Today in history, Europe’s heavily armored knights and Islam’s jihadist light cavalry had their first, major pitched battle, at Dorylaeum, in Asia Minor. It had been two years since the First Crusade was called, and Europe’s Christians, led by the Franks and Normans, were deep in Asia Minor.  They had already achieved their first victory, by liberating Nicaea (where the … [Read more...]

Thanks to the efforts of Ferdinand III of Castile—aka Saint Ferdinand, or Fernando—today in history, on June 29, 1236, Córdoba, which after the eighth century Muslim conquest of Spain had become one of the most important “abodes of Islam,” to quote a disgruntled Muslim chronicler, “passed into the hands of the accursed Christians—may Allah destroy them all!” Six months … [Read more...]

Today in history, June 28, 1098, witnessed a Crusader victory over the forces of Islam that, for those present, could only be interpreted as a miracle. As discussed here, on June 3, 1098, the Crusaders managed to liberate the ancient Christian city of Antioch—where the very word “Christian” was first coined (Acts 11:26)—from Islamic abuse. Before they could celebrate, … [Read more...]