The Fifth Crusade (1217-1221) was a military campaign initiated by European Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control. The crusaders aimed to capture the city of Jerusalem by first taking Egypt, which was seen as a strategic base. The campaign began with a fleet sailing to Acre and then advancing to Damietta, where they achieved initial success. Despite early victories, the crusade ultimately failed due to poor planning and internal conflicts among the leaders. After a series of battles, the crusaders were forced to retreat, and the campaign ended without achieving its primary goal of recapturing Jerusalem.