The word 'Crusades' has traditionally referred to the wars fought after the late eleventh century to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims. Reagan argues that they actually began in the seventh century with the conquest by the Persians of the Byzantine Empire. In retaliation, the emperor Heraclius used Christian propaganda to turn the war into the first crusade. Coincidentally, Heraclius's career was unfolding at the same time as that of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed. No sooner had Heraclius overthrown the power of Persia and regained the Holy Land, than he lost it to the irresistably strong Arabs. First Crusader is an entertaining and challenging reinterpretation of The Crusades.
- ISBN10 1403961514
- ISBN13 9781403961518
- Publish Date 19 April 2003
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 17 June 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Palgrave Macmillan
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 304
- Language English