The Second Crusade: A Medieval World War - full documentary

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1144 - The Frankish states of Outremer are in peril. Edessa falls to the undefeated warrior-atabeg Zengi. Outremer dispatches appeals for help to the Latin kingdoms of Europe. There, the cause is taken up by Bernard of Clairvaux, the mid-twelfth century’s most influential churchman. Bernard goes before the King of France, Louis VII, and the emperor of Germany, Conrad III, and urges them to lead their armies east. For the first time in half a century, Latin Europe is mobilized, and warriors come forward in great numbers. But the campaign grows into something far larger than even Saint Bernard initially imagined. In the Iberian Peninsula, King Afonso I of Portugal and King Alfonso VII of León-Castile ask that the crusade be extended to their battle against the Almoravids. While on the eastern frontier of the German empire, Henry the Lion wants to lead a crusade against the Wends. This is the Second Crusade - the first truly continental crusading effort of the Middle Ages. We’ll cover the full history.
Written, edited and narrated by J Stephen Roberts
Animations by Denys Rodionov
Game footage: Attila Total War: Age of Charlemagne and Rome 2 Total War: Medieval 1100 mod
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Sources:
-Christiansen, Eric - The Northern Crusades, (Penguin, 1998)
-The Conquest of Lisbon, trans. Charles Wendell David, (Columbia, 2001)
-Ibn al-Athir - The Chronicle of Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period, Part 1, trans. D.S. Richards (Ashgate, 2005).
-Ibn al-Qalanisi - The Damascus Chronicle of the Crusades, trans. H.A.R. Gibb, (Dover, 2002)
-Madden, Thomas - The New Concise History of the Crusades, (Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2006)
-O’Callaghan, Joseph - A History of Medieval Spain, (Cornell, 1975)
-O’Callaghan, Joseph - Reconquest and Crusade in Medieval Spain, (Pennsylvania, 2004)
-Phillips, Jonathan - The Second Crusade: Extending the Frontiers of Christendom, (Yale, 2010)
-Reilly, Bernard F. - The Contest of Christian and Muslim Spain, 1031-1157, (Blackwell, 1995)
-Riley-Smith, Jonathan - The Crusades: A History, (Yale University Press, 2005)
-Tyerman, Christopher - God’s War, (Harvard University Press, 2006)
-William of Tyre - A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea, Vol. II, trans. Emily Babcock and A.C. Krey, (Columbia University Press, 1943)
#SecondCrusade #France #Zengi
Please note this is an unofficial video and is not endorsed by SEGA or the Creative Assembly in any way. For more information on Total War, please visit www.totalwar.com.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Get 25% off Blinkist premium and enjoy 2 memberships for the price of 1! Start your 7-day free trial by clicking here: www.blinkist.com/realcrusadeshistory

[@beepboop204]

🙃

[@rojay4635]

How can I find other eyewitness battle accounts? I’ve tried many times without success :(

[@JusticeForce]

I think you should pause between statements. You used to do that. No time to think about what was just said. Appreciate you doing these.

[@jfarinhote]

We study this at school in Portugal as it is of major importance in the creation of our kingdom

[@JavierMartinez-il6od]

Until I watched this video I didnt know Lisbon wasn’t under portugals control already

[@Hohenstein1871]

FINALLY a video about the second crusade! :D

[@joshportie]

Not actually the 2nd crusade he always skips over the catholics slaughtering the Christians. They built stone monuments and minted papal coins to their slaughter.

[@Ciech_mate]

Agreed, i know so much about the first and third because of the coverage

[@Ciech_mate]

@@travist5566 that sounds kind of terroristy, wym?

[@SAADOFFICIAL436]

​​@@travist5566Atheist USA filled with white p*rnstars 😂😂 We will chop americans if they dares to come in our land...........

