In the late 11th century, crusaders marched on Jerusalem to wrest the Holy City from Muslim control. Writing for HistoryExtra, Dr Simon John explores the weeks leading up to the assault – and its bloody climax…

Crusade

Ask pretty much anyone – whether terrorists, politicians (of all camps), dinner party guests, or religious leaders – and the one thing that they will say with confidence about the Crusades is that they were a conflict between two diametrically opposed religions: Christianity and Islam – a clash of civilizations. This is a widely-held judgement – but is it correct?

After gaining unmatched power and wealth, the Templars met a sudden and violent end: disbanded, tortured, condemned, and executed.

What constituted a "Crusade"? How and when did the Crusades begin? Why did people go on Crusade? What impact did the Crusades have on Europe?