Crusaders — European knights-participants of eight (nine) crusades to the Holy Land (modern Syria and Palestine), which took place from 1095 to 1291. In a broader sense, crusaders are understood to mean all the troops participating in these campaigns, not just knights.

The participants of the military campaigns to the Holy Land received their name (literally, "bearing crosses") for sewing cloth crosses on their clothes in order to once again emphasize their Christian faith.

Deus vult!