The Children's Crusade never happened.

There's not a shred of evidence supporting the idea that the "Children's Crusade" ever took place. This is the mainstream view among top medieval historians. Support my work on Patreon:
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The Children's Crusade never happened.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Get my book about the Crusades: www.amazon.com/Why-Does-Heathen-Rage-Crusades/dp/152395762X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461105827&sr=8-1&keywords=why+does+the+heathen+rage

[@corporateshill7473]

I'm sure the academic world is very reasonable about it, but o clearly remember my 10th grade history book describing it as though it were undisputed.

[@jenniferbrewer5370]

Do we know where or who the story came from?

[@FrancisSpaghetti]

God bless you. And thank you.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

@@jenniferbrewer5370 It came from a general mood at the time: people were talking about the idea of God working miracles through the meek and humble.

[@TheNorseAmerican]

I distinctly remember being taught about the children’s crusade in high school, along with all the other falsehoods they fed us about the crusades.

[@sjeggy6]

My history book also contained the "polish Lancers vs German tanks" myth

[@MrChickennugget360]

most teachers don't know much about history.

[@Katie-mw7pd]

My middle school history teacher taught us that it was a myth, but I still like to imagine there were a few groups of 3 or so kids who decided to go on a “crusade” and then got hungry half a mile from home and turned back.

[@daniby9894]

@@Katie-mw7pd and they got whooped and grounded, I bet! 🤣 This stuff is unbelievably hilarious for me that never heard of it before! The first thing I thought was where were their parents?

[@popdartan7986]

The moral in this story is to never get into a italian stranger's boat.

[@freedomforall1712]

That and Pinocchio teach you this lol

[@chickenalaking1319]

"Fellow Italian"

[@Jinseual]

What a coincidence, just today I had a conversation about the Crusade with someone and he brought up the Children's Crusade. It's almost always mentioned whenever I brought up the Crusade.

[@luciarosselini6199]

@Pferd Schild well said I was going to say first-year catechism but you put it nicely thank you

[@psal8715]

@Pferd Schild They never even talked about the Crusades when i was in school.

[@randomblacktemplar738]

p sal Well its better to be uninformed than misinformed

[@luciarosselini6199]

@@randomblacktemplar738 very true 😁

[@joshcruise2657]

My high school history teacher liked to bring up the Children's Crusade to paint the medieval Christians as crazy. He wasn't the best teacher.

[@tusk70]

@Russian Bot #67580024 In this time there was only catholic and orthodox church, all other "christian" churches were in invented after.

[@tusk70]

@Comrade von Herpenderpf true... but for european history not that important.

[@TheCornFarmer1989]

@@tusk70 But it does also make you wrong in what you said. Since they also existed and are Christians

[@Schöpf_at]

@@tusk70 And Pope Urban II of the 1st Crusade have stated well; the Crusaders must focus their battle on Islamic army and Islamic army alone, apart from the fact that some undisciplined Crusaders were doing otherwise.

[@Schöpf_at]

John you need to read (or at least Google) Alta Vendita.

[@mcjaminroy]

Thank you for this. I was taught, Baptist school, that there was a children’s crusade and they where sold off into slavery by the Catholic Church. Watching your videos is helping clear up a lot of stuff over this topic

[@feliciaf8]

@@justinmeasday8930 prots at it again lmao

[@acolytes777]

@@feliciaf8 then there's Guy Fawkes....

[@leonardjoesten1222]

You burst my bubble. I've been telling people about the Children's Crusade of 1212 and its relation to the Pied Piper of Hamelin story. Thanks for clearing it up. I can see how legend and storytelling embellishes, and even creates, history that never happened. I'll stop telling the tale.

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

I think that people tend to over emphisize the religious and material aspects of the Crusades not barring in mind that both played a role in the decisions made.

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

People also think that just because people lived in the past means they are somehow dumber which is not the case, especially with the peasants of the Medieval period.

[@rogallantor4584]

That would make sense if the crusade happened though lol good theory

[@CESSKAR]

Yeah... sure... but what about the children's crusade???

[@RoverBlasto]

He just explained it I can't believe you. The real question we need to ask is that what about the children's crusade?

