Thursday, May 17, 2012

Children's Crusade - Newspaper Article

After investigating the different Crusades, we have reached our assignment; to make a newspaper article regardin

g the Children's Crusade, the whole thing or perhaps just an important event. Here it is...

123 South Chickles morning post 16 March 1230

CHILDREN’S

DISAPPEARANCE

The Children’s Crusade comes to an end

In the past eighteen years there hasn’t been any knowledge of the leader, Stephen of Cloyes, nor the remaining children of the Children’s Crusade whereabouts. The Children’s Crusade being the attempt of reclaiming Jeruselum for Christianity. Word has come, that they were last seen in Marseilles, setting out to sea on seven vessels.

It all started in May, 2012, in Saint-Denis, while King Philip of France was having court. Stephen, a twelve-year-old Shepard boy, had brought a letter for the King reading; go and preach the Crusade. However the King was not persuaded, and told Stephen to go home. There was many preachers wanting a Crusade against the East, Spain or the heretics of Languedoc Muslims. “It would be easy for a boy surrounded by these preaches to catch on.” the King had said. Around that time, Peter the Hermit was announcing that a large band of children were aiming to travel to the Holy Land to reclaim Jeruselum. They would cross the Red Sea, as the sea were to part and dry, letting them cross.

By the end of July, 1212, children had assembled in Vendôme. Children of boys and girls, young priests, boys of noble b

irth, peasants... none exceeding twelve years old. And in total, there were a several thousand children. There was so much children, Vendôme couldn’t fit them all in, therefore numerous children had to camp in the fields outside.

The travel was a painful journey, taking the road that reached past Tours and Lyon, to Marseilles. Most of the children traveled on foot, however Stephen, being the leader, was in a cart and the richer boys had horses. Besides their weariness, the weather was unusually hot. Water was scarce, they had mostly depended on charities. In this travel, numerous children died and many turned back.

The painful journey wears on, more children die.

However, when they finally reached Marseilles and hurried to the dock, they were disappointed. The water didn’t part for them. Some children then went against Stephen, some were crying. “We were betrayed by Stephen!” one of the children said, recorded by a wandering peasant. It was then when two merchants kindly offered boats, for no fee. Stephen excepted this offer, and then the children and him set off to sea in the seven vessels. From then until recently, there had been no word from the children.