Unlike the spectacular success of the First Crusade, the Second Crusade, launched in 1145, is generally regarded as a disaster for the Christian West. Even those who took part in the Crusade saw it as a failure. According to William of Tyre:

Thus a company of kings and princes such as we have not read of through all the ages had gathered and, for our sins, had been forced to return, covered with shame and disgrace, with their mission unfulfilled.... henceforth those who undertook the pilgrimages were fewer and less fervent. (Brundage, 1962, p120)

Brundage claims that the failure of the Crusade to achieve any victories whatever in the east emboldened Muslim military leaders, destroyed the myth of western prowess in arms, and was to be responsible, at least in part, for causing the Muslim states of the east to draw closer together, to unite for further attacks upon the Latin states. He says that the end of the Second Crusade saw the Muslims preparing to unite, for the first time, against the Latin intruders in their midst, while the Latins, for their part, were divided sharply against one another. (p.124) Thus, although the new Crusaders set out with high hopes, their ambitions fell short of their achievement, and they returned home in disgrace. Yet, according to Runciman (1952, p.288) no medieval enterprise had started with such splendid hope. What had caused this sorry result?

In 1145 the news that Edessa, the oldest Christian state in the east, had fallen caused Christian society in the west to reel with shock. There was an immediate call for a new crusade. However, surprisingly enough, there was not an overwhelming response. Eugenius first appealed to the young King Louis of France. In December of that same year he addressed a papal bull to the king, proclaiming a new crusade:

...We therefore beseech, admonish and command all of you, and we enjoin it for the remission of sins, that those who are on God's side - especially the more powerful and noble men - that they gird themselves manfully and attack the pagan multitudes.. liberate the Eastern church, and strive to wrest many thousands of our captive brethren from their hands... (Brundage, 1962, p.87)

Eugenius called on the Abbot of Clairvaux, Bernard, to preach and inspire the French nobility. Leading the way was perhaps two of the most powerful kings in the western world, King Louis VII of France and King Conrad III of Germany. The march east was mainly because Edessa had fallen but there were other factors as well. Pope Eugenius had recently acquired his office and immediately barred from the city by a communal government. He had not yet been able to enter Rome and could do little himself to help Edessa, but. the manner in which he dealt with the Muslim infidel was likely to be noted. While he had the support of Louis VII and Conrad, he needed Conrad's help to regain the city of Rome. (Runciman, p.256) So the pope sent a bull, Quantum praedecessors, to Louis, who responded enthusiastically himself but when he called a council to discuss the matter the response was not nearly as encouraging. The King was needed at home and could not easily leave to be involved in a crusade. When Eugenius heard about this matter he sent St Bernard to Vezelay where the King and his court where spending Easter. Bernard had huge success in Vezelay. 'Men begun to cry for crosses "Crosses, give us Crosses!"'(Runciman, 1952, p.253) the material prepared for crosses soon ran out and Bernard tore up his own cloak to make more. Bernard wrote to the pope a few days later: You ordered; I obeyed; and the authority of him who gave the order has made my obedience fruitful. I opened my mouth; I spoke and at once the crusaders have multiplied to infinity. Villages and towns are now deserted. You will scarcely find one man for every seven women. Everywhere you see widows whose husbands are still alive. (St Bernard, letter no. 247)

But Bernard did not stop there. He continued to preach the crusade in Burgundy, Lorraine, Flamders and, finally, Germany, where again he had huge success among the common people. It was not until two days after Christmas in 1146 when Bernard appeared before Coonrad and addressed the king in the role of Christ himself: 'man' he cried 'what ought I to have done for you that I have not done?'(Runciman, 1952) After this none too subtle persuasion Conrad took the cross. The Pope was not happy when he heard of the German kings' involvement, for he was concerned by the problem of a divided command. Besides, he needed Conrad's help in Italy. However, though he was not pleased by the news, it was too ate.

Although there were a few minor armies from England, Belgium and Sicily, the two main odies came from Germany and France and were led by kings. The second crusade seemed to e getting off to a strong start although Pope Eugenius had his reservations about a crusading rmy divided by two different leaders. It was that kind of power struggle which almost cost hem the First Crusade. However, despite the pope's doubts, the Second Crusade was already n progress and there was no going back.

International politics was already affecting the crusade. Roger of Sicily offered to transport oth the French and German armies by sea but neither saw fit to accept, Conrad refusing for ersonal reasons while Louis because the Pope did not support Rogers's involvement in the rusade. Both kings chose to travel by land.More articles about the crusade  movement at Medieval Crusades