[@SaedyBleak]

@@RoverBlasto NO NO, we should be asking.. What about the children's crusade?

[@chibalenelson]

@@RoverBlasto I honestly can't believe after a 12-minute video you guys can't understand that we should be talking about the children's crusade

[@joemammon6149]

They became climate change "activists" lead by Greta Thunberg!

[@ramO-jp8tp]

i don’t think it happened, but now the children’s crusade on the other hand…

[@onetwothreefourfive12345]

tbh I never even heard of the children's crusade. In fact, the only stuff I know about the crusades are things I've learned on the internet. I don't think a single teacher in my entire life every even said the phrase "the crusades". And I live in the UK... it's disgraceful. They are so worried about upsetting people that they don't talk about a major event like this.

[@gamerito100]

Lewis Here in Spain we only study the History centered on our country if we get to "Bachillerato" (the course before going to University), and even then the we only have one unit about Medieval Spain, even tho that period is one of the most important ones. At least they extend quite a lot on the Empire centuries.

[@Fusiongaming-il6xm]

I learned the crusades, i live in canada

[@Seajay-ey3uh]

Never heard of Child Crusades until now, today. And I can’t remember where I heard about the Crusades. I believe I read about them in fiction novels.

[@rustyshackelford3590]

What about the babies crusade were a large mass of Christian babies took to the cross and sword and sailed to the holy land, but misdirected wind drifted them to North Africa where they killed over 500 Moorish soldiers.

[@vickicisar2562]

Yes, this is the story we need!

[@thebrocialist8300]

The only ‘children’s crusade’ I’m aware of is the great work being done by the folks over at St. Jude’s Hospital

[@felafnirelek8987]

Wholesome.

[@rogallantor4584]

nice

[@waderutherford9083]

I was literally taught this was a thing in one of my european history classes. I caught my professor on one misunderstanding of european jousting armor vs standard armor.

[@michaelfisher7170]

Its a great example of how events can be embellished, exaggerated, and morphed into something completely unrecognizable as the tale is told and retold again and again.

[@thesmilinggun-knight9646]

Funny the only reason I even know about the children’s crusade is from CK 2 and I take it as a funny and ridiculous event in the game like the Aztecs Invading Europe

[@ishaaqsultan9040]

Same it happend to me yesturday and i just assumed it was the paradox team making a gag

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338]

The smiling gun-knight underrated comment

[@alinalexandru2466]

Yup, same here. I actually only recently started playing CK2 because I wanted to play it before CK3 comes out and thought that this was just one of those wierd events. Funny thing is that I actually helped them and they did manage to take Jerusalem.

[@danshakuimo]

How about the Shepherd's Crusade? I never heard of that until I played CK2

[@teutonicorder6284]

Wow never knew this, very interesting

[@johnspinelli9396]

In summary, if a man in a white van offers you a chance to go to the holy land don't do it

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

I just about spewed my coffee at that remark. Ha!

[@9drtr]

There should have been a Geezers' Crusade, in which thousands of octogenarians stormed Jerusalem looking for better dentures. Then a Mothers' Crusade demanding an end to that scandalous lute music.

[@jurisprudens]

I remember, when I first learned about the children's crusade, when I was a kid, my first reaction was: "I wish I have participated..." )))

[@robertfreid2879]

When I first heard of the Crusades as history when I was a boy - they instantly mentioned "the Children's Crusade". Nice to know the idea of it was mostly legend and fiction!

[@tzgr4321]

I really enjoy your videos...is there a book that contains the artwork you show in your videos? (maybe you could do a pictorial book on the Crusades)

[@Oldwhiteguy]

Lmao, there’s people who actually think this? Thanks for correcting those who do.

[@personalnormal5935]

I wouldn't take his word alone as historical fact. Rumours don't spread and persist for nothing. Ofcorse European children were sold to slavery during that time.

[@zaya7330]

It’s taught in my old school book... I honestly had no idea.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Personal Normal Children did get sold into slavery. But that’s not what this video is about. It’s about the fact that there was no children’s crusade. And that’s the truth, there wasn’t. Look it up for yourself.

