The crusades 1096 1272 were a series of major military actions in the near east fought between christian and saracen armies with the original goal of capturing jerusalem richard the lionheart was england39s most famous crusading king but edward i also went on crusade before he became king the crusades led to the formation of military orders such as the knights templar knights hospitaller and teutonic knights our crusader letter opener is a product of the world famous art gladius factory