User:Monster Pumpkin/Sandbox

This is my sandbox. Not much here yet, but oh well, what can you do? I'll expand it over time.

Barbarossa's Crusade?
What if, during the Third Crusade, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa didn't drown on his way to the Holy Land? His large army, reputed to be the largest army to ever partake in a Crusade, could have, and probably would have, turned the Crusade decisively in the favor of the Europeans. Some ideas below:
 * Barbarossa's success in the Third Crusade secures his support of the Papacy and Northern Italy.
 * All four Crusader states survive or are reborn.
 * Because of the success of the Third Crusade, the Fourth Crusade either never happens or is delayed, increasing the lifespan of the Byzantine Empire.
 * Because of their neccessity in defending the Crusader states, the three knightly military orders manage to survive for longer, although they still lose influence and territory over time, becoming the same organizations that they are today.