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← Crusades

Miniseries

4 episodes · 10th January 1995

Season details

Details

Episode guide

Episodes

01 Pilgrims in Arms still Pilgrims in Arms Episode 110th January 1995 This opening episode chronicles the improbable origins of the Crusades, from Pope Urban II's hunger for military power to the success of one of history's greatest mass communication and recruitment campaigns. Terry Jones traces the Crusaders' routes across Europe, and details the massacres and looting that marked their progress. That these first holy warriors were promptly slaughtered upon reaching Asia only fueled the religious conflict. Within months, a massive professional military force dispatched under the Pope's banner had crossed the Bosphorus, ready to battle their way to Jerusalem. 02 Jerusalem still Jerusalem Episode 217th January 1995 Episode two chronicles the Crusaders' trail of carnage across the Middle East. Two-thirds of them would not even survive the beginning of their journey, as Terry Jones illustrates by attempting to duplicate their march across the harsh, rocky landscape of Anatolia in the heat of summer, wearing chain mail. Jones follows their path to Antioch, site of the famed siege whose strange outcome would encourage the savagery of the Crusaders' campaign. Their barbarous conquest of Jerusalem - where they sacked the city and butchered its inhabitants - was only a prelude to the bloodier campaigns that followed. 03 Jihad still Jihad Episode 324th January 1995 Episode three colorfully explores the Muslim recapturing of Jerusalem and the Second Crusade this Arab victory provoked. It's a chronicle of unholy alliances, political intrigue and fabled warriors. This time, however, the Christian soldiers weren't the only ones fighting for a religious cause. By the time the soldiers of the Second Crusade arrived in the Holy Land, Jerusalem's Arab leader, Nur ed-Din, had declared a Jihad, or holy war, against the invaders. A final battle commanded by his successor - the legendary Saladin - would determine the ultimate fate of this Crusade. 04 Destruction still Destruction Episode 431st January 1995 The chronicles of the last Crusades unfold in this final episode. The Third Crusade added the names of Richard "the Lionheart" and Phillip of France to the roster of holy warriors, and Terry Jones examines the reality behind the legends of their noble deeds. The Fourth and final Crusade, launched as a commercial operation, sacked and looted Constantinople, the Christian city that originally inspired the holy movement. These final campaigns also produced a revolt in Egypt that destroyed the remnants of the Crusaders' Christian kingdom, ending two centuries of the epic and misguided adventures whose repercussions are still felt today.
Talent

Cast & Crew

01 Terry Jones profile Terry Jonesas Himself / Presenter 02 Marcello Walton profile Marcello Waltonas Radulph of Caen / Tancred 03 Sean Arnold profile Sean Arnoldas St. Bernard 04 Kammy Darweish profile Kammy Darweishas William of Tyre 05 Terry Jones profile Terry JonesWriter
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