Gone Medieval The Crusades: Battle for the Holy Land
Mar 6, 2026
Dr Natasha Hodgson, crusading historian and director at Nottingham Trent, guides listeners through 12th-century power plays. She covers the rise of crusader states and military orders. She narrates the Field of Blood, the failed Second Crusade, Eleanor of Aquitaine’s role, Saladin’s ascent, Baldwin IV’s dynastic crisis, Hattin and the Third Crusade’s royal rivalries and the Treaty of Jaffa.
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Why The Second Crusade Failed In The East
- The Second Crusade widened crusading targets to Iberia and the Baltic and introduced crowned kings (Louis VII, Conrad) but failed in the Holy Land.
- The expedition suffered logistics, Turkish harassment and poor strategic choices like the failed Damascus siege.
Templars Restore Order On Campaigns
- The military orders' discipline saved disintegrating crusader contingents during marches, with Templars sometimes ordered to lead demoralised troops.
- At Mount Cadmos Louis entrusted his troops' safety to the Templars due to indiscipline.
Damascus Siege Fails Because Of Bad Camp Choice
- The siege of Damascus collapsed after three days because crusaders moved camp to a side without water, making their position unsustainable.
- Eleanor clashed with Louis over ignoring local advice, a dispute that fed later divorce rumours.