Children's Crusade
The Children's Crusade (1212) is the name given to a curious attempt to 'free' the Holy Land inspired by the child Stephen de Cloyes.
It is believed that Stephen de Cloyes began preaching at Saint-Denis, claiming that he had been visited by Jesus and told to lead the next Crusade. Through a series of supposed portents and miracles he gained a considerable following, possibly as many as 20,000 children joined him. He led his followers southwards towards Marseille, it is said he believed that the sea would part when he arrived and he and his followers would march to Jerusalem. At Marseille two merchants gave such of the children as would fit passage on seven boats. The children were taken to Tunisia and sold into slavery.
The tale has been interpreted as a later gloss on the widespread plight of the landless young in France and elsewhere in Europe. Other sources believe the tale is an union of a two of smaller movements of children from France and Germany in the early 13th century, neither of which left Europe but both of which resulted in the death of several thousands of children.
External link
- Chronica Regiae Coloniensis - a (supposedly) contemporary source
The Children's Crusade is also a book by Kurt Vonnegut.