[@atticusbeachy3707]

@@zaya7330 Same. We really need higher standards for textbooks.

[@feliciaf8]

@@personalnormal5935 yeah by the ottomans most of it and also when they got invaded

[@d4v0r_x]

oh yeah? then what about the babies and toddlers crusade?

[@Gonboo]

Can you recommend any books on medieval germany/germans? I'd like both general history as well as their involvements with the crusades.

[@hatonhatsoff]

real or not it would make for a good coming of age animated film

[@hatonhatsoff]

Anita McGuire no but im talking about a Disney style coming of age film about kids who go on a crusade and have many magical and whimsical adventures

[@Serjo777]

@@hatonhatsoff Like.. being enslaved and forced to work, beaten and raped day in day out?

[@hatonhatsoff]

Serjo777 EXACTLY!!!

[@Serjo777]

@@hatonhatsoff Sounds fun :3

[@lindahouston9331]

I'm sure I was taught that in school. Thanks for setting me straight.

[@raspberrypie1706]

Now ask yourself, how many others things were you taught that are actually made up?

[@priest0701]

I am almost 50, I was taught very little about this event, as I got older i wondered about it from time to time, lol never enough to look it up; however, I am very great full for this video and the info.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Thanks for sharing! Glad the video was helpful.

[@jeffzang6047]

Ok, Preamble: I believe the content. I was told in 1993 by a lecturing college professor that the Children’s Crusade happened. Because “children were ‘without sin and they would be victorious because of that.”

[@ironshamrock1342]

Funny that you uploaded this video when you did. My 19 year old son just asked me about this a couple of weeks ago. I, obviously, told him he was terribly misinformed.

[@hypolyxa7207]

I'd wish you'd share some links to the paintings you use in your videos.

[@jacopoarmini7889]

I remember being told this stuff back in elementary school, I was wondering why I had never heard of it again

[@michaelman957]

0:38 "There's quite a but of confusion about the 'Children's Crusade,' and the main confusion seems to be that people think it happened." The delivery on that was great.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Ha thanks!

[@fitzroys5255]

Hello, can you analyse Krak de Chevaliers built and talk about it's history for a future video? I searched a bit for some details about it and they were mostly not decent in my opinion. Thanks.

[@nathanielrourke8886]

It is amazing how many times I encounter people touting the Children's crusade as fact.

[@magdaw3123]

In Canada you don't have history at school because they have other important issues: dinosaurs, solar system and whales.

[@gadarin1468]

In Germany in Histroy Class I was told that there was a Chidlresn Crusade and even our Histroy Books in School had it in them.

[@miroslavmalivukovic1534]

There is a Dutch children's book called "Crusade in jeans". Here they talk about a modern kid going on crusade during the so-called Children's Crusade.

[@BlacksmithTWD]

Which happens to start with time traveling to the past. Which even in that story wasn't about children who thought of going on crusade by themselves, but instead were tricked by charlatans who planned to sell them as slaves. great story, great children literature, Thea Beckman was a wonderful writer with a great imagination to fill all the gaps where historical documents lack information to tell an interesting story for children, love the books she wrote. Though the only historical books she wrote that contains actual history was about the 100 year war between fance and england and the afterword is pretty clear about the fact that 3 of the 4 main characters in those are completely fictional.

[@richardrolke8967]

Wonderful topic. I spent much time in southern Germany growing up. The children’s crusade was a well discussed event that went pretty much as you described it. Children were led to a port and eventually sold into slavery. The one unique difference is there was a series of very old stone crosses through this area in Germany that supposedly marked the path they took. I remember two vividly.

[@TheArDuke]

Thanks for this video, I remember being taught and told about this for years. I still see people believing this literal medieval meme and I will link your video to every time.

[@christiank1251]

Thanks for the video! A proper historiographer's perspective, connecting the CC story with these other existing narratives. Could there be a connection with the Pied Piper's tale? Disclosure: I used to live in the town of Hamelin for some years.

[@harbl99]

I thought the Pied Piper was a reference to the plague. Rats, children 'disappearing into the ground', etc.

[@harbl99]

@Anita McGuire Had me at 'authentic primary document'. Did not know that.

