THIS is with reference to Dr Mubarak Ali’s article ‘The high cost of hatred’ (March 29) revealing some historical inaccuracies, which need to be discussed here.

According to the writer, the first Crusade (1095) known as the Barons crusade could not succeed in the battlefield, ending in failure.

The second Crusade launched in 1147 by professional soldiers and warriors ended in the defeat of Muslim armies and capture of important cities of Palestine and Syria, including Jerusalem.

The Crusaders, numbering 100,000, set off in 1096. First they took Antioch. They finally reached the walls of Jerusalem on June 7, 1099 where both Muslims and Jews fought and died to defend the holy city. It was on July 15, 1099 that the Crusaders entered the city and established the kingdom of Jerusalem. They massacred Jewish and Muslim civilians indiscriminately and destroyed the holy places of both.

Thus, the first Crusade, besides creating the Kingdom of Jerusalem, established three other principalities: Edessa, Antioch and Tripoli.

Muslims, thereafter, fought back under the leadership of Imam ad-Din Zengi, the governor of Mosul, who captured Edessa in 1144. Hearing advances of Muslim armies, the second Crusade marched in 1147 to protect the Kingdom of Jerusalem but failed to win any major victories except launching a failed pre-emptive siege of Damascus.

Muslims were finally united under Sultan Saladin Ayubi who defeated the Crusaders and retook Jerusalem in 1187. No blood was shed by the victorious army and the occupiers were allowed safe exit.

Hearing news of the loss of Jerusalem, the Pope ordered a third Crusade in 1187 which started under the leadership of Frederick I, the holy Roman Emperor of Germany, King Philip II of France, and King Richard I (the Lionhearted) of England.

The third Crusade achieved some victory but failed to retake Jerusalem. The following year, King Richard negotiated a treaty with Saladin, which allowed trade for merchants and unarmed Christians to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem while the holy city remained under Muslim control.

Manzoor H. Kureshi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

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