Louis VII, Conrad III and the Second Crusade

What you need to know - Louis VII, Conrad III and the Second Crusade: personal and political rivalries and tensions; their relationship with Manuel I; the failure to consult the leaders of the crusader states; failure at Damascus 1148 and the end of the crusade.

Louis VII Conrad II and Manuel I

Between 1147 and 1150, the Second Crusade was launched in Europe. Unlike the First Crusade, Pope Eugenius III called European kings and trained knights to participate. Through the preachings of Bernard of Clairvaux, Kings Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany and their armies marched to the Holy Land only to face great defeat.

Louis VII of France (1137-1180) Prior to being a senior king, he also served as co-king with his father in 1131-1137

Conrad III of Germany (1138-1152) Formally known as the King of the Holy Roman Empire

Manuel I Komnenos (1143-1180) Byzantine Emperor who established his protectorate over the crusader states

According to John Kinnamos, a Byzantine chronicler, the French crusaders were more capable of riding horseback equipped with spears, while the Germans excelled in fighting on foot and were great at using a sword. Dissuaded by their subjects and conflicts within their own kingdoms, Kings David of Scotland and Stephen of England did not get involved in the Second Crusade.

Map showing the routes of Louis VII and Conrad III

Conrad III opted not to wait for the French contingent and marched to Anatolia. On 25 October 1147, the Seljuks defeated Conrad III's army at the Second Battle of Dorylaeum. While the other division was led by his half-brother, Otto of Freising was ambushed by the Seljuk Turks in the countryside near Laodicea on 16 November 1147.

Meanwhile, Louis VII of France joined the crusaders from Normandy and England at Worms. Initially unsure of the land route, the French army followed Conrad III's route. Compared with the Germans, Manuel I's relations with the French were better. Louis VII was warmly welcomed in Constantinople.

However, Manuel I's truce with Sultan Mesud I angered some of the French. Some even called an attack on the city but were easily halted by Louis VII. Manuel I's alliance with Mesud I was said to be driven by theft and treachery by crusaders during the First Crusade.

Eleanor of Aquitaine marrying Louis VII in 1137 (left scene) and Louis VII departing on the Second Crusade (1147), drawing from Les Chroniques de Saint-Denis, late 14th century.

In the Crusader states

On 19 March 1148, Louis VII and his remaining contingents arrived at Antioch. They were welcomed by his wife's uncle, Raymond of Poitiers. Louis VII was more focused on concluding his pilgrimage to Jerusalem than aiding Raymond in expelling the Turks from Edessa. As a result, Raymond persuaded Eleanor to divorce her husband, who refused to materialise the military purpose of the crusade. With Eleanor under arrest, Louis VII left for Tripoli.

In April, Conrad III's troops arrived in Jerusalem. Louis VII and Conrad III met under the invitation of Fulk, the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Depiction of Louis VII of France received at Antioc

Failure at Damascus 1148 and the end of the crusade

On 24 June 1148, a Council of Palmarea near Acre met. Jerusalem's nobility and crusaders from Europe decided to attack Damascus. By July, the crusading armies marched to Damascus.

Many historians suggest that if the Crusaders had focused on defeating the Zangids, the Second Crusade would have ended the other way. Others argued that if the crusade succeeded in capturing Damascus, the rise of Nur ad-Din could have been prevented. At that time, Damascus was the most formidable Muslim territory in southern Syria.

Council of Acre and the Siege of Damascus (1097-1098), 2nd Crusade. From William of Tyre Histoire d'outremer (History of Palestine), illuminated manuscript, Acre, c1280. William of Tyre (c1130-1185) Syrian churchman

On 23 July, the crusading army arrived at Darayya, west of Damascus. Damascus sought the help of Saif ad-Din Ghazi I of Mosul and Nur ad-Din of Aleppo. With much strength, the crusaders were pushed into the orchards, which left them exposed to attacks. Based on the account of William of Tyre, the crusaders moved to the eastern side of the city, with less food supply. With the advancing Muslim attacks, local crusaders and the kings retreated. On 28 July, Conrad III and his army retreated to Jerusalem.

Siege of Damascus

It is believed that Muiin ad-Din Unur, regent of Damascus, had bribed leaders to move in unstrategic positions. Rumours also circulated that Unur made an agreement with the Crusaders that he would break off his alliance with Nur ad-Din if they retreated.

Conrad III made a new plan to attack Ascalon, but contingency did not arrive.

After his failed plan in Ascalon, Conrad III returned to Germany through Constantinople. Meanwhile, Louis VIII and Eleanor remained in Jerusalem until 1149. They boarded different ships on their journey back to France.

In Europe, Bernard of Clairvaux wrote an apology to the pope and mentioned that the failure of the Second Crusade was due to sins of the Crusaders.

Departure of French crusaders in a 12th-century fresco

In France, Louis VII's image was improved by the crusade. He was seen as a martyr pilgrim king, who was deceived by the alleged affair of Eleanor and Raymond.

The failure of the Second Crusade resulted in mixed relations with the Byzantine Empire and the Crusader states.

In 1153, Baldwin III finally captured Ascalon, while Nur ad-Din took Damascus in 1154.