[@christiank1251]

@Anita McGuire Good points. I remember now that, during my time in Hamelin, I read that the "disappeared into the mountain" part was interpreted by some researchers to be a reference to the emigration to / settlement of the German East, i.e. Silesia, Prussia etc., while the mountain in question might have been a local hill just denoting a border mark beyond which they went, not as far as the Alps. Give or take a century, the eastern crusades come to mind, but I am only guessing here.

[@buzzdroid8325]

Great channel!

[@bigchillin7771]

Keep up the good work my man 👍👍

[@estebanavelar4118]

I admire you so much! I could never read so much! I watch your videos "religiously" and then retell the stories to my teen godsons. Young people need heroes, and exemplary heroes have been there all along but hidden by the lies of evil.

[@TheWedabest]

I remember watching about the children's crusade in a episode of history's mysteries, show on the history channel. Back when it was the history channel! Cool to see this topic brought up.

[@WarDogMadness]

Think of the children. I am thats why im sending them on crusade.

[@nomeyodomar]

My teachers have always taught it was only a myth as well

[@MbisonBalrog]

What minimum age to join army? Was there essentially a draft? Did kids have to practice archery growing up? How did medieval armies raise infantry?

[@mnmmcg3543]

But what about the last crusade, led by Henry II?

[@sufferinsuccotash8981]

A supportive and relevant comment. Let's get this out there KZbin algorithm

[@orangesox915]

Very enlightening. Thank you very much!

[@tobiasthesecond5605]

I'm glad you covered it. Even going years back, though I had no means to disprove it (I encountered it in classes and in history books), I felt it was a baloney false history.

[@jorgecfrancojf]

Great video. Thanks

[@hyperspacejester7377]

This is B.S. Everybody knows Rufio and the lost boys took the holy land! 😂

[@SteSpider48]

RU-FI-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@richardvaldes3959]

Yeah I was taught this was an outright lie in my Catholic School

[@TheNthMouse]

As I heard it: it was adolescents and teens: the squires and pages of knights. And they weren't enslaved, so I was told: but rather adopted, taken in, educated, and incorporated into Saracen(?) society. Perhaps I'm confusing two different concepts?

[@iambob6590]

You may (i repeat may) be conflating it with the Jannisaries, where thousands of boys at a time were taken as hostages by the Ottomans, indoctrinated and trained to be elite infantry for the Ottomans.

[@shaunschulte2258]

My 9th grade World History textbook definitely mentioned the “children’s crusade” McGraw Hill should source their material better.

[@tubarao1143]

Good video btw!

[@aB-of1nz]

Please make a video about the crusade against the crown of aragon

[@emirokelkhaos5472]

You said, "it's a mythological thing..." you said it!!

[@willbe4946]

The children crossing the Alps reminded me of the pied Piper story. While the children getting into the Italian ports reminded me of Pinocchio. We're the crusades taken as inspiration for Renaissance to modern stories?.

[@BismillahirRahmanirRaheemB]

I was today years old when I first head about the children's crusade.

[@jovanweismiller7114]

I greatly appreciate your videos. I'm sharing them on my blog, and I know that some people are using them for home schooling in history.

[@ngamashaka4894]

I've heard about the children crusade the first time in the accused kings in the French version (very old tv serrie). It sounded strange in the middle of the story coming from nowhere..

[@oaa-ff8zj]

The Templar’s are painted ok in the books. Victims of French autocrats

[@JudgeCraven]

So Temple of Doom was lying all this time?

[@mr.iankp.5734]

I'll never forget my experience studying world history in high-school. When I reached the splitting of the Roman Empire, NOTHING was mentioned about the Byzantine Empire (except a blurb about their involvementwith the crusades, simply refering to it as "Eastern Europe" or just "Europe"), and focused on Western Europe with every myth imaginable as it went into the medieval period. I especially will never for how it addressed the spread of Christianity. The only thing mentioned was a king's wife (forgot the names) happened to be a Christian "from Eastern Europe" and of sub-basic knowledge of the faith "because it was still new, and wasn't developed into the church yet." This particular king liked this, and decided to force everyone to convert. Nothing about medieval scholarship (be it in the church or nobility), nothing about where the first universities came from (that was a gift from the enlightenment, lol), nothing about culture (beyond the myths). Edit: Does this sound made up? Does this sound absurd? Yes, but I'm not lying when I say this is what i was taught. I knew, even then, something was up.

