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Crusader criminals: how the Holy Land became a hotbed of lawlessness

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Crusader criminals: how the Holy Land became a hotbed of lawlessness

Steve Tibble delves into the rotten underworld of crime and punishment in the Holy Land during the Middle Ages

Emily Briffett

Published: August 23, 2024 at 7:30 AM

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The medieval crusades are remembered for their sweeping military campaigns. But they also engendered a brutality that went beyond the battlefield – in the form of a violent criminal underbelly, fuelled by hordes a dislocated, disinhibited young men. Speaking to Emily Briffett, historian Steve Tibble uncovers why the Holy Land became a hotbed of lawlessness, and shares some of the most surprising stories of the time – from saintly pirates and gangs led by prisoners-of-war, to devious and deceitful murderers.

Steve Tibble is the author of Crusader Criminals: The Knights Who Went Rogue in the Holy Land (Yale University Press, 2024)

Authors

Emily BriffettSenior content producer (podcasts)

Emily Briffett is senior content producer (podcasts) at HistoryExtra