298 Crusades Lecture 18, 19 April 9, 11 Flashcards
Question regarding 3rd crusade?
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- Post-Third Crusade Spin Campaigns
Spin campaigns for Richard and Saladin post Crusade.
S: piety, Islamic justice. Probably a later gloss.
R: paragon of justice and fairness.
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- Chivalry.
Means horsemanship etymologically.
Idea of what it means to be a good knight.
Variants: 11th century Song of Roland; late 12th century Arthurian Romances, read around the campfire on the eve of a major battle.
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- This kind of rhetoric increasingly used in the recording of the crusades. Civilizing. Idealisation.
Makes it fun to read, but suspect as an account of what actually happened or what the major figures were really like.
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- Financing the Crusades
Third Crusade:
Church taxed its own churches to finance the crusades.
Threat so immediate that authority granted to secular leaders to tax their own people for the crusade.
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- Saladin Tithe
See handout for an example from England. No aggressive tax like this before in medieval history. Jews exempt. Sense of urgency. Crusade to end all crusades.
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- Financing: Have to talk in relative scales.
Louis 9 spent about four years collecting money for his crusade. It amounted to four times the royal income.
Iraq. 1 billion per week. Small percentage of federal budget.
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- Every crusade cost more than the one previous.
Crusades are relying more and more on professional mercenaries.
Mercenaries charging more and more. The more popular a crusade is, the bigger the demand for mercenaries. Eg Third Crusade.
Need for a professionalizing of the finances.
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- Where does the money come from?
Church does not have the right to tax the people. Can tax other churches.
Starts taxing universities, convents, etc. Called a one fortieth.
Every year every ecclesiastical body had to pay this to Rome for the crusades. Still could not be enough.
Then they would levy a tithe for a year or two. Saladin tithe unique because state involved.
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- No crusade called off due to lack of money. Partial exception of fourth crusade.
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- Crusades an investment opportunity.
Invest in a crusader.
Loan made by either an individual or an institution. Usury a sin.
As opposed to charging interest, I get temporary possession of your rents and lands and will take a cut. Usufruct.
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11a. Thus, with every crusade, a lot of properly changed hands. Any time there is a sudden drop in properly values in a region, probably indicates a crusade had been preached there.
Churches the top loaners. Bishops. Monasteries. Latter would melt down candlesticks