The Crusades and Pilgrimages Reason for the Crusades Christians of Europe believed that all places associated with the life and death of Christ were to have divine powers of healing and of absolving penitents of sin. People from all over Europe made pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other holy places. Pilgrimages were groups of people known as pilgrims who came from all over to go and see the Holy Land. They believed that by praying and …showed first 75 words of 900 total…

…showed last 75 words of 900 total…weakened. Jerusalem was freed by negotiation by the Emperor of Sicily - Frederick II. In 1244 AD the Holy City was again captured by the Turks and this led to the Seventh Crusade in 1249 AD. It was led by Louis IX of France but he was captured and forced to pay a "king's ransom". In 1270 AD, Louis IX and Prince Edward of England led the Eighth Crusade. This crusade failed when Louis IX died of plague.