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Few areas of medieval history have managed to capture the popular imagination quite like the crusades. In everything from 19th-century novels to Hollywood blockbusters, tales of valiant Christian warriors riding towards the Holy Land have been romanticised and scrutinised in equal measure. In this collector’s edition of BBC History Magazine, we’ll separate fact from fiction, beginning by looking at the chain of events that sparked the crusading movement in the 11th century. We’ll offer expert insight into the lives of the ordinary people who went on crusade, and the variety of factors – both religious and financial – that motivated them to join the fight. We’ll meet the cast of characters whose stories still loom large, including Richard the Lionheart and Saladin, assessing the qualities that made both men such effective leaders.…