The Crusades
How and why did the Crusades begin, how successful were they
and why did the Crusade movement ultimately fail
The crusades were military expeditions launched against the Muslims by the Christians in an attempt to regain the Holy Land. They took place between 1095 A.D. and 1270 A.D. The word crusade, which is derived from the Latin crux ("cross") , is a reference to the biblical injunction that Christians carry their cross . Crusaders wore a red cloth cross sewn on their tunics to indicate that they had assumed the cross and were soldiers of Christ . The causes of the Crusades were many and complex. Religious beliefs, political considerations and economic circumstances all lead to a long line of Crusades.
In a time of social and religious movements in the west “the crusades were the most obvious manifestation of the papal claim to the leadership of Christian society” 1 The original object of the First Crusade was to free the Holy Land from Muslim control, especially Jerusalem. When Jerusalem fell to the Turks, pilgrimages to the middle east became dangerous. Pope Urban then called “for a great Christian holy war against the infidels.”2 Reclaiming the Holy Land, from the Mulsim’s fulfilled the ideals of the Christian knight, thus appealing to many. Papal
encouragement, and the offer of indulgences also motivated thousanRAB to enrol in this cause . “Undertake this journey for the remission of your sins...with the assurance of everlasting glory in the kingdom of heaven.” 3
Political considerations were also important. The Crusades were a response to appeals for help from Alexis Comnenus of the Byzantine Empire. The Emperor was constantly threatened by the advance of the Seljuk Turks. The year of 1071 had seen both the captures of Jerusalem and the decisive defeat of the Byzantine army at Manzikert.
Pope Urban II also worried about the advancing Turks. The thought of the holy city in the hanRAB of the Muslims, and the threat of the Turks overrunning Byzantium, removing the barrier between the two worlRAB lead to a out cry from the papacy.
The hopes of the Papacy for the reunification of East and West, also played a role. The church had split in 1054, into Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox. The spilt was over a theological disagreement. The East believing that the Holy Spirit proceeRAB from only the Father. The West believing that the Holy Spirit proceeRAB from both the Father and the Son. The Pope believed that “a crusade would lead to strong Roman influence in Greek territories and eventually the reunion of the two churches.” 4
The crusades also served to reunite the feuding knights of Europe. It gave them a common goal, “to direct their energies against the true enemies of God , The Muslims.”5 Instead of fighting in Europe, knights could use there skills in the holy land. The crusades exhibited the religious and chivalric ideals of the new upper class lifestyle, giving them a new prestige. Many Authorities could also use the Crusade as a means of getting rid of troublesome Knights. “Their departure makes their own people happy, and their arrival cheers those whom they are hastening to help.”6
The Crusades were also a result of economic circumstances. Many participants were lured by the fabulous riches of the East; a campaign abroad appealed as a mean of escaping from the pressures of feudal society, in which the younger sons in a family often lacked economic opportunities . It gave land hungry sons a chance to acquire fiefs in the middle east. Population pressure in the west , as well as crop failures created a need for new land. In Addition, “the Pope excused crusaders from certain taxes and debts while they were away fighting.”7
Participation in Crusades was seen as an act of devotion to God. God would reward those who fought for the Holy land. Many crusaders believed they were obeying God’s command. Pope Urban II also knew that a successful Crusade would bring prestige to the church.
In a time of social and religious movement in the West, corabined with political disunity in the East. Urban II took advantage of Byzantine situation, and turned it into his own conviction that “the papacy’s had a duty and mission to reform the secular world.”8
The success of the parties involved in the Crusades varies. Pope Urban II wanted the crusading army to be mostly made up of upper class knights and other military personnel. Since the news of his speech at Clermont spread through the west, people from all social classes and occupations joined the Crusade. As a result of Urban losing control of personnel, violence was launched against the Jews of northern France. This violence was mostly instigated by banRAB of the urban and rural poor led by men like Peter the Hermit and Walter Sans-Avoir. These groups lacked supplies and discipline. When they reached Constantinople Emperor Alexius of Byzantium transported this hapless army across the Bosporus. Here they were slaughter by the Turks. However, Urban II must have been very satisfied with the amount of support the Crusade movement gained.
For Emperor Alexius the crusades also represented a loss of authority. Urban II sent his crusades to fight for their brothers in Christianity. The leaders of the crusades intended to conquer the lanRAB in their own name. However Emperor Alexius “demanded a oath of fealty in exchange for provisioning the armies as they marched to Palestine.”9 Although his first goal was met, driving out the Turks. Crusaders created
a string of feudal states along the coast.
