Periodically, an opportunity will arise to participate in a crusade. The Pope can preach a crusade once every five years. Players' Personal History will show the countdwon to the season of the Crusade.

Players who wish to participate must be in Avignon with at least 500 troops and zero or more days at the end of the season BEFORE the announced season of the Crusade. At the update that starts the season of the Crusade, the system will eliminate the armies, zero the days of the Crusaders (so that they havt to stay in Avignon for the entire season) and calculate the results or the Crusade for each participant.

There is a chance that your character will be injured (have its health reduced,) and/or be captured during the Crusade. There is an equal chance you will arrive home from the crusade with a lot of money; up to several million ducats in loot. The injuries might result in your getting killed. There is also a chance you will be captured, and you will have to ransom yourself. However, your Stature will increase by two after the Crusade.

There are three places you can crusade; Prussia, to conquer and convert the heathen Balts and Slavs; Italy, to pacify the Papal States; or in the East, against the Turks. Each vary in how dangerous they are. Most crusades were against the Prussians, with Italy coming next and against the Turks being rather rare. The system will run a program and inform the Pope where the crusade must be each time the Pope decides to preach a crusade.

The Pope also has the option of blessing all those who complete, and survive, a crusade.