Defenders of the Holy Land: Relations between the Latin East and the West, 1119-1187

For most observers, the decades between the great crusading expeditions of the twelfth century saw little contact of note between the Holy Land and Western Europe. In fact, as the neighbouring Muslim powers exerted increasing pressure on the crusaders, the Christians mounted a sustained diplomatic effort to secure outside help. This original investigation reveals for the first time the range and scale of the struggle to preserve Christian control of the Holy Land.