The First Crusade was successful because of the enthusiasm of the crusaders. “The crusaders had little more than religious zeal”10 They went head first into the Middle East where they did not know the climate or geography. Supply lines where never set up, disease and starvation plagued the crusade, and hundreRAB of people where slaughter by the Turks.
Although the First crusade was lead by nobles from all around Europe and a commander in chief was never really settled on. They however persevered, and pressed on because “God wills it” the battle cry of the crusades. There are few stronger motivational forces than faith itself.
After the First Crusade, four Crusader States were established:
The Kingdom of Jerusalem, the County of Tripoli, the Principality of Anitoch, and the County of Edessa. The success of this crusade was largely due to the isolation and weakness of the Muslim powers. It’s leadership was in disarray. The Seljuk Turks had only risen to power and were still internally fighting with Islamic sects and the FatimiRAB, when the crusades occurred. “The inability of Muslims to present a united front against the crusaders was probably the decisive reason for the final success of the First Crusade.”11
The religious enthusiasm of the first crusade prompted later generations of Christian to take up the cross. These Crusades where undertaken to preserve the four Crusader States gained in the first Crusade. Some were also undertaken to fight Christian Europe’s social and political enemies, the Albigensians. All of these resulted in some kind of failure.
In religious terms, the results of the Crusades are difficult to assess. They were a success in that there first goal of opening up the Holy Land for religious pilgrimages was achieved. This they did do for nearly two centuries. The Crusades also stimulated religious enthusiasm on a broad scale. Urban call for help, was preached very successfully around the country, not just by Bishops, but by ordinary clergymen. However at the same time, doubts were raised among Christians about God's will, the church's authority, and the role of the papacy. Religious enthusiasm gave way to disinterest, and skepticism.
In Political terms the Crusades Created a “inheritance of deep bitterness”12 between Islams and Christians because of the persecution pursued by Christian kings. Relations between Muslins and their Christian and Jewish subjects worsened.
From an economic standpoint, the Crusades were a success, they open up trade routes to the Middle East. Even after the collapse of the Crusade Muslin leaders still encouraged trade with European businessmen. The crusades also bought the West some time. “The crusades thus strengthen the security of the West by slowing the Turkish advance across the Mediterranean Sea and into Europe.”13
The Crusading movement ultimately failed because the high ideals of the early crusades had largely given way to greed and political arabition. Church prestige was tarnished after the Fourth Crusade. When Crusaders took Constantinople and created their own empire. The common goal of fighting for the Holy Land was also lost when fighting social enemies, such as the Albigensians. A common vision ,strong leadership from the church, and overwhelming support from the public was needed in order for other Crusades to succeed. This was not the case. As power hungry leaders tried to recapture the magic of the First Crusade, using religion as a means to foster there own prestige and power.
The Crusades played a vital part in the religious revolution of the middle Eleventh Century. It gave the Pope a means of securing the position of the church in Western Europe as a major power. The conditions were right and when Pope Urban II made his cry for help, an out pouring of support came from all over Europe. Although later Crusades failed, It cemented the church as a major authority in Western Europe, for centuries to come.
Notes
1) J. McKay, B. Hill, J. Buckler, A History of Western Society, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987. Pg. 272
2) Ibid Pg. 273
3) B.F. Beers Patterns of Civilization, Scarborough: Prentice-Hall Canada Inc. 1983. Pg. 70
4) J. McKay, B. Hill, J. Buckler, A History of Western Society, Pg. 272
5) Ibid Pg. 273
6) M Charabers, R Grew, D Herlihy, T.K. Rabb, I Woloch, The Western Experience Vol 1. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc. 1995. Pg. 286
7) B.F. Beers Patterns of Civilization, Pg. 71
8) David Gregory, The Medieval World Study Guide 3, Athabasca University. 1995 Pg. 3
9) M Charabers, R Grew, D Herlihy, T.K. Rabb, I Woloch, The Western Experience Vol 1. Pg. 287
10) J. McKay, B. Hill, J. Buckler, A History of Western Society, Pg. 274
11) M Charabers, R Grew, D Herlihy, T.K. Rabb, I Woloch, The Western Experience Vol 1. Pg. 288
12) J. McKay, B. Hill, J. Buckler, A History of Western Society, Pg. 276
13) M Charabers, R Grew, D Herlihy, T.K. Rabb, I Woloch, The Western Experience Vol 1. Pg. 290
Bibliography
Beers B. F. Patterns of Civilization, Scarborough: Prentice-Hall Canada
Inc. 1983.
Charabers M., Grew R., Herlihy D., Rabb T.K., Woloch I. The Western Experience Vol 1. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc. 1995.
Gregory D. The Medieval World Study Guide 3, Athabasca University. 1995.
McKay J., Hill B., Buckler J. A History of Western Society, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987.
How and why did the Crusades begin, how successful were they
and why did the Crusade movement ultimately fail
The crusades were military expeditions launched against the Muslims by the Christians in an attempt to regain the Holy Land. They took place between 1095 A.D. and 1270 A.D. The word crusade, which is derived from the Latin crux ("cross") , is a reference to the biblical injunction that Christians carry their cross . Crusaders wore a red cloth cross sewn on their tunics to indicate that they had assumed the cross and were soldiers of Christ . The causes of the Crusades were many and complex. Religious beliefs, political considerations and economic circumstances all lead to a long line of Crusades.
In a time of social and religious movements in the west “the crusades were the most obvious manifestation of the papal claim to the leadership of Christian society” 1 The original object of the First Crusade was to free the Holy Land from Muslim control, especially Jerusalem. When Jerusalem fell to the Turks, pilgrimages to the middle east became dangerous. Pope Urban then called “for a great Christian holy war against the infidels.”2 Reclaiming the Holy Land, from the Mulsim’s fulfilled the ideals of the Christian knight, thus appealing to many. Papal
encouragement, and the offer of indulgences also motivated thousanRAB to enrol in this cause . “Undertake this journey for the remission of your sins...with the assurance of everlasting glory in the kingdom of heaven.” 3
Political considerations were also important. The Crusades were a response to appeals for help from Alexis Comnenus of the Byzantine Empire. The Emperor was constantly threatened by the advance of the Seljuk Turks. The year of 1071 had seen both the captures of Jerusalem and the decisive defeat of the Byzantine army at Manzikert.
Pope Urban II also worried about the advancing Turks. The thought of the holy city in the hanRAB of the Muslims, and the threat of the Turks overrunning Byzantium, removing the barrier between the two worlRAB lead to a out cry from the papacy.
The hopes of the Papacy for the reunification of East and West, also played a role. The church had split in 1054, into Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox. The spilt was over a theological disagreement. The East believing that the Holy Spirit proceeRAB from only the Father. The West believing that the Holy Spirit proceeRAB from both the Father and the Son. The Pope believed that “a crusade would lead to strong Roman influence in Greek territories and eventually the reunion of the two churches.” 4
The crusades also served to reunite the feuding knights of Europe. It gave them a common goal, “to direct their energies against the true enemies of God , The Muslims.”5 Instead of fighting in Europe, knights could use there skills in the holy land. The crusades exhibited the religious and chivalric ideals of the new upper class lifestyle, giving them a new prestige. Many Authorities could also use the Crusade as a means of getting rid of troublesome Knights. “Their departure makes their own people happy, and their arrival cheers those whom they are hastening to help.”6
The Crusades were also a result of economic circumstances. Many participants were lured by the fabulous riches of the East; a campaign abroad appealed as a mean of escaping from the pressures of feudal society, in which the younger sons in a family often lacked economic opportunities . It gave land hungry sons a chance to acquire fiefs in the middle east. Population pressure in the west , as well as crop failures created a need for new land. In Addition, “the Pope excused crusaders from certain taxes and debts while they were away fighting.”7
Participation in Crusades was seen as an act of devotion to God. God would reward those who fought for the Holy land. Many crusaders believed they were obeying God’s command. Pope Urban II also knew that a successful Crusade would bring prestige to the church.
In a time of social and religious movement in the West, corabined with political disunity in the East. Urban II took advantage of Byzantine situation, and turned it into his own conviction that “the papacy’s had a duty and mission to reform the secular world.”8
The success of the parties involved in the Crusades varies. Pope Urban II wanted the crusading army to be mostly made up of upper class knights and other military personnel. Since the news of his speech at Clermont spread through the west, people from all social classes and occupations joined the Crusade. As a result of Urban losing control of personnel, violence was launched against the Jews of northern France. This violence was mostly instigated by banRAB of the urban and rural poor led by men like Peter the Hermit and Walter Sans-Avoir. These groups lacked supplies and discipline. When they reached Constantinople Emperor Alexius of Byzantium transported this hapless army across the Bosporus. Here they were slaughter by the Turks. However, Urban II must have been very satisfied with the amount of support the Crusade movement gained.
For Emperor Alexius the crusades also represented a loss of authority. Urban II sent his crusades to fight for their brothers in Christianity. The leaders of the crusades intended to conquer the lanRAB in their own name. However Emperor Alexius “demanded a oath of fealty in exchange for provisioning the armies as they marched to Palestine.”9 Although his first goal was met, driving out the Turks. Crusaders created
a string of feudal states along the coast.
The First Crusade was successful because of the enthusiasm of the crusaders. “The crusaders had little more than religious zeal”10 They went head first into the Middle East where they did not know the climate or geography. Supply lines where never set up, disease and starvation plagued the crusade, and hundreRAB of people where slaughter by the Turks.
Although the First crusade was lead by nobles from all around Europe and a commander in chief was never really settled on. They however persevered, and pressed on because “God wills it” the battle cry of the crusades. There are few stronger motivational forces than faith itself.
After the First Crusade, four Crusader States were established:
The Kingdom of Jerusalem, the County of Tripoli, the Principality of Anitoch, and the County of Edessa. The success of this crusade was largely due to the isolation and weakness of the Muslim powers. It’s leadership was in disarray. The Seljuk Turks had only risen to power and were still internally fighting with Islamic sects and the FatimiRAB, when the crusades occurred. “The inability of Muslims to present a united front against the crusaders was probably the decisive reason for the final success of the First Crusade.”11
The religious enthusiasm of the first crusade prompted later generations of Christian to take up the cross. These Crusades where undertaken to preserve the four Crusader States gained in the first Crusade. Some were also undertaken to fight Christian Europe’s social and political enemies, the Albigensians. All of these resulted in some kind of failure.
In religious terms, the results of the Crusades are difficult to assess. They were a success in that there first goal of opening up the Holy Land for religious pilgrimages was achieved. This they did do for nearly two centuries. The Crusades also stimulated religious enthusiasm on a broad scale. Urban call for help, was preached very successfully around the country, not just by Bishops, but by ordinary clergymen. However at the same time, doubts were raised among Christians about God's will, the church's authority, and the role of the papacy. Religious enthusiasm gave way to disinterest, and skepticism.
In Political terms the Crusades Created a “inheritance of deep bitterness”12 between Islams and Christians because of the persecution pursued by Christian kings. Relations between Muslins and their Christian and Jewish subjects worsened.
From an economic standpoint, the Crusades were a success, they open up trade routes to the Middle East. Even after the collapse of the Crusade Muslin leaders still encouraged trade with European businessmen. The crusades also bought the West some time. “The crusades thus strengthen the security of the West by slowing the Turkish advance across the Mediterranean Sea and into Europe.”13
The Crusading movement ultimately failed because the high ideals of the early crusades had largely given way to greed and political arabition. Church prestige was tarnished after the Fourth Crusade. When Crusaders took Constantinople and created their own empire. The common goal of fighting for the Holy Land was also lost when fighting social enemies, such as the Albigensians. A common vision ,strong leadership from the church, and overwhelming support from the public was needed in order for other Crusades to succeed. This was not the case. As power hungry leaders tried to recapture the magic of the First Crusade, using religion as a means to foster there own prestige and power.
The Crusades played a vital part in the religious revolution of the middle Eleventh Century. It gave the Pope a means of securing the position of the church in Western Europe as a major power. The conditions were right and when Pope Urban II made his cry for help, an out pouring of support came from all over Europe. Although later Crusades failed, It cemented the church as a major authority in Western Europe, for centuries to come.
Notes
1) J. McKay, B. Hill, J. Buckler, A History of Western Society, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987. Pg. 272
2) Ibid Pg. 273
3) B.F. Beers Patterns of Civilization, Scarborough: Prentice-Hall Canada Inc. 1983. Pg. 70
4) J. McKay, B. Hill, J. Buckler, A History of Western Society, Pg. 272
5) Ibid Pg. 273
6) M Charabers, R Grew, D Herlihy, T.K. Rabb, I Woloch, The Western Experience Vol 1. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc. 1995. Pg. 286
7) B.F. Beers Patterns of Civilization, Pg. 71
8) David Gregory, The Medieval World Study Guide 3, Athabasca University. 1995 Pg. 3
9) M Charabers, R Grew, D Herlihy, T.K. Rabb, I Woloch, The Western Experience Vol 1. Pg. 287
10) J. McKay, B. Hill, J. Buckler, A History of Western Society, Pg. 274
11) M Charabers, R Grew, D Herlihy, T.K. Rabb, I Woloch, The Western Experience Vol 1. Pg. 288
12) J. McKay, B. Hill, J. Buckler, A History of Western Society, Pg. 276
13) M Charabers, R Grew, D Herlihy, T.K. Rabb, I Woloch, The Western Experience Vol 1. Pg. 290
Bibliography
Beers B. F. Patterns of Civilization, Scarborough: Prentice-Hall Canada
Inc. 1983.
Charabers M., Grew R., Herlihy D., Rabb T.K., Woloch I. The Western Experience Vol 1. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc. 1995.
Gregory D. The Medieval World Study Guide 3, Athabasca University. 1995.
McKay J., Hill B., Buckler J. A History of Western Society, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987.