You are correct. The Muslims have been attempting to take over the world from the beginning and the Crusades were a part of what has kept them from having Europe until now. I find another interesting historic battler of Islam to be Vlad the Impaler. Kinda rocky history for a family there... totally off the wall human being... but he did fight the Islamic hoards.
I believe that the MOST succesful muslim fighter was Ghengis Khan, around 12xx. He really knew how to control islamics. The muslims have not yet recovered from him.