Editing Children's Crusade (section)

==== Nicholas of Cologne in Germany ====
In the first movement, Nicholas, a shepherd from the [[Rhineland]] in Germany,<ref name="Bridge">Bridge, Antony. ''The Crusades''. London: Granada Publishing, 1980. {{ISBN|0-531-09872-9}}</ref> tried to lead a group across the [[Alps]] and into Italy in the early spring of 1212. Nicholas said that the sea would open up before them just as the Lord had done for the Israelites and allow his followers to cross into the Holy Land.<ref name="Britannica">{{Cite web |title=Children's Crusade {{!}} European history {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/Childrens-Crusade |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> Rather than intending to fight the [[Saracens]], he said that the Muslim kingdoms would be defeated when their citizens converted to Christianity.<ref name="Bridge"/> His disciples went off to preach the call for the "Crusade" across the German lands, and they massed in [[Cologne]] after a few weeks. Splitting into two groups, the crowds took different roads through Switzerland. Two out of every three people on the journey died, while many others returned to their homes.<ref name="Bridge"/> About 7,000 arrived in [[Genoa]] in late August. They immediately marched to the harbour, expecting the sea to divide before them; when it did not many became bitterly disappointed. A few accused Nicholas of betraying them, while others settled down to wait for God to change his mind, since they believed that it was unthinkable that he would not eventually do so. The Genoese authorities were reportedly impressed by the group, and they offered citizenship to those who wished to settle in their city. Most of the would-be Crusaders took up this opportunity.<ref name="Bridge"/> Nicholas refused to say he was defeated and travelled to [[Pisa]], his movement continuing to break up along the way. In [[Pisa]], two ships directed to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] agreed to embark several of the children who, perhaps, managed to reach the Holy Land.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Runciman|first=Steven|title=A History of the Crusades. Vol III|publisher=Pelican Books|year=1971|pages=142}}</ref> Nicholas and a few loyal followers, instead, continued to the [[Papal States]], where they met [[Pope Innocent III]]. The remaining ones departed for Germany after the [[Pontiff]] exhorted them to be good and to return home to their families. Nicholas did not survive the second attempt across the Alps; back home his father was arrested and hanged under pressure from angry families whose relatives had perished while following the children.<ref name="Bridge"/>

Some of the most dedicated members of this Crusade were later reported to have wandered to [[Ancona]] and [[Brindisi]]; none are known to have reached the Holy Land.<ref name="Bridge"/>