[@rafaelgustavolazarte]

Totally! So many fronts

[@mikeyb6749]

I love the random commentaries from the Total War troops throughout these videos

[@sheilahorn8913]

As always a very much appreciated look at medieval history! And very well done as usual! These long videos never disappoint. Thank you J Steven!

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it Sheila thanks so much!

[@TheLoyalOfficer]

Great job! You make great points at the end that Conrad and Louis had not properly prepared for the "boring stuff" of warfare - the logistics and non-combat concerns. This often causes armies to unravel, even before battle is joined.

[@hectorsanchez1377]

Amatuers discuss strategy. Professionals discuss logistics.

[@warfarenotwarfair5655]

Yes, which is why most countries are terrible at war, poor logistics and corner cutting. Western Europe and Russia come to mind.

[@jasfan8247]

​@@warfarenotwarfair5655If "especially " western european and russian conquests performed terrible, then which countries performed a perfectly executed war ?

[@MrNiceGuyHistory]

Most excellent! This is the best presentation of the Second Crusade I have seen.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Wow, thank you!

[@MrNiceGuyHistory]

@@RealCrusadesHistory My pleasure. Keep up the excellent work!

[@formulajuan6038]

This is such a well put video. Explains all the intertwined relations between different kingdoms, interests and obstacles. I loved it!

[@matthewbryson6423]

Thank you for your hard work creating this informative and entertaining documentary about an incredible period in history.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Matthew, thanks so much for that comment I appreciate it!

[@EinDeutscherPatriot620]

As a German, I never knew that my country's participation in the crusade went so disastrously. My family hails from Hamburg and our roots go back into Lower Saxony as far as the 1200s. I assume my ancestors would have fought with the other Saxons against the Wends.

[@denysrodionov5151]

It's just something incredible. You did a great job creating this video. I am pleased to be a part of this great work!

[@wm.stclaire3127]

So, this is over 2 hours long, awesome. I thought it was a mere 2 minutes. Very Well Done. Much Appreciated

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SD_yessir]

"The sin is not in fighting, but in fighting for the sake of booty." Hanging that quote up on my wall.

[@lambert4116]

So much to be in awe of when it comes to Melisende. Baldwin II raised her to be an equal of any man and she was more than up to the task. One of the greatest figures in history.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

I do admire her as well. I do find her relationship with her son Baldwin III disappointing. Would she not have been better served acting as the supportive mother rather than a competitor? Fernando III’s mother Berenguela seems like the model queen-mother.

[@lambert4116]

@@RealCrusadesHistory I would agree that she would have been served much better giving Baldwin the crown and support when he came of age. However, Melisende was not raised to be a queen mother. Baldwin raised her to consider herself an equal of any man and to take power and hold onto it by any means. I guess in her mind that applied to her son as well. After all, she was a woman ruling in the furthest outpost of Christendom surrounded by enemies and envy both within and without her kingdom.

[@Rednov93]

THANK YOU for uploading!!

[@Incizive]

Excellent use of Total War it just goes to show how awesome these games are

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

I love the visuals from those games. I think they do a great job.

[@Ickie71]

I was going to ask this question but i see my answer here! :) I do own all of TW Games.@@RealCrusadesHistory

[@dave07707]

The third crusades were amazing as well man I can’t believe the strength of both sides in these wars

[@zact2342]

This is a really well put together documentary on the second crusade!

[@OtherRealmProductions]

Would love to see the first crusade in this style.

[@WotansKarl]

Nice to see the ideas of the expanded crusades explored! Not often you get anything on zengi

[@tadeasjanout699]

THANK YOU! ♥ Love your work buddy! Greetings from Bohemia! you own my respect man!

[@Morton90]

And here I am 2 hours later watched the whole thing and absolutely loved it! Thank you for this never before was I able to see such good detail about the second crusade nor did I know how successful it actually was

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tolgakarahan]

It was only successful in Iberia, or did I miss something??

[@tolgakarahan]

Nice documentary. Thanks for the effort!

