Nathan W. Bingham

So, that Crusader kingdom was established in several areas of the eastern Mediterranean, and the Crusaders held Jerusalem until 1187, so not quite a hundred years. But in those days, it passed into Crusader hands and was the first sort of holy war that the Christians had fought.

So, that Crusader kingdom was established in several areas of the eastern Mediterranean, and the Crusaders held Jerusalem until 1187, so not quite a hundred years. But in those days, it passed into Crusader hands and was the first sort of holy war that the Christians had fought.

In 1187, the Muslims who by that time had regrouped and re-strengthened themselves were able to recapture the city, but the ideal in Europe did not go away. and there were some five major crusades in the Middle Ages to try to recapture the city.

In 1187, the Muslims who by that time had regrouped and re-strengthened themselves were able to recapture the city, but the ideal in Europe did not go away. and there were some five major crusades in the Middle Ages to try to recapture the city.

We can't go into all the details of all of them, but we might mention briefly the Third Crusade, which is probably the one that has inspired the imagination of the West the most. It had the most glittering leadership. It was launched right after the fall of the city of Jerusalem, It was launched in 1189 and went on for about some three years.

We can't go into all the details of all of them, but we might mention briefly the Third Crusade, which is probably the one that has inspired the imagination of the West the most. It had the most glittering leadership. It was launched right after the fall of the city of Jerusalem, It was launched in 1189 and went on for about some three years.

It was led by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa from the Holy Roman Empire, King Philip Augustus of France, and Richard the Lionheart of England. So here are these three really prominent monarchs from Europe leading the crusade to try to recapture Jerusalem, opposed by Saladin, the noble Muslim leader in that part of the world.

It was led by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa from the Holy Roman Empire, King Philip Augustus of France, and Richard the Lionheart of England. So here are these three really prominent monarchs from Europe leading the crusade to try to recapture Jerusalem, opposed by Saladin, the noble Muslim leader in that part of the world.

And it's in that context of the third crusade that some of our favorite stories as children have emerged, the story of Robin Hood. It's while King Richard was away at the Crusade that wicked Prince John was on the throne and that Robin Hood had to rob from the rich and give to the poor to try to defend the interests of the realm against Prince John and all of his failings.

And it's in that context of the third crusade that some of our favorite stories as children have emerged, the story of Robin Hood. It's while King Richard was away at the Crusade that wicked Prince John was on the throne and that Robin Hood had to rob from the rich and give to the poor to try to defend the interests of the realm against Prince John and all of his failings.

So that living sort of legend, there probably was a real Robin Hood on the throne, Not with all of the things we think we know about him today. But that living legend, you see, has cast such a long shadow. Almost a thousand years later, we're still talking, still thinking of the drama, something of the romance of this third crusade and its effort to capture the holy city.

So that living sort of legend, there probably was a real Robin Hood on the throne, Not with all of the things we think we know about him today. But that living legend, you see, has cast such a long shadow. Almost a thousand years later, we're still talking, still thinking of the drama, something of the romance of this third crusade and its effort to capture the holy city.

The third crusade was a failure. They failed to capture Jerusalem. They had to return home in some disgrace, but not abandoning the crusading ideal. And only really a few years later, in 1200, a fourth crusade was being mounted, a fourth crusade that would sail from Venice and would attack with a mighty navy on the coast near Jerusalem and recapture the city.

The third crusade was a failure. They failed to capture Jerusalem. They had to return home in some disgrace, but not abandoning the crusading ideal. And only really a few years later, in 1200, a fourth crusade was being mounted, a fourth crusade that would sail from Venice and would attack with a mighty navy on the coast near Jerusalem and recapture the city.

The Venetians perhaps did not fully share in this crusading zeal and seemed to have been in it more for the money. There was a lot of money to be made by shipping large armies to the east. Venice not only saw money to be made, but also saw another political opportunity.

The Venetians perhaps did not fully share in this crusading zeal and seemed to have been in it more for the money. There was a lot of money to be made by shipping large armies to the east. Venice not only saw money to be made, but also saw another political opportunity.

Venice became aware that there was great confusion in the city of Constantinople, still the capital, 1200, of the Eastern Empire. There was a fight going on there over the succession to the throne. And Venice thought, well, maybe I can get some money from the emperor

Venice became aware that there was great confusion in the city of Constantinople, still the capital, 1200, of the Eastern Empire. There was a fight going on there over the succession to the throne. And Venice thought, well, maybe I can get some money from the emperor

that we side with so that the emperor will cooperate with us, we'll make money, and the crusaders can march through his territory down to Jerusalem.

that we side with so that the emperor will cooperate with us, we'll make money, and the crusaders can march through his territory down to Jerusalem.