The Sixth CrusadeA religious war fought by European Christians to capture the Holy Land from Muslim rulers., led by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1228 CE, was notable for achieving its goals through diplomacySettling disagreements through negotiation and peaceful agreements instead of fighting. rather than warfare. Frederick negotiated a treaty with Sultan al-Kamil of Egypt, peacefully regaining control of portions of the Holy Land for the Crusaders.
FactsthatCrunchWhat 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 1095 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 pilgrimageA journey made to a place that is considered holy or sacred by a religion. to the Holy Land. This article details the events of the Sixth Crusade.  Click here to read more information about the other major Crusades.
Sixth Crusade – When and Why Did It Occur?
The Sixth Crusade took place from 1228 to 1229 CE and was a major event in the history of the Crusades. In general, the Sixth Crusade was caused by the earlier failure of the European crusaders to capture the city of Jerusalem, especially in relation to the events of the Fifth Crusade. This caused many in Europe to want to return to the Holy Land again, which led to the events of the Sixth Crusade.
As stated above, the capture of Jerusalem was an important goal of the Sixth Crusade, as it was in earlier Crusades. In fact, the city of Jerusalem was the heart of the fighting of the Crusades. The city was centrally located in the Holy Land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. While the history of the city itself goes back much further, it was a significant site in the Crusades because of the importance it holds in the three main religions of the region: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. For Christians, Jerusalem was the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixionThe execution of Jesus Christ by being nailed to a cross, considered a sacred event by Christians. and resurrection. As such, the city was vitally important to their understanding of the teachings and history of Jesus.
Why was Jerusalem Important to Christians During the Crusades?
Sixth Crusade – Major Events
The Sixth Crusade is also commonly known as the ‘Crusade of Frederick II’ in relation to Frederick II the Holy Roman Emperor of the time. He helped organize the Sixth Crusade, sent many troops from his territory in Germany, and traveled with the crusaders himself. The crusaders of the Sixth Crusade traveled by sea to Acre, which was the Christian strongholdA well-defended place that a group controls and uses as a base of military power. in the Holy Land. Once there, the crusaders gained support from local rulers and decided to make their way towards Jerusalem to the south.​
In reality, Frederick II lacked the forces to attack the Muslims in Jerusalem and hoped that they could negotiate a surrenderGiving up control of a place or army to an opposing force without continuing to fight. of the city by a show of force alone. As such, he and his crusaders marched south along the coast. The Sultan of Egypt, Al-Kamil, who was the center of Muslim power at the time, agreed and surrendered Jerusalem and some surrounding territory to Frederick II. As a result, Frederick II marched into Jerusalem on March 17th, 1229 and symbolically took control over the city.​
FactsthatCrunchFrederick II led the Sixth Crusade and regained Christian control of Jerusalem through a treaty with Sultan al-Kamil of Egypt rather than through battle. He lacked enough forces to attack Jerusalem directly, so he marched south along the coast as a show of strength. His approach showed that a crusade could succeed without large armies or formal backing from the church.
Sixth Crusade – Significance
The Sixth Crusade was a success for the Christians and showed that a crusade to the Holy Land was possible without widespread military support or the official support of the church. With that said, the Christian hold over Jerusalem was only guaranteed for ten years, which eventually led to the Seventh Crusade and the Eighth Crusade.​
FactsthatCrunchExplore Crusades · 1095 – 1291 CE
Keep exploring Crusades with these History Crunch resources.
Key Vocabulary
Diplomacy
Crusade
Pilgrimage
Stronghold
Crucifixion
Surrender
Frequently Asked Questions
Who led the Sixth Crusade?
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II led the Sixth Crusade, which is why it is often called the Crusade of Frederick II. He organized the campaign and sent many troops from his lands in Germany. Unlike other crusade leaders, he relied on talks rather than large-scale battles.
When did the Sixth Crusade take place?
The Sixth Crusade took place from 1228 to 1229 CE during the Middle Ages. It came after earlier crusaders failed to capture Jerusalem, especially during the Fifth Crusade. That failure pushed many in Europe to try again for the Holy Land.
How did Frederick II gain control of Jerusalem?
Frederick II gained Jerusalem through a treaty with Sultan al-Kamil of Egypt rather than through fighting. Lacking enough soldiers to attack, he marched south along the coast to show his strength. Al-Kamil agreed to hand over the city and some nearby land peacefully.
When did Frederick II enter Jerusalem?
Frederick II marched into Jerusalem on March 17th, 1229 and symbolically took control of the city. His entry marked the main success of the Sixth Crusade. The victory came from diplomacy, not from a military conquest of the city.
Why was Jerusalem so important to the Crusades?
Jerusalem mattered because it was holy to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, which made it the heart of the fighting. For Christians, it was the site of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. The city also sat in a central spot between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea.
Why did the Sixth Crusade matter?
The Sixth Crusade showed that a crusade could succeed without large armies or official church backing. It gave Christians control of Jerusalem, though only for about ten years. That short agreement helped lead to the Seventh Crusade and the Eighth Crusade.
Cite This Article
To cite this article as a source, use one of the formats below.
MLA: Beck, Elias. “Sixth Crusade: A Detailed Summary.” HistoryCrunch, 18 October 2026, https://historycrunch.com/sixth-crusade/.
APA: Beck, E. (2026). Sixth Crusade: A Detailed Summary. HistoryCrunch. https://historycrunch.com/sixth-crusade/
Chicago: Beck, Elias. “Sixth Crusade: A Detailed Summary.” HistoryCrunch. October 18, 2026. https://historycrunch.com/sixth-crusade/
Sources
- Thomas Asbridge, The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land.
- Fordham Medieval Sourcebook
- The Met (Heilbrunn Timeline)