[@CenarosNL]

Some of the eyes in those early drawings really made me chuckle. Anyhow, amazing video!!

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Thank you!

[@FreeFallingAir]

This is just fantastic, thank you

[@SKILLIUSCAESAR]

Absolutely loving these documentaries! Thanku for ur hard work ❤ (Also love ur conversations with Dr. Helena Schrader, she’s a brilliant treasure of research)

[@PaulRizzo504]

One thing your videos do so well compared to others is show maps for locations and not just assume we all have Ph.D.s in history. It is so easy to follow along with the videos. I know it is time consuming but makes the viewing experience so much better.

[@sendapez]

This is excellent, thank you.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

You're very welcome!

[@EasternRomanHistory]

I thought this was an excellent history of the Second Crusade. It was interesting to see the shear scope of the Crusade in all of its theatres as well as Bernerd's concepts about prosecuting the Crusade. For Manuel I, Niketas Choniates tells us of how many Roman citizens hated the Latins and he repeats the stories of them sending down scraps of mouldy bread for most of their money as well as brawls and the sweeping away of the German baggage train by a flash flood. I agree that Manuel's apathy towards the Second Crusade was a misjudgement but at the same time, from his perspective, he had several large armies crossing his lands and to the Eastern Romans, the Latins were just as much a threat as the Turks and were not considered natural allies. Something that had not happened yet were Manuel's successful policies to tame the still rather wild frontiers of the Anatolian provinces. Had the Crusade of Louis and Conrad taken placed 20 years later, they may not have had quite as many issues when marching across Anatolia as they did in the 1140's. I look forward to the next one.

[@rickyyacine4818]

Manuel wasted a big opportunity to restore Anatolia ;( in this crusade

[@cjsmithdo]

Thanks!

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Thanks!

[@chibble3591]

love this

[@ragnar400o]

Truly a tragic campaign in the Middle-East. Thank you for this great documentary. What's name of the song playing at the 5 and 6 minute mark?

[@joeykringo2182]

very good video

[@disquietedsaint]

Awesome!

[@Crabchann]

I like how this was all recorded

[@moustacheanddrumsticks4381]

@RealCrusadesHistory Amazing video i LOVED it. Can you please tell me what the piece of music is that starts at roughly 19mins in? Airy guitar with lots of toms/tribal sounding drums?!

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Thanks very much! That's some original music I created for the channel. I call it "epic medieval theme."

[@AnkushB1811]

Hi RCH, what game is being used in the background? I need it for my history project for some bg footage and am using ur videos for research :) thanks for making it so interesting and easy to understand!

[@michaelhohrath720]

Medieval total war 2 and the kingdoms expansion pack

[@AnkushB1811]

thanks :)@@michaelhohrath720

[@-RONNIE]

I wanted to wait until I got home so I could watch this on my TV like a movie. Thank you so such for the video 👍🏻 I can tell you put a lot of work into it.

[@penyembelih]

Wish my history class in 2000 was easy like watch this video

[@GreatValueJohnnySins]

Crazy how many stories there are from this time period

[@richardkalmwater5996]

This video completely reframed how I use to view the 2nd Crusade which I read from "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Crusades". This version claimed Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine's boldly and openly committed infidelity in Antioch with her uncle and made no attempt to hide her actions in front of the whole court. It also claimed that King Louie attacked the Crusader "ally" of the Kingdom of Damascus. *This version of the 2nd Crusade helped me unlearn the gossip and lies from an entertaining but inaccurate book*

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Glad to hear that!

[@misaelfraga8196]

The Battle of Fraga a victory but came with a prize. My last name comes from this city I assume.

[@starsmil9687]

Cool to see TW Medieval mods in this video! :)

[@rojay4635]

How can I find other eyewitness battle accounts? I’ve tried many times without success :(

[@R_B95]

"Fighting for the sake of booty." Well said brother

[@milan.s2681]

some tips on books about crusaders states law (books or sources books)

[@dash5008]

Hi brother love ur videos . Could u do a video on the habsburg invasion of ottoman balkans and defeat of the ottomans defeat in Europe and Malta.? Thank you .

