The series of holy wars launched by the Christian states against the
Saracens starting in 1095 when Pope Claremont preached the First Crusade at the
Council of Claremont . The object of the crusades was at first to release the
Holy Land , in particular Jerusalem, from the Saracens, but in time was extended to seizing Spain from the Moors, the Slavs and Pagans from eastern Europe, and the islands of the Mediterranean. The first crusade, which lasted from 1095-1099, established the latin
Kingdom of Jerusalem , providing more lands for the crusading
knights , who often traveled across Europe to try their fortunes and to visit the Holy Sepulcher. The kingdom was gradually lost until the last Christian city,
Acre , fell in 1291. The dream of returning to the Holy Land nonetheless proved popular; the
Kings of France and England frequently made such plans, though in nearly every case the crusades were redirected or derailed by regional tensions. The crusades also gave rise to the important
knightly orders , the
Templars and the
Hospitallers , orders of religious knights, working from monastic rule to defend the holy land and pilgrims en route to the same lands. First Crusade
