Fifteen years after the collapse of the Second Crusade, young Prince Dietrich is sent on a mission that may shape the future of his kingdom. At his dying father’s command, he must seek out three unlikely veterans—each carrying a brutal tale of loss, betrayal, and survival.
As Dietrich journeys across lands haunted by war, he begins to question everything: Why did the Crusade fail? What drove men to fight? And what truths lie with the devout Muslim warriors who stood against them?
But the past isn’t the only threat. A deadly conspiracy takes shape, forcing him into a game of intrigue and survival. What he uncovers will test his faith, loyalty, and understanding of honor—and may change his future in ways he never imagined.
Mark Butler is a veteran, historical fiction enthusiast, and longtime writer of epic, character-driven tales. The Second Crusade is his ninth novel in the Crusade series.
Fifteen years after the collapse of the Second Crusade, young Prince Dietrich is sent on a mission that may shape the future of his kingdom. At his dying father’s command, he must seek out three unlikely veterans—each carrying a brutal tale of loss, betrayal, and survival.
As Dietrich journeys across lands haunted by war, he begins to question everything: Why did the Crusade fail? What drove men to fight? And what truths lie with the devout Muslim warriors who stood against them?
But the past isn’t the only threat. A deadly conspiracy takes shape, forcing him into a game of intrigue and survival. What he uncovers will test his faith, loyalty, and understanding of honor—and may change his future in ways he never imagined.
Mark Butler is a veteran, historical fiction enthusiast, and longtime writer of epic, character-driven tales. The Second Crusade is his ninth novel in the Crusade series.
Castle of Cölln, 1164
The king’s words echoed in Dietrich’s mind as he packed his traveling gear. “Jerusalem,” his father had said, “is the prize. A gem of humanity and faith. It draws the light and darkness in every man’s heart.”
Dietrich had heard these words before, but they carried a heavier weight now. Jerusalem—exalted and unattainable—was fiercely defended by thousands of Muslim warriors, united from Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and beyond. Devout and disciplined, they stood between European ambitions and the holy city.
“Obscene,” his father called their occupation.
“Wicked,” the priests declared. To claim Jerusalem, the king believed one had to understand the enemy. Not to love them nor hate them, but to unravel their strength. That was Dietrich’s mission: seek out veterans of the last crusade, learn from them, and find a weakness—any chink in the enemy’s spiritual armor.
He folded his blue cloak and tucked it into his bag, alongside a writing kit, a brass compass, and a carefully inked map of the countryside. A small silver crucifix dangled from his neck, its surface polished smooth by years of wear. Beneath his bed lay the last item he needed.
His sword, Holycrest, gleamed as he lifted it from the chest. He gripped the leather hilt and swung the blade in practiced arcs. It felt right in his hands—natural, even—but the mirror told a different story. A lean, clear-skinned lad stared back at him his muscles had yet to be tested by war.
He sighed and sheathed Holycrest. He’d only ever used it in practice.
At the stables, Dietrich nearly collided with Malchior, his father’s senior priest.
“Pardon me,” Dietrich said, stepping aside. “I’m on my way.”
Malchior smiled, his expression unreadable as ever. “Not so fast,” he said, holding out a calfskin parchment.
Three names were written on it in precise black lettering.
“These were chosen by the king and our spies,” Malchior explained. “Find them. Learn from them. Bring back what your fathers—both in Heaven and on Earth—require.”
Dietrich scanned the parchment before looking up. “My father is sick. You know it. Why send me away now, when his time is so short?”
“Yes,” Malchior replied, his tone maddeningly calm. “The king is dying. And yes, he may not survive another season.”
“Then why this journey? Does he expect me to lead the next war for Jerusalem? To prove myself for an inheritance? I have no siblings. The kingdom will be mine.”
Malchior shrugged. “After a king dies, there is always chaos. Perhaps, in his final days, he seeks to protect you—or to test you. Only he knows.”
Before Dietrich could press further, the priest turned and walked away.
Dietrich frowned, staring at the first name and town on the list: Dexus. Lübeck.
The village was five days away. The second would take another week; the third, ten days more. A full month, then, depending on how much these veterans liked to talk.
He mounted his stallion, Feta, and signaled his knights. Ten men formed a protective circle around him as they left the palace. His chestnut horse trotted briskly, its saddlebags bulging with provisions. Dietrich adjusted his grip on the reins, the parchment tucked safely in his cloak.
The journey had begun.
The Second Crusade by Mark Butler is the second in a series of eight books by the author, each covering one of the eight Crusades (1095-1291). As you may recall, the primary objective of the Crusades was to reclaim the holy city of Jerusalem. Though Christians won battles during the other Crusades, they lost every single one to the Muslims during the Second (1147-1149), making the Muslims feel superior, while the Christians, in low spirits, despaired.
Fifteen years after the disastrous Second Crusade, the ailing King of Cölln (Germany) sent Prince Dietrich, his son, on a mission to discover possible weaknesses in the Muslims’ armor by eliciting detailed accounts about the war from three chosen Christian war veterans, thus hoping to exploit those weaknesses and reverse their fortunes in the War.
This book follows the travels of Prince Dietrich to neighboring lands and kingdoms to meet the veterans. It has three parts, each detailing one of these journeys: first, to Lübeck, which lies on the border of Germany and Pomerania (Poland); second, to the Elbe river near Hamburg; and finally, a village near Hanover. He learns little that’s significant from the first two, but the third is insightful.
Dietrich is young, wise, and resourceful. Ten armed knights on horseback accompany him for protection. When he returns to Cölln, none remain. Upon his return, he also finds that, stabbed in the back by his father’s senior priest, his father had passed before his time, and the kingdom had been seized by the Church. Alone, Dietrich confronts and kills the treacherous priest and reclaims the kingdom.
If, like me, you enjoy outdoor adventures, near nature, particularly knolls, canyons, and gushing streams, etc., this book is sure to delight you. Dietrich’s journey takes you through similar terrain. Occasionally, hidden Muslim archers rain arrows at you. At other times, they engage you in skirmishes directly in your path.
The book’s cover is sufficiently expressive to give a clear introduction to what it contains. Readability is excellent. However, a formatting error erroneously underlines all the text on pages 50 through 63. There’s a single English error on p.115, but like a fly in the ointment, it sadly results in the author losing the entire credit due had the book been error-free.
You probably know about the Crusades, which were many, dragged on for centuries, involved many kings and kingdoms, and claimed countless lives. Being one in the long Crusade series, you distinctly get the impression you’re reading only part of a much bigger story, and quite naturally, a feeling of discontentment remains at the end. Understandably, that may be part of the author’s strategy to persuade you to read the entire series! That said, the story itself is nice, and you could treat it as a standalone book if you wish.
The recommended audience for this book would include English-speaking historians and religious folk, particularly Christians and Muslims.