Editing Second Crusade

{{Era|Timeline}}{{WP-REAL}}
The '''Second Crusade''' was the second major incursion among a series of [[Crusades|religious wars]], lasting from 1147 to 1150.<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Second Crusade}}</ref> Originally meant to shore up [[Crusaders|Crusader]] control over the Holy Land, the crusade ended with a humiliating retreat of the [[Europe]]an armies from the [[Middle East]] following a failed siege of [[Damascus]].<ref name="EoH">''[[Echoes of History]]'' – Assassins vs Templars – Episode 1: Episode 1: The Crusades</ref>

==History==
===Prelude===
The call for the Second Crusade was triggered in 1144, when {{Wiki|atabag}} {{Wiki|Imad al-Din Zengi}} {{Wiki|Siege of Edessa (1144)|took}} {{Wiki|Edessa}}, the capital to {{Wiki|County of Edessa|one}} of the {{Wiki|Crusader states}}, outposts of [[Christianity]] in the [[Levant]] established during the [[First Crusade]]. With psychological pressure from the {{Wiki|Pope Eugene III|Pope}}, as well as the success of the First Crusade looming over the noble houses of Europe, many pledged to take part in the military expedition, among them King {{Wiki|Conrad III of Germany}} and King {{Wiki|Louis VII of France}}.<ref name="EoH"/>

===The invasion===
The invading forces proved themselves to be overconfident and underprepared, being repeatedly defeated by the {{Wiki|Seljuk Turks}} in [[Anatolia]]. An attempt to besiege the city of Damascus, then allied with the son of Edessa's conqueror, {{Wiki|Nur al-Din Zengi}}, was made and led to a retreat after only five days.<ref name="EoH"/>

===Aftermath===
The European defeat bolstered Muslim confidence, which had been low since their own defeat in the First Crusade, and allowed Nur al-Din to accrue power, being able to draw together different sections of Muslim society, being both a warrior and a very pious man. The Second Crusade also contributed to the worsening of the marital relations between King Louis VII and [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]], leading to the annulment of their marriage in 1152.<ref name="EoH"/>

==Appearances==
*''[[Echoes of History]]'' {{1stm}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Timeline}}
[[Category:Timeline]]
[[Category:Wars]]