In between the Early and Late Islamic Period is the age of the Crusaders and their rule in Jerusalem from 1099- 1291 CE. The Crusades was basically a holy war of liberation to free Jerusalem and other parts of Palestine from Islamic rule. The Crusaders took vows and were granted penance for past sins if they fought in the war. The holy war was fueled by both political and religious motives. Islam was expanding rapidly and was becoming popular in laces like Spain and France. In 1095, Pope Urban II calls upon nobility to help Byzantines against the attacking Muslims and to free Jerusalem while they were on the way. The Pope recruited both rich and poor to fight the Turks and used religious forgiveness as incentive. The first army was comprised of mainly peasants who did not have any experience of war. This was known as the Peasant's Crusade. They were ill-equipped and untrained, which led to their demise when they were slaughtered by the veteran Turkish army. The Crusaders made sure the next army would be comprised of knights and men who knew how to fight in war. This took a couple years to build up but this army eventually defeated many Turkish armies in Palestine and eventually laid siege on Jerusalem. The Crusaders took Jerusalem in 1099 CE and massacred thousands of Muslims, Jews, and even Christians in the city. They basically quarantined the city of almost all of its inhabitants.
After Jerusalem is conquered by the Crusaders led by Godfrey de Bouillon, he refuses to wear the crown. Palestine becomes "kingdom of Jerusalem" and in 1100, Baldwin becomes king of Jerusalem. During this time, a group known as the Templars came into prominence. They were a group of knights who protected Christians who were being attacked while they were on the way to the Holy City. In return, they were given the Al-Aqsa Mosque as their dwelling quarters. The Templars became a very popular group and many recruits began to join the group. It was also during this time that Jerusalem was separated into different quarters: the Patriarch's Quarter, the Templar's Quarter, the Syrian Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter.
The Crusaders began a holy reconstruction of Jerusalem, re-modifying Islamic buildings to Christian-type buildings. The Dome of the Rock was changed into a church and a cross was placed on top of the Dome. All Islamic writing was removed because it was seen as a defilement to their Holy place. Old Byzantine churches were rebuilt and hundreds of new churches were erected throughout Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was expanded and innovated to be more majestic and beautiful. Crusader Jerusalem did not last for long because the Muslims were uniting under one banner to fight against the Crusaders. Their leader, Saladin was a charismatic and young leader who promised to reclaim Jerusalem for Islamic rule. The Crusaders arrogantly decided to march against the Islamic army without any source of water, which led to their ultimate doom. The Crusader army was defeated at the "Horns of Hattin" in July 1187, leaving Jerusalem undefended. Jerusalem eventually surrenders to Saladin in September 26, 1187, who spared the Christians if they left the city. There was purification and reclamation of the Haram and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher was given to the Greek Orthodox. When Saladin dies in 1194, his successors struggle for power, where we see the beginning of the late Islamic period.
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