Sweetwilliam’s Reviews > The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land > Status Update
Sweetwilliam
is on page 61 of 784
After Dorylaeum, crusaders mounts, and pack animals died of thirst: Historians emphasized the military advantage enjoyed by crusader knights because of their larger, stronger, European horses, but in truth, most of these died before Syria was reached. A Frankish eyewitness later noted that because of this 'many of our knights had to go as foot soldiers, and for lack of horses we had to use oxen as mounts'.
— Dec 26, 2023 09:15AM
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Sweetwilliam’s Previous Updates
Sweetwilliam
is on page 477 of 784
Richard the Lionheart and the third crusade has taken Acre and while moving up the coast to Joffre, defeated Saladin at a decisive battle at Arsuf and is poised to move toward Jerusalem. It is the summer of 1191.
— Jan 13, 2024 05:17AM
Sweetwilliam
is on page 103 of 784
The other unassailable truth of Jerusalem's conquest is that the crusaders were not simply driven by a desire for blood or plunder; they were also empowered by a heartfelt piety and the authentic belief that they were doing God's work...dusk on 15 July 1099 saw the Latins ...thanks to God. After years of desperate suffering and struggle, the First Crusaders' terrible work was done: Jerusalem was in Christian hands."
— Dec 28, 2023 10:19PM
Sweetwilliam
is on page 50 of 784
The once fashionable myth that crusaders were self-serving, disinherited, land hungry younger sons must be discarded. Crusading was instead an activity that could bring spiritual and material rewards but was...both an intimidating and extremely costly activity. Devotion inspired Europe to crusade.... their most powerful weapon was a shared sense of purpose and indestructible spiritual resolution. (Page 47)
— Dec 26, 2023 07:47AM
