Disaster outside Damascus
The Second Crusade focused upon a strategically ambitious but flawed attempt by a Crusader army to take Damascus. The city was at that time the capital of an lslamic state that was friendly towards the neighbouring Crusader lands and saw them as an ally against rival lslamic nations. Apart from minor setbacks, previous Crusader campaigns had enjoyed success, and Christian Western Europe was fully confident that it would continue to enjoy military supremacy. The Crusaders' emphatic defeat at the siege of Damascus in 1148 came as a huge shock to Christian self-confidence, whilst reviving that of the lslamic states, and it marked a turning point in the history of the Crusades.
Born in 1944, David Nicolle worked in the BBC's Arabic service for a number of years before gaining an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and a doctorate from Edinburgh University. He has written numerous books and articles on medieval and Islamic warfare, and has been a prolific author of Osprey titles for many years.
Christa Hook began her illustrating career in 1986, after studying under her father Richard Hook. Her work has featured extensively in the worlds of publishing and television and, having illustrated over 30 Osprey titles, she has established herse If as one of their most popular artists. Her illustrations combine the historian's attention to detail with the artist's sen se of drama and atmosphere, and they are sought after by collectors worldwide. Christa lives and works in East Sussex, England.
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