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Thanks! I did Malta a while back: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mneXpq2VpKl7oLM

[@dash5008]

​@@RealCrusadesHistory Real Crusades History THANKS and the balkans also how the HABSBURGS INVADE OTTOMAN OCCUPIED BALKANS AND ALSO WAR BETWEEN OTTOMAN MS AND HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE . HOW TO JOIN IN THE LIVE DISCUSSION TO ASK QUESTIONS COULD U GUIDE ME ? UR FAN AND SUBSCRIBER FROM INDIA . UR VIDEOS R GREAT . PRAYERS FROM SPUTH INDIA.MAY THE LORD BLESS AND UR FAMILY.

[@raigarmullerson4838]

Love the vids. Cheers from Estonia

[@dimitrishow_D]

These times were so brutal yet so full of bravery and character....nowadays idk 😐

[@sambitbhattacharjee8586]

Finally

[@elmasry541]

I am learning English so I hope your videos to be easier

[@TheStrainers]

King Fulk V , one of my 25th great grandfathers

[@user-zo6dj1kk3v]

Which one was the 2nd one?

[@Philipp.of.Swabia]

King Konrads brother, Frederic „the One Eyed“ of Swabia‘s son, The later Frederic Barbarossa was part of King Konrads Army and probably learned from his Uncles failures, looking at his campaign, he did almost the same as Konrad, but kicked both the Byzantines and Turks arses instead of reliving his uncles defeats. Never mind, just came across this exact section in the video. 🤣

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Yes, and I did an entire documentary looking at Frederick's crusade! It's great stuff. His victories over the Byzantines and the Seljuks are legendary. How often could an army in foreign territory defeat two major powers on their home turf? It's almost Alexander the Great level. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpa7nqOIfbyledE

[@islammehmeov2334]

TURKS kill Frederic 🇹🇷☪️💪☝️😉

[@themingwarrior6391]

I can kinda understand why most of the Latin Kings didn't want to venture out with their big army on ships. Most of these guys likely couldn't swim, nor were they used to naval warfare in case of Moorish Pirates. On land you can still widely forage & go straight about, by the sea you're at the total mercy of nature not giving you storms.

[@formulajuan6038]

Hmmm...the expeditions of Roger of Sicily to Ifriquiya might prove you wrong.

[@themingwarrior6391]

@@formulajuan6038 Sinking of the Mongol & Spanish Armada comes to mind (smaller distance travel). Plenty Sons of a Norman-English King have drowned just crossing through the strait of channel.

[@formulajuan6038]

@@themingwarrior6391 in those days, everybody drowned, from Suljid Turks to Mamelukes to Fatimids to even Franks and Normans. Sailing was a risky business.

[@ianofliverpool7701]

Thanks

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

And thank you!

[@ianofliverpool7701]

@@RealCrusadesHistory Very interesting video ty

[@GameCatcher89]

Love the Total War footage

[@ianmahoney1215]

I have an off topic question. Did any protestant denominations have military orders? I know protestantism did not exist during the crusades, but given the many religious wars fought between protestants and catholics, someone had to create a protestant military order.

[@TorquemadaBouillon]

I remember reading about some Catholic orders being transformed into protestant versions, but I'm not quite sure of their military application. Especially because at the time of the Reformation, the military orders as a whole had already lost a lot of strength.

[@icemanire5467]

In Ireland, The Orange Order. A shower of bitter sectarian w⚓s

[@SKILLIUSCAESAR]

The Huguenots had an almost propagandized stigma of being “militant” but can’t think of specific outfits

[@tacocruiser4238]

I wonder how history would have been different if the Byzantines had been able to capture Antioch. I bet they would have helped defend Edessa. John Komnenos had a great opportunity to take Antioch from the crusaders in 1138 but instead tried to play nice with Raymond of Poitiers. I think John was worried that if he attacked Antioch, there would be an uproar in the West and the Pope would call for a crusade against the Byzantine Empire. The Komnenoi emperors viewed the Latins in the west as a bigger threat than the Turks in the east.

