Children's Crusade: An unarmed small-scale campaign to capture Jerusalem
The city is an important pilgrimage site for Muslims, Christians and Jews - the Abrahamic religions. This ancient city is considered a 'holy city', as there are some holy places of all three religions. Yes, it is Jerusalem.
People of three religions want to dominate this city because of its religious significance. There have been several bloody battles, especially between Muslims and Christians over the capture of the city.Which are called 'Crusades'. And as a result of that crusade, the rights of the city have been changed several times.
Speaking of the Middle Ages, 1212 AD. A strange stir arose in France and Germany, two of the most important countries in Europe. Suddenly, ten- to twelve-year-old children tied the knot and came down with a strange dream of capturing Jerusalem.
Let's start with France. Stephen, a shepherd in the town of Cloys, began to spread strange things among the people. According to his commentary, Jesus appeared to him one day in disguise and at one point handed him a letter. According to some sources, a saint gave him the letter.
The letter stated that he had been divinely ordained for the Crusades. So he has to travel all over Europe to gather followers for the Crusades and when he has enough followers he has to start the journey for the Crusades. Initially, however, the letter had to reach the king so that he could take the initiative for the Crusades and provide the necessary assistance.
Stephen's bizarre but startling words also got some followers together in a short time. These followers of his were not very old, most of them were teenagers like him. And with these one day he really reached the royal court and met the king.
King Philip IV was shown the letter in a dream. Stephen hoped that the king would allow him to lead the Crusades. But King Philip was not an emotional ruler. He persuaded Stephen to return home with his followers.
Despite being rejected by the king, Stephen did not give up. In his eyes he is a charismatic leader who will overcome the failures of his predecessors and recapture Jerusalem. So even though he came back humiliated by the king, his enthusiasm did not diminish at all.
So much for France. In the German city of Cologne, a wonder boy named Stephen emerges, named Nicholas. According to many sources, the rise of Nicholas took place first. Whatever he was, this Nicholas also claimed that he had been instructed to crusade through dreams.
His eloquence, strong leadership and ability to attract people was remarkable. So a lot of small children and teenagers came and gathered at his words. They are gradually joined by the older lower class professionals of the society. The goal is the same - recapture Jerusalem.