 Editor in Chief Bill   | 16 Nov 2016 11:49 p.m. PST |
From among the Crusades, do you have a favorite crusader? |
| Robert Burke | 16 Nov 2016 11:58 p.m. PST |
Baldwin IV (the Leper King) has always been a favorite of mine. His courage, in the face of a slow and certain death from leprosy, was awe inspiring. |
| Old Peculiar | 17 Nov 2016 12:12 a.m. PST |
Bohemund for me, just a totally ruthless and conniving individual, the perfect medieval landgrabber! |
Gunfreak  | 17 Nov 2016 2:08 a.m. PST |
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| MHoxie | 17 Nov 2016 2:37 a.m. PST |
Eleanor of Aquitaine, and her Amazons. |
| Oh Bugger | 17 Nov 2016 2:37 a.m. PST |
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| Texas Jack | 17 Nov 2016 2:59 a.m. PST |
Give me Richard the Lionheart. Without him we wouldn´t have all those great Robin Hood pictures! |
| Todd McLeister | 17 Nov 2016 3:08 a.m. PST |
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| Oh Bugger | 17 Nov 2016 3:41 a.m. PST |
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| Catiline | 17 Nov 2016 3:47 a.m. PST |
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| 1ngram | 17 Nov 2016 4:14 a.m. PST |
William Clito (the Prince). He was the son of Robert of Normandy who was shut up in a Welsh castle by his brother Henry 1 for years. Henry pursued his nephjew William with the clear aim of killing him because he would be an obvious claimant to his throne when he died. As a result William was forced to flee all over the place to escape his uncle's wrath even going to Outremer as a crusader for a time. Eventually the King of France supported him in an attempt to become Count of Flanders as a counterweight to the Normans but he died (of disease I think) in the middle of this war. |
| charliemike | 17 Nov 2016 4:51 a.m. PST |
I'm with Robert Burke, Baldwin IV is one of my favourite historical characters.
I also like Frederick II for his bloodless recovery of Jerusalem while excommunicated (and for other reasons). |
| Chalfant | 17 Nov 2016 5:09 a.m. PST |
Robert of Flanders, though I always like the stories of Robert Short Breeches and Tancred too. Chalfant |
| Yesthatphil | 17 Nov 2016 5:27 a.m. PST |
I do like Bohemond's story but let's have a shout for … Godfrey de Bouillon Phil |
| Razor78 | 17 Nov 2016 5:32 a.m. PST |
Easy one, James d'Avesnes, who was the highest ranking knight killed during the crusades at the battle of Arsuf. Only because I am a direct descendent of his. |
| David Manley | 17 Nov 2016 5:47 a.m. PST |
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| Rod I Robertson | 17 Nov 2016 6:28 a.m. PST |
My vote goes to the infamous Reynald de Chatillion (known as Arnot to the Arabs). He was possibly the most despicable crusader of note in the 12th Century. He was ambitious, clever, violent, vengeful and ruthless. Fortunately these strengths were tempered by his greed, his impulsiveness and his tendency towards incompetence despite his very considerable military skills. He built and trained a small fleet of ships on the Dead Sea and then had it disassembled, packed by animals across the desert, reassembled at the top of the Red Sea and used it to raid the Arabian coast. He sacked Jeddah but was unable to sack Mecca and Medina. He kidnapped a female cousin of Salah al Din and a Christian bishop of Antioch who he tortured for not supporting him in a marriage claim. He slaughtered Armenians for the Byzantine emperor in so bloody a manner that it would have impressed the Ottoman Turks 650 years later. He sacked Cyprus, a Christian Kingdom and his fraternal Crusader Kingdoms as well as Arab controlled lands. He spent 16 years in prison awaiting the payment of a huge ransom to his captor Nur al Din which no one seemed willing to pay. Finally, he lost his head immediately after the battle at the Horns of Hattin in 1187 CE. What a total swine he was, a giant among crusaders! For a slightly kinder version of his achievements please see: link Cheers.
Rod Robertson. |
| Todd McLeister | 17 Nov 2016 6:52 a.m. PST |
Cool. Batman would still kick his ass though. |
| Perris0707 | 17 Nov 2016 6:56 a.m. PST |
Bohemund. Embodied the age. Anna's account of him was "slightly" biased. |
| Just Jack | 17 Nov 2016 7:57 a.m. PST |
Ha! I'm with David Manley, 'Last of the Gunfighters,' first thing that popped in my head. V/R,
Jack |
| Tgerritsen | 17 Nov 2016 8:06 a.m. PST |
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| Great War Ace | 17 Nov 2016 8:14 a.m. PST |
Bohemond, beyond question. I also greatly enjoy Baldwin I, erstwhile count of Edessa. His exploits are very cool reading. I made him a central character in my novel. Reynald of Chatillon as Graham Shelby depicted him. Ditto his version of Gerard de Ridefort, Grandmaster of the Templars. Hugues de Payens, founder of the Templars. |
| HidaSeku | 17 Nov 2016 11:22 a.m. PST |
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| Shagnasty | 17 Nov 2016 12:02 p.m. PST |
Another vote for Richard with Saladin a close second. |
| Patrick Sexton | 17 Nov 2016 12:16 p.m. PST |
This one:
link or Baldwin the IV or Saladin |
| Knight of St John | 17 Nov 2016 12:34 p.m. PST |
Jean de Valette the Grand Master Of the Knigts of St John.
Michael. |
 miniMo | 17 Nov 2016 12:44 p.m. PST |
My DBA Crusader army has Eleanor and the Amazons. |
| GreyONE | 17 Nov 2016 1:08 p.m. PST |
Tancred. A man who led by example, feared nothing, trusted only in the knowledge that his skills and bravery would carry the day. |
| Dave Arrowsmith | 17 Nov 2016 8:14 p.m. PST |
Martin Luther. Hunyadi Janos. |
| Militia Pete | 18 Nov 2016 4:27 a.m. PST |
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| Great War Ace | 18 Nov 2016 9:44 a.m. PST |
@miniMo: Come on, you can't say that and not post a pic!………… |
| rmaker | 18 Nov 2016 12:57 p.m. PST |
Martin Luther Actually, Dr. Luther stated that Crusades were an illegitimate form of Christian activity. |
| Benvartok | 18 Nov 2016 5:09 p.m. PST |
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