[@Ream44]

Just wondering if anyone is a fan of author Ruth Adams Knight? She wrote a moving book for children, about the (hypothetical) Children's Crusade, which has been out of print for many decades. The title is The Land Beyond.

[@fransbuijs808]

Dutch writer Thea Beckman popularized the myth in her children's book Crusade in jeans, which was also made into a movie. It was voted best children's book some years ago. Of course in fiction you can do anything, but from the it's easy to believe that the historical background is real.

[@jnsvstmn4193]

WOW the fact most people in the comments here learned in school that this was real is completely beyond me. I live in belgium (Bruges to be exact) and the crusades are a part of history classes as a whole but this part of it was told to us as being a fairytale. In my town we have a holy seplica which "supposedly" contains a vial of blood of Jesus brought back by Godfrey of bouillon from the "Holy Land". There is a popular childrens book in the lowlands called "Crusade in jeans" about the childrens crusade

[@user-lk8cp1df6z]

Absolutely love your videos and content. But I greatly prefer to listen to background music and pictures of the topic instead of you sitting at your desk. Nothing personal brother haha

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

That's fine, some people prefer the one-on-one videos more. It really varies depending on the viewer. That's why I do both.

[@abradolflincler726]

The Children's Crusade was in my 6th grad history book.

[@aerystargaryenii2565]

The church i grew up in had a massive painting of the children crusaders lol

[@Random-World-Eater]

its probably one of those "prelude" to become a crusader when you grow up.

[@fleadoggreen9062]

What about the hermit guy? Was it peter the hermit? Wasn’t he part of the children crusade?

[@sehnsuchtherz]

He was part of the first crusade and the previous peasants crusade

[@alexmag342]

No, the peoples crusade involved only commoners among who some were teenagers, no children were involved

[@alexmag342]

The people crusade also was able to take a castle/fort in Anatolia but proceeded to get surrounded and due to lack of training, experience and discipline got absolutely destroy by the Seljuk's

[@AmandaFessler]

I first read about the Children's Crusade in a sixth grade history book. Growing up in an Evangelical private school, I can only assume that the negative chapter on the Crusades in my history book was something of anti-Catholic propaganda. Still Evangelical, but I've been seeing the Crusades in a much better light in the past few years thanks to things I've learned from my non-denominational employers... and I've learned so much more in recent weeks thanks to your channel. Thank you, and may God bless your work!

[@njb1126]

I remember a history teacher in middle school told us the children’s crusade happened and that they went off to convert the holy land but were caught and enslaved

[@Brandonhayhew]

My opinion the children’s crusade kind of reminds us about Peter the hermit and his the peoples crusade

[@seneca983]

I was expecting him to be mentioned in this video.

[@Brandonhayhew]

seneca983 we all know how it happened to them and I think many European in the 13th century know about the people’s crusade and how disastrous it was. If children crusade actually happened people wouldn’t allow it, imagine it people wouldn’t allow a kids to go join the crusader.

[@seneca983]

@@Brandonhayhew: It might be that in the medieval times they accepted younger soldiers than today, maybe even some that would count as "children" by modern standards but not necessarily at the time. Just my speculation though.

[@Brandonhayhew]

seneca983 I think I really should have edit it but i will say this: the people’s crusade was comprised of poor and normal people and few were knights and have actual soldiers. Those people were not really made for combat in a far enemy. Everyone must have known of those poorly comprised people who are not fit for war because they got destroyed many times and damaged christians economy before the turks ambushed them and many died. Allow a young men and woman being poor and on a crusade is kinda similar to that poor one before them. This is just an opinion

[@Byzantium_]

Hi

[@jeffsanders6793]

Yes, Dr. Thomas Madden is a great scholar about the Medieval/Renaissance world, and he writes very well for the non-scholar. His book about the history of Venice is outstanding. If he says the Children's Crusade was not a crusade, and it did not include children, then he should be believed. When he presents something, it is with a ton of evidence.

