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An unashamed pro-Crusades four part docudrama concerning the church's role in and its efforts to restore the Holy Land to a place of safety for Catholic pilgrims.

The myths, the legends, and the truths of the Crusades. Dramatic re-enactments filmed on-location in the Holy Land and Europe, with commentary on THE historical event of the medieval era. Episode 1 - Journeys of Faith; Episode 2 - The Crusader States; Episode 3 - Christendom Responds; Episode 4 - Failures and Successes.—Stefano Mazzeo

EWTN's The Crusades is a four part docudrama mini-series. ou've heard the tales, now learn the truth concerning the church's role in the Crusades and its efforts to restore the Holy Land to a place of safety for Catholic pilgrims. This powerful four-part series, shot on location in seven countries, gives viewers a well-rounded understanding of an important historical event, which has repercussions in our own time. Episode 1: A look at the history and reasons for the Crusades, which were originally known as "armed pilgrimages" because they sought to protect pilgrims visiting the Holy Land against Muslim conquerors. Episode 2: A look at the Crusader States, which were set up by the Crusader hierarchy after the miraculous success of the First Crusade; the formation of Military Orders such as the Knights Templars; the re-conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as the rise of Sultan Saladin and his conquest of Jerusalem. Episode 3: A look at the Third Crusade, which was led by King Richard the Lionheart of England, King Philip of France and German Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa; the famous meeting between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Al-Kamil; and the role that devotion to the Apostle James and the Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela played in Crusader successes. Episode 4: A look at the failures and successes of the Crusades and their legacy, including the role of St. Louis IX, the rise of the Ottoman Empire; the epic Battle of Lepanto, a turning point in the war, and a triumph of faith; the final Christian victory in the Iberian Peninsula, and the loss of the Holy Land, in particular, Jerusalem. If you are at all concerned about world affairs, you will not want to miss this important series. We suggest you mount a Crusade to get your family and friends to watch this important week of programming on EWTN!