Crusader Cross (in the Aqsa Compound)

This is the remains of the cross on which the

Crusaders, upon conquering Jerusalem,

slaughtered thousands of the resident Muslims

on. It was broken up when Salahuddin Ayyubi

reconquered the city.

On Friday, 15th July 1099 CE, the Crusading

Europeans arrived at the gates of Jerusalem.

They began a siege, which lasted six weeks,

after which the city fell. Led by Tancred, the

Crusaders smashed there way into the Dome

of the Rock mosque and stripped it of all the

gold and silver. The Muslims fled into the other

great mosque of al-Aqsa before surrendering

and agreeing to pay a ransom to Tancred, who

proved to be very untrustworthy. The next

morning the Crusaders re-entered the al-Aqsa

mosque and slaughtered everyone. No one

knows exactly how many were butchered, but

many historians estimate that over 70,000

people died. One of the Crusaders spoke of

struggling to walk through a mass of blood

and bodies more than knee high.

The cities Jews were burned alive in their main

synagogue, where they had huddled together

for refuge.

References: Palestine: Beginner’s guide – Ismail

Adam Patel, Local guides.