Xirniumite Crusade of 1087

Commonly known amongst historians and mediaeval scholars as the “Lost Crusade”, an ill-fated military expedition launched against the pagans of Xirnium. A minor war, the crusade is famous for the mediaeval legend (which developed in its bloody aftermath) that not one of the soldiers who embarked on the campaign ever returned home with news of their crushing defeat.

The Lost Crusade was declared at the Synod of Benvento by Pope Victor III, who had earlier dispatched a similar sized army to Tunis. Unlike his other military undertaking (which resulted in a Saracen defeat and compelled Tunis to pay tribute to Rome) the invasion of Xirnium was quickly thwarted and its armies entirely wiped out.

Dying soon thereafter, it has been conjectured that the shock experienced by Victor III at the sad news of his armies’ defeat hastened his demise.