The Second Crusade was called in response to the fall of the County of Edessa to the Muslim leader Zengi in 1144.

Pope Eugene III issued the call for the crusade, which was promoted across Europe by the influential churchman Bernard of Clairvaux.

It was the first crusade to be led by European monarchs: King Louis VII of France and King Conrad III of Germany.

Both the French and German armies suffered disastrous marches across Anatolia, where they were defeated by the Seljuk Turks.

The crusade was plagued by poor planning, lack of coordination, and mistrust between the Western crusaders and the Byzantine Empire.

Upon reaching the Holy Land, the crusader leaders made the controversial and strategically poor decision to attack the friendly city of Damascus.

The Siege of Damascus was a complete failure and was abandoned after only four days.

The crusade achieved none of its military objectives and returned to Europe in disgrace.

The failure of the Second Crusade severely damaged the prestige of the crusading movement.

It also contributed to the rise of Saladin, who would unite Muslim forces and later recapture Jerusalem.