[@Spartan_Disiplin]

''Latins in west'' constantly wiped out by Turks while they triying to cross anatolia. What a threat,lol

[@poukaa7047]

@@Spartan_Disiplin fourth crusader

[@Comrade_Connie]

​@@Spartan_Disiplin the Turks had a different style of fighting and the terrain in Anatolia mixed with the Way the Turks fought made them quite a Challenge only few Crusaders managed to successfully Cross Anatolia without being pummeled by the Turks, the Byzantines were not that different to the Latins and with them being constantly attacked from the West made them a Threat even during Crusades the Latins could be quite unpredictable and strong enough to defeat the Byzantines unlike the Turks while yes the turks can beat the Byzantines the Latins were more of a immediate Danger

[@Jokesonyou123]

Love you videos mate love learning about history thanks for making these . been playing ck3 on ps5 for past month so addictive I just watch this as I play it’s great haha . Definitely buying some merch next month when I get payed got my eye on that black T with the white Templar cross !

[@Morgabr1]

Does anyone know which mod for Total War is being used?

[@jjhh320]

Looks like the one for Attila called 1212 AD iirc

[@Morgabr1]

Oooh I just realised it was in the middle of the description. It's the 1100 mod for Rome 2.

[@stephenh9483]

I love the music, honestly, wonderful

[@insightfulcarrier]

Did the Crusader's build the Star Fort's?

[@SKILLIUSCAESAR]

I think those came into being as a defense against gun powder

[@delphinazizumbo8674]

Rule #2: Never, ever split up in the killers house.

[@mehdiidrissi8190]

28:37 WHAAAT ???

[@hadrianwall9157]

How many different languages were spoken in the Crusader army? Did they use a universal language like the Romans? Or just a lot of translators?

[@gc6096]

1:49:00

[@dash5008]

Real Crusades History THANKS and the balkans also how the HABSBURGS INVADE OTTOMAN OCCUPIED BALKANS AND ALSO WAR BETWEEN OTTOMAN MS AND HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE . HOW TO JOIN IN THE LIVE DISCUSSION TO ASK QUESTIONS COULD U GUIDE ME ? UR FAN AND SUBSCRIBER FROM INDIA . UR VIDEOS R GREAT . PRAYERS FROM SPUTH INDIA.MAY THE LORD BLESS AND UR FAMILY.

[@eliasmelo9698]

Good ninght

[@S_M_360]

Eleanor 😍

[@michaelman957]

How'd the 2nd Crusade go? Iberia: ALL I DO IS WIN WIN WIN NO MATTER WHAT! The North: It went a'ight. The Holy Land: It was HIS fault!

[@insafahmed6164]

Please translate in Hindi

[@nickscurvy8635]

Why are there so many armenians in edessa? I understand why there would be lots of greek people there, but why Armenians?

[@user-fl5mq9kp7g]

They are merchants

[@mohamadsudani3689]

Kol ayri

[@jacobgill4808]

RABBIT-1. KING-0

[@stephenh9483]

Awesome love it

[@bruhmcchaddeus413]

Wow can’t believe it took me this long time to come across this channel eventho i watch this “stuff” alot on youtube..but well better late than never

[@oskareriksson2202]

And with louis vii of france, there was a young lad named "Reynald de Chatillon"❤ that decided to remain in the holy land and to enter in service of costanza of Antiochia.

[@Jokesonyou123]

Anyone play ck3 on ps5 and want to play some time hit me up comment below 👇

[@sm7198]

👍👍👍

[@sm7198]

👍👍👍👍👍