Second Crusade

The Second Crusade was the second major incursion among a series of religious wars, lasting from 1147 to 1150. Originally meant to shore up Crusader control over the Holy Land, the crusade ended with the European armies' humiliating retreat from the Middle East following a failed of Damascus.Echoes of History – Assassins vs Templars – Episode 1: The Crusades
==History==
===Prelude===
The call for the Second Crusade was triggered in 1144, when laid to and captured the city of , the capital to of the , outposts of Christianity in the Levant established during the First Crusade. With psychological pressure from Pope , as well as the First Crusade's success looming over many European nobles' houses, many pledged to take part in the military expedition, among them, King of Germany, King of France, and a young Frederick Barbarossa.
===The invasion===
The invading forces proved themselves to be overconfident and underprepared, being repeatedly defeated by the in Anatolia. An attempt to besiege the city of Damascus, then allied with the son of Edessa's conqueror, , was made and led to a retreat after only five days.
===Aftermath===
The European defeat bolstered Muslim confidence, which had been low since their own defeat in the First Crusade, and allowed Nur al-Din to accrue power, drawing together different sections of Muslim society though his capabilities as a warrior and pious man. The Second Crusade's failure also strained Louis VII's and Eleanor of Aquitaine's marital relations and led to the annulment of their marriage in 1152.
==Appearances==
*Echoes of History 
==References==
Category:Timeline
Category:Wars