How Did St. Bernard Win The Crusades

Following his success at Vézelay, Bernard embarked on a preaching tour across Burgundy, Lorraine, Flanders, and Germany. At each stop, he attracted large crowds and continued to inspire fervor for the Crusade. Even Emperor Conrad, who had initially refused to participate, relented after a stern Christmas rebuke from Bernard and agreed to join the Crusade by October. Bernard's unwavering commitment and powerful preaching played a significant role in rallying support for the Crusade across Europe.

Pope Eugenius' Concerns Pope Eugenius was concerned when he heard about the actions of the Crusaders led by St. Bernard. While Bernard had been instructed to preach the Crusade in France, he had gone beyond his mandate and extended his preaching tour
Despite being smaller than the German army, the French forces were more organized, with notable women like Queen Eleanor accompanying their husbands, which likely contributed to maintaining discipline. However, they still faced obstacles, particularly from antagonistic Balkan peasants who demanded exorbitant prices for food supplies. This led to growing resentment and harsh tactics from both sides, creating tension even before their arrival in Constantinople on October 4th. For Emperor Manuel, ending the war with the Seljuk Turks was a pragmatic decision given the more immediate threat posed by the French and German soldiers at his gates. He was aware of the extremist elements within both camps advocating for an assault on Constantinople. To prevent such an outcome, Manuel insinuated to the Franks that they were in danger from a large Turkish force gathering in Anatolia, urging them to cross the Bosphorus into Asia quickly. Meanwhile, he entertained Louis and his army with lavish dinners and events to maintain a semblance of diplomacy. As Emperor Manuel bid farewell to the departing Crusaders and watched the ferry boats crossing the Bosphorus, he had a clear vision of the challenges awaiting them. While he exaggerated the accounts of approaching Turkish armies, having personally observed the Crusaders, he knew their disorganized forces would be no match for the
Conrad's illness forced him to return to Constantinople for recovery, leaving his comrades to continue the journey without him. He remained a guest at the royal palace until ships were available for his voyage to Palestine, which took until March 1148. Meanwhile, the French, enduring hardships and Turkish assaults, faced a daunting passage across Anatolia. Louis, disregarding Manuel's advice to stay close to the coast, contributed to their suffering. Despite their tribulations, he harbored a deep animosity toward the Byzantines, blaming them for many of their conflicts. Louis, accompanied by his family and a portion of his cavalry, departed from Antalya, leaving the rest of his forces and pilgrims to navigate the treacherous land route. It wasn't until late spring that the stragglers finally arrived in Antioch, their confidence from the previous year shattered by the arduous journey. Upon reaching Antioch, Prince Raymond urged Louis to swiftly assault Aleppo, a strategic target now under Nur-ed-Din's control. Louis, however, deferred, citing the need to first visit the Holy Sepulchre. Meanwhile, Queen Eleanor, whose bond with Louis had weakened amid the trials of their voyage, expressed her desire to remain in Antioch and seek a divorce. Aware of their distant kinship and the potential scandal it posed, Eleanor