The Turks captured the stronghold city of Edessa in 1144. Immediately, Christian Europe became alarmed. Bernard of Clairvaux persuaded the French king Louis VII and the Holy Roman Emperor Conrad III to lead a crusade in 1147. Conrad's army was routed in Asia Minor. The French fought unsuccessfully and abandoned the expedition in 1149. The only success of this crusade occurred in Portugal. In 1147 an army of English and Flemish landed in Oporto to help its bishop against the Mohammedans in Lisbon. They captured Lisbon and turned it over to king Alphonso, who made it his capital and principal city.