[@luciarosselini6199]

Thank You

[@elvolvasky69]

Oh my god I always hate that part of the crusades for the childrens make slaves jajjjajajs thanks

[@chrisfine6013]

Lol think I stumbled upon the video that inspired this video 😂😂

[@peterpipe9015]

Excellent . .

[@m_d1905]

I was taught about the children's crusade in high school. The idea espoused was that the children were sent because they were innocent and would be victorious. The ships never made it per what I was taught. I was never sure if it was really true. Now I know. Love your channel.

[@WagesOfDestruction]

Thanks quite stunned by this

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@WagesOfDestruction]

@@RealCrusadesHistory This and many others of your videos

[@ConcealedCourier]

I did indeed find this interesting.. especially that last little bit. But since we know now this kiddie crusade is utter bullocks.. how exactly did two hobo preachers become a crusade of kids in our colliquial knowledge?

[@johngardner4096]

I had read of it in books in my elementary school in the 70s. Next thing I know, you'll tell me that Richard the Lion-Hearted didn't personally joust with Saladin in full plate armor...😀 I feel uncomfortable about having history debunked... Which probably means I need more of it. Thank you!

[@crosmanchallenger1]

Sadly such a myth was taught as a fact in my 8th grade history book in Arizona.

[@will2003michael2003]

Wow!!! Great video! I was taught the children crusade as being true

[@1685Violin]

Kings and Generals made a video about the Children's Crusade just six months ago. I wonder if he even heard about you channel.

[@jetrpg22]

Maybe thats where is comes from but i can tell you it is TAUGHT in High-school history classes.

[@maximusatlas9377]

I have to be honest. I never heard of the Children's Crusade. Now I know that if someone brings it up I can just dismiss it as a myth. PS: Its still​ more believable than most things atheist say about Christianity.

[@anime1scene]

Maybe the myth comes from the Wikipedia. The first phrase in the Wikipedia page about Children's Crusades defines it as a failed popular crusade, meaning something that actually happened. it even goes on to say they were sold into slavery.

[@anime1scene]

@@NovemberTheHacker Can you really call Nicholas of Cologne a children's crusade? In the sense the misconception claims existed? I think the introduction doesn't do enough to explain what they are referring to as Children's Crusades. Most people have a low attention span. Do you really think they will read past the introduction?

[@michaelfisher7170]

The same paragraph states it was likely conflated from factual and mythical events. The article also explains the work of Peter Raedts, who's research in 1977 questioned the traditional narrative.

[@anime1scene]

@@michaelfisher7170 Weird, I checked it and you are right, well either I made a mistake, which is possible, or the starting paragraph had been altered.

[@michaelfisher7170]

@@anime1scene Yeah that's the thing about wikipedia....articles can be edited or vandalized pretty easily.

[@michaelman957]

One of those things I used to think was real. Glad I now know better.

[@rangergxi]

Egg on my face. Thanks for the video.

[@fishsmell3939]

That's not egg....

[@BlackCreater]

The way I heard the story was that the church made a crusade with orphan children believing that because it was a holy crusade the children would be succesful as a miracle from god. Without weapons or anything. I feel stupid for believing this my whole life.

[@myrmidonesantipodes6982]

What faith do you practice?

[@honkeykong4049]

Sicesca 😏

[@RezaChity-G]

I am curious about this as well.

[@joshcruise2657]

Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.

[@thethirdsicily4802]

Even if it happened, why does it concern us? Unless they say it was endorsed by the church which I don’t think anyone aays

[@Victrix_45e]

It happened, I was a child

[@Dan-bq1dz]

This strongly reeks of a corruption of the story of the People's Crusade, an event that did actually happen, albiet earlier. The two are likely extremely often conflated in textbooks, especially because of the questionable actions of the People's Crusade overall, talking about a children's crusade is safer, more comfortable.

[@tiamat1296]

I know all about the children’s crusade! There’s a crusade by my three children ( girls) to drive me insane every day!

[@erho2967]

GASP!!!!