leading to the capture of the Byzantine capital in 1204. This marked a significant shift in focus from the Holy Land to territorial expansion and political power in the Eastern Mediterranean.
5. Fifth Crusade (1217-1221):
- The Fifth Crusade returned to the goal of recapturing Jerusalem and the Holy Land. It was led by King Andrew II of Hungary, Leopold VI of Austria, and Duke Louis I of Bavaria.
6. Sixth Crusade (1228-1229):
- Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen led the Sixth Crusade. Through diplomatic negotiations, Frederick achieved the restoration of Jerusalem to Christian control without military conflict. However, the city remained under Muslim control except for a brief period.
7. Seventh Crusade (1248-1254):
- King Louis IX of France initiated the Seventh Crusade in response to the capture of Jerusalem by the Khwarezmians in 1244. The crusade involved campaigns in Egypt and the Holy Land but ultimately failed to establish a lasting Christian presence.
8. Eighth Crusade (1270):
- Often called the "Crusade of Saint Louis," this crusade was led by King Louis IX of France. It was directed against Tunis in North Africa, but Louis died of illness during the expedition, and the crusade ended without significant achievements.
9. Ninth Crusade (1271-1272):
- Led by King Edward I of England, the Ninth Crusade aimed to support the remnants of the Crusader states in the Holy Land. Edward attempted to negotiate with the Mamluk Sultan Baibars, but his efforts did not result in any substantial gains for the crusaders.
10. Late Crusades:
- In the later Middle Ages, there were several smaller-scale crusades and expeditions targeting areas such as the Baltic region and the Ottoman Empire. These campaigns gradually lost momentum and significance compared to the earlier crusades.
As time went on, the concept of crusading expanded beyond the Middle East to include military campaigns against perceived enemies of Christianity in Europe, such as the Albigensian Crusade against Cathars in southern France.
Overall, the goals of the crusades evolved from the initial focus on the Holy Land to broader political and territorial ambitions, the defense of Christian communities, and attempts to combat perceived threats to Christianity.