Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A specific historical military campaign: The Second Crusade was a major military expedition initiated by European Christians in the 1140s. It was a direct response to the fall of the County of Edessa to Muslim forces in 1144. The campaign, which lasted from 1145 to 1147, ultimately failed to achieve its primary objectives and is often cited as a factor in the later loss of Jerusalem.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Second Crusade was led by King Louis VII of France and King Conrad III of Germany.
  • Historians study the failure of the Second Crusade to understand the complexities of medieval politics.
  • The preaching of Bernard of Clairvaux helped to rally support for the Second Crusade.*

Advanced Usage

• "the failure of the Second Crusade": A common historical analysis referring to the campaign's lack of military success and its political consequences.
  • The failure of the Second Crusade weakened the position of the Crusader states in the Levant.

Variants and Related Words

• Crusade (n): (1) Any of the medieval military expeditions made by Europeans to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims. (2) A vigorous concerted movement for a cause.
• Crusader (n): A person who participated in a crusade.

Synonyms

• The Crusade of 1147: An alternative, less common name referencing its main year of departure.

Related Phrases and Context

• To launch/preach a crusade: To initiate or promote a crusade.
  • Pope Eugene III issued a papal bull to launch the Second Crusade.*
• The aftermath of the Second Crusade: Refers to the period and consequences following the campaign's end.
  • The aftermath of the Second Crusade saw increased tension among Christian factions.

Noun

1. a Crusade from 1145 to 1147 that failed because of internal disagreements among the crusaders and led to the loss of Jerusalem in 1187