How Many Crusades Were There?: A Detailed Summary

  • Last Updated: February 28, 2026
  • Publisher: History Crunch
How Many Crusades Were There
'Siege of Acre' from French Manuscript. Depicts events from the Third Crusade.

Table of Contents

How many Crusades were there? Historians disagree on the exact number of Crusades but they began with the outbreak of the First Crusade in 1096 CE.  What followed was a series of further Crusades which altered history for people throughout both Europe and the Middle East. This article details the main nine Crusades.

There were a total of nine major Crusades between 1096 and 1272 CE. Each of these nine Crusades was launched by European Christians hoping to reclaim the Holy Land or defend Christian territories in the Middle East. In addition to the main nine, there were several smaller crusading efforts and related campaigns throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.

WHAT WERE THE CRUSADES?

The Crusades are one of the most significant events in the history of Europe and the Middle East.  They were a series of religious wars carried out by Christian crusaders from Europe during the timeframe of the Middle Ages.  Beginning in 1096 CE, the Crusades saw European knights and noblemen travel to the Middle East in an attempt to capture the Holy Land away from Muslim people that had controlled the region for the previous centuries.  The term crusade means ‘cross’.  Therefore, the Europeans that became crusaders viewed themselves as ‘taking up the cross’.  In fact, many of the crusaders wore crosses on their clothing and armor as they made their pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Crusades
Battle of Dorylaeum (1147), a battel from the Second Crusade. (Estoire d’Eracles)

HOW MANY CRUSADES WERE THERE?

Historians disagree on the exact number of Crusades but they began with the outbreak of the First Crusade in 1096 CE.  What followed was a series of further Crusades which altered history for people throughout both Europe and the Middle East.  Some historians combine several of the Crusades while others do not, and most historians agree that the first four Crusades were the main ones historically.  With that said, it is generally agreed that there were nine main Crusades which occurred over a period of two centuries.  More specifically, the First Crusade began in 1096 CE and the events of the Ninth Crusade, which was the last major event of the Crusades, occurred in 1303 CE.  As such, historians consider the Crusades to be a significant historical event because it played such an important role in both European and Middle Eastern history for over two centuries.

How Did the Crusades End
‘The Return of the Crusader’ by Karl Friedrich Lessing (1835)

NINE MAIN CRUSADES

Below is a list of each of the nine major Crusades.  Click on the links for each to read more detailed information about each individual Crusade.

First Crusade Map
First Crusade Map created by History Crunch
Facebook
X
Reddit
Pinterest
LinkedIn

We strive to produce educational content that is accurate, engaging and appropriate for all learners. If you notice any issues with our content, please contact us and let us know!

AUTHOR INFORMATION
Picture of Elias Beck

Elias Beck

I'm a passionate history and geography teacher with over 15 years of experience working with students in the middle and high school years. I have an Education Degree with a focus in World History. I have been writing articles for History Crunch since 2015 and love the challenge of creating historical content for young learners!
Ottoman Empire
Middle Ages

Ottoman Empire: A Detailed Overview

The Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful and long-lasting empires in world history, spanning from the 13th century to the early 20th century. This article details the history and significance of the Ottoman Empire.

Daily Life in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages

Daily Life in the Middle Ages: A Detailed Summary

Daily life in the Middle Ages was shaped largely by a person’s place in the feudal system, which determined where they lived, what they ate, what work they did, and how much freedom they had. For the vast majority of people in medieval Europe, life was hard and centered on farming, religion, and survival. This article details the history and significance of daily life in the Middle Ages.

Carolingian Empire
Middle Ages

Carolingian Empire: A Detailed Summary

The Carolingian Empire was a large Frankish empire that dominated much of Western and Central Europe from 800 to 888 CE. This article details the history and significance of the Carolingian Empire.

Second Crusade
Crusades

Second Crusade: A Detailed Summary

The Second Crusade took place from 1147 to 1149 CE and saw thousands of European knights return to the Holy Land, following the events of the First Crusade. This article details the major events and significance of the Second Crusade.

Later Crusades Map
Maps

Later Crusades Map

This Later Crusades map was created by History Crunch to help students and teachers understand the geographic routes of the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Crusades between 1228 and 1272 CE. It shows the key destinations of each campaign including Jerusalem, Egypt, Tunis and the port city of Acre, and illustrates how the crusading movement gradually weakened over time. Designed for students in grades 5 to 12.

The Triumph of Death, a 1562 oil painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Middle Ages

Black Death: A Detailed Overview

The Black Death was a plague that devastated populations during the 14th century. The Black Death had profound social, economic, and cultural impacts. This article details the history and significance of the Black Death.