Ca. 1100-1400 AD. A bronze finger ring of a slender hoop is stunningly contrasted with a flat oval-shaped bezel, which is decorated with an eight-pointed star motif. The star is surrounded by a raised frame with radiating decoration. The Crusades were a series of religious wars fought by Christian forces from Europe in the Middle Ages, initially motivated by the desire to reclaim the holy land from Muslim rule. The Crusaders, as they were known, launched several expeditions to the Levant, the region of the Near East around Jerusalem, in the 11th-13th centuries. These expeditions were marked by violence, suffering, and destruction, but also by moments of heroism and religious fervor. While the initial goal of the Crusades was to liberate the holy land from Muslim control, the movement soon took on a wider significance, becoming a symbol of Christian power and a rallying point for European knights. Ultimately, the Crusades failed to achieve their original goal, but they left a lasting legacy in the form of cultural exchange, military innovations, and a deep appreciation for the power of faith.Size: D: 18.14mm / US: 8 / UK: P 1/2; 7.6gProvenance: Private London collector, acquired on the UK Art market, pre-2000.