Crusades (TV series)
Terry Jones presents the Crusades with black comedy and living art.
Crusades is a 1995 historical documentary series presented by Terry Jones. It examines the Crusades through a blend of historical narrative and occasional black comedy, with actors in masks and costumes evoking artistic styles from the period. The production deliberately includes anachronistic elements, such as 1930s-style newsreels used to depict Church propaganda.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Documentary
- Writer
- Alan Ereira, Terry Jones
- Director
- Alan Ereira, David Wallace
- Presenter
- Terry Jones
- Composer
- José Nieto
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 1
Facts from the source article.
Episodes
The first episode begins with Byzantine Emperor Alexius I appealing to Pope Urban II for military aid against Muslim Turks. The Pope uses this request to rally support for a Christian army to liberate Jerusalem. European knights, recent converts to Christianity, join eagerly. The People's Crusade, incited by Peter the Hermit, precedes the main army; massacres of Jews in Worms and Cologne are recounted. The People's Crusade is crushed by Turks after the Siege of Xerigordos and the Battle of Civetot. The crusaders set off confidently for Jerusalem, but host Terry Jones, wearing crusader gear, notes that many hardships lie ahead. The second episode covers the hardships near the Holy City, including heat and starvation, as well as the Siege of Antioch and Turkish retaliation. The third episode chronicles the Arab response to the Crusades, focusing on Saladin's counter-crusade and the political intrigue behind his rise. The fourth episode examines Richard I of England's crusade, the massacres during the siege of Acre, the 1192 Treaty of Ramla forcing Richard to concede Jerusalem to Saladin, and the establishment of the Empire of Latins in Constantinople after the crusade of Enrico Dandolo.
Controversy
The show adopted the discredited negative view of the Crusades from Steven Runciman. Historians featured on the program disagreed with this slant, but the producers cut and rearranged their interviews to imply they supported it. Jonathan Riley-Smith charged that the editing made him state things he does not believe.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Crusades (TV series) first air?
Crusades first aired on 10 January 1995.
When did Crusades (TV series) end?
Crusades last aired on 31 January 1995.
More in 1990s British Documentary Television Series
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