x From the European perspective, the First Crusade had been a
spectacular success, exceeding all of its goals in just a few years.
x 2QHVLJQL¿FDQWHIIHFWZDVWKH
establishment of Christian
military religious orders, the
Knights Hospitaller and the
Knights Templar, which grew
into powerful, independent
political and military forces
whose members took religious
vows but were trained
as knights. They quickly
acquired a large number of
key castles and strongholds
scattered around the various
Crusader kingdoms and,
because they represented a
permanent, professional core
RI¿JKWLQJPHQLQWKHUHJLRQ
became important factors
in the overall history of
the Crusades.
x The politics of this era are a
confusing muddle of ever-
shifting treaties between and among the small Christian kingdoms,
the various Islamic states and their subfactions, the militant orders,
the European kingdoms, and the pope.
x Periodically, a new wave of Crusaders would arrive from Europe,
whose allegiance to either the existing Crusader states or their home
countries was questionable and who often did not feel constrained
by existing treaties or alliances.
x The lines of military and political command were often muddy
or disputed. Rivals might temporarily join forces to achieve a
Motivations for joining the Crusade
have been widely debated; some
Crusaders hoped to acquire
territory in the Holy Lands, while
others were drawn by the chance to
earn remission for their sins.© Getty Images/Photos.com/Jupiterimages/Thinkstock.