The Frank's Settlement in Jerusalem
With their new occupation of the city of Jerusalem, the Franks began implementing a variety of changes. More specifically, they began to install Western ideas and city planning in order to change the feel of the city. Interestingly enough, even with the nature of the Crusades, Jerusalem became a more secular city, meaning there was not a period of religious intolerance against all other religions. As well, they altered a variety of structures that were already there. For example, a cross was erected on the top of the Dome of the Rock and marble was put inside to make an altar and a choir. In fact, the Franks did not know what the Dome of the Rock was, and realized it was not the Temple that Solomon built, which was their main focus. Instead, they thought that Constantine or Heraklius had built it, and it had fallen under Muslim rule. These moves were attempts to undermine the Muslim touch on the buildings, and make it a more Christian resemblance.
Another idea to come from this was the Templars. The Templars, who originally called themselves the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Jesus Christ, were a small band of knights who sought to protect the streets of Palestine from Bedouin and other Muslim attackers. Because this was such a problem at the time, King Baldwin gave them the almost ruined Aqsa Mosque as their headquarters. Because they were so close to the Temple of the Lord, the name Templars was given to them. This was unusual because in the order, carrying weaponry was forbidden, but once the Templars became an official order sacred violence became "canonized" (Armstrong 382).
Nice post about part of the crusader period. Clarification: you suggest that the city became more secular and accepting of other religions, but the examples you go on to give (e.g. putting cross on top of Dome of Rock and Templars needed as protection against Muslim attackers) suggest that the different religious groups were not getting along at this time.
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