"Which Crusade of the Middle Ages fascinates you the most?" Topic

sort of pinched from the Fireforge website but valid I think..
I go with the Childrens' Crusade
link
&
The Crusade of Nicopolis (1396) organized by Sigismund of Luxemburg, king of Hungary, culminated in the Battle of Nicopolis
then to further
to help kick off this one
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades

Personally I'm more interested in the 1st and Northern Crusades.

Damon.

The Third Crusade Third Crusade (1189–1192)

I like the Battle of Arsuf where Richard I of England defeated Saladin. A Very important battle afterwards Richard was able to secure Jerusalem from Jaffa the closest port.

Two great men from history battling for supremacy, whats not to like.

I have interest in the Mamluks. This makes the 9th Crusade, the threat of a French-Mongol alliance, the related Battle of Ain Jalut (1260) and the fall of Acre (1291) of great interest to me.

I have only ran one game in this period, a crushing defeat for the Mamluks.

Either the first or third. The first is fascinating with all of the factions that were somewhat working together, but also independent forces that didn't necessarily trust or like each other that much. Guess the same could be said for the third crusade seeing the troubles that Richard got himself into on his attempt to return home.

Allen

first and third for me also

First for all of the bickering and the third for the same reason

cheers
matt

Albigenisian Crusades. What did the Cathars ever do to anyone.

First and Third here, too.

First because it was such an astonishing achievement for the time; Northern/Baltic for unusual cool factor and the second of Louis IX's crusades (8th?) for bizarre factor – liberate Jerusalem by putting your army at the service of the King of Sicily (who happens to be your younger brother) to chastise his Tunisian vassal (1500 miles from Jerusalem) and then poo yourself to death two days after arrival. Result!

Albigensian Crusade, locations are only 500 miles from here. Some no longer exist others are still here like the city of Carcassonne ( visited it 20 years ago).

Olivier

1st and 3rd.

4th

4th Crusade. It never even got as far as the Holy Land!

1st.

Gotta go with the Ninth Crusade. Mongols – what's not to like?

Baltic Crusades, gotta love the Teutonic Knights!

Northern Crusades for me too – rereading Eric Christiansen's book at the moment.

Fourth. Gotta love the capitalistic Venetians and an army that somehow missed Egypt and ended up in Constantinople.

The First.

Also of interest to me is the period around 1261, with the restored Byzantine Empire and Mongols in the picture – perfect setting for a campaign.

First Crusade

3rd Crusade. Great leaders, great action, great history.

Albigenisian followed by the Reconquista.

I like the 3rd, due to their improved helms and armor.

The Third followed by the First.

Fourth Crusade as the Doge of Venice has got to be the greatset con man in history. Salut y'all!

Bruce the Texas Grognard

All of them actually! Love the Panoply of the Knights in their liveries.

First Crusade. I like 11th/early 12 c. armor

third. as for miniatures though, i would like later ones, since i am a hundred years war gamer and long for cheap plastic knights!

First. Downhill all the way after that.

The 3rd for me.

The First is my absolute fixation period: but I enjoy them all.

@Inari:

…Richard was able to secure Jerusalem from Jaffa the closest port.

Richard did not "secure Jerusalem" after the 3rd Crusade; Jerusalem remained in Muslim hands after 1187 until emperor Frederick II obtained it in 1229 for a scant fifteen years by treaty….

First Crusade

First. Love the factions involved and the look of the period.

First and third for me as well.

The First for me and let me take this opportunity to give Runciman's history a plug.

Fourth Crusade – oh those devious Venitians !

Although I am sure you are talking about the Holy Land I would ahve to go with the Baltic Crusades. I think this is a rich area for wargamers that has, overall, gone unnoticed.

3rd with the Surcoats.