Final answer:
The Crusades saw initial success for European Christians with the capture of Jerusalem, but ultimately, Muslim forces regained and maintained control over the Holy Lands. Concluding with the fall of Acre in 1291, the Crusades did not achieve their long-term goals, indicating that in a broader historical context, the Muslim forces can be considered as having won.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of who won the Crusades is complex, as the long series of conflicts had varying outcomes over the two centuries they spanned. Initially, the First Crusade was a success for the European Christians, capturing Jerusalem and establishing the Crusader States. This was the most significant victory for the crusaders, who were largely French knights, resulting in brutal massacres and a temporary hold on the Holy Land.
However, eventually Muslim forces under leaders such as Saladin regained control, and by the end of the Third Crusade, led by Richard the Lionheart, Jerusalem remained under Muslim control despite the crusaders' efforts. The remainder of the Crusades saw decreasing success and enthusiasm from European potentates, with the last remaining Crusader stronghold of Acre falling in 1291, essentially marking the end of the Christians' hold in the region.
Later Crusades shifted their focus and were even less successful; for example, the Fourth Crusade never even reached the Holy Land, becoming entangled in the politics of Byzantium. The ultimate failure to reestablish long-term Christian control over the Holy Land and the shifting priorities of European powers towards nation-state building indicate that in the long term, the Crusades did not achieve their main objectives.