Crusades?

ASeiple · Oct 6, 2015

So... I've been struck by an unconventional superhero story idea. I think I want to set it in and around the third and fourth crusades, at least to start. Mainly because Saladin is too awesome not to use, and the sack of Constantinople could provide a fun couple of scenes.

Anyone got any good resources to recommend beyond Wikipedia? Historical personages beyond the big S, and King Richard? Fun stuff that gets overlooked that you'd think would be awesome?

I'm open to suggestions. I'd like to do this one right. Especially since it's a weird one...

benbenberi · Oct 6, 2015

It's a long time since I studied the Crusades so I don't have any specific references to suggest -- but I would say that the bibliography at the bottom of the Wikipedia article looks like a very good place to start.

Deb Kinnard · Oct 6, 2015

My local brick-and-mortar stocks a load of books about the Crusades--more than any other subtopic in the medieval Europe bookshelves. Those wars have never been a big focus of my interest in medieval England, so I never researched it well. But I think a few well-chosen tomes might give you the depth and flavor your project will require.

robeiae · Oct 6, 2015

Jonathan Riley-Smith has a good overview.

For more depth, I like Steven Runciman's three volume set (the link is to volume one).

Also, The Crusades through Arab Eyes is a must read.

For starters.

snafu1056 · Oct 6, 2015

Yeah, the Crusades is a pretty popular subject, so there's certainly no shortage of books. The hard part with any popular subject is separating the good history from the crap.

I'm sure the Cambridge History of Islam covers the Crusades. If this is going to be a comic, you'll probably need visual reference material too. I'm also sure Osprey's line of illustrated military history books has several installments on the Crusades.

waylander · Oct 7, 2015

Google 'Les Passages d'Outremer'

ASeiple · Oct 8, 2015

Thank you for the suggestions!

Funds being limited, I found my way to the local libraries and cleaned their shelves of a few useful tomes. So far the two that seem best suited for my purposes are The Oxford Illustrated History of the Crusades, by Riley-Smith, and The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land, by Thomas Asbridge.

I do have a few bucks left of Amazon gift card, and it's looking like I can grab Maalouf's The Crusades through Arab Eyes for under a dollar. Used, natch, but that's no problem. Between that and the library resources, I should have what I need.

Minor setback when I found out that Marvel already has a superhero called "Crusader", but that's fine. I can rename him.

Deb Kinnard · Oct 8, 2015

Wonder if "Paladin" might work for your superhero?

robeiae · Oct 9, 2015

Primary sources on the Sack of Constantinople: https://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/source/4cde.asp

Good stuff...

Lil · Oct 9, 2015

Don't forget about interlibrary loans if your local public library doesn't have a book you want to consult.

maracalone · Nov 3, 2015

I studies the crusades extensively in college (history minor) and found this book to be the best source available.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0140449981/?tag=absowrit-20

euclid · Oct 2, 2016

Runciman is very good.

Crusades?

ASeiple

Livin' la vida biblia

benbenberi

practical experience, FTW

Deb Kinnard

robeiae

Touch and go

snafu1056

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

ASeiple

Livin' la vida biblia

Deb Kinnard

robeiae

Touch and go

Lil

maracalone

euclid

Where did I put me specs?