The Children's Crusade was inspired by a boy's visions. Historians don't know exactly where he is from but think it might be either France or Germany. He had visions that showed the Muslims being converted to Christianity in the Holy Land. "One boy had the dream to lead thousands of people into a crusade because of his deep faith in the Lord."Hollister. Page 199. The boy began preaching that he had been visited by Jesus, and he was directed to lead a crusade in which the Christians of that land converted the Muslims of the Holy Land to Christianity. "His dream saw more Christians forming in the World." Hollister. Page 198.

The boy gathered a reasonable group of people to follow him which included 20,000 children. The boy led the people to the Mediterranean Sea. He told them that the water would part for them so they could get across, but this never happened. All the children were either sold and became slaves or died before they could make it across the Mediterranean.

The second movement was led by a "shepherd boy" named Stephen de Cloyes. He claimed to have a letter for the King of France from Jesus. Cloyes gathered over 30,000 people to follow him. They marched to Saint-Denis where Stephen was seen to have worked miracles. The University of Paris told the people to go home. Most listened and left.

Another form of the story contains both boys in one story. It was said that they both had similar visions from Jesus to convert Muslims to Christianity. People gathered and followed them from all around. They were united in one big religious protest movement which changed this wandering group of people into a religious journey. The people associated themselves with Jesus's biblical journey, but nothing came from this religious journey. The people once again disbanded and went back home. The movement fizzled.

Though nothing seemed to have come out of these journeys, I think there was a very deep message to be learned from these episodes. They showed the Christians how strong their love for Jesus really was, and how much they trusted His word. 30,000 people gathering for one boy who claims to have seen visions of the Christian faith spreading. This also showed other religious groups the depth of faith and trust Christians had in the power of religious messages and the strong love Christians had and still have for the Lord.


Gies, Frances and Joseph. Daily Life in Medieval Times. Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers, Inc. New York, 1990.

Hollister, C. Warren. Medieval Europe. The Mcgraw-Hill Companies, Inc. U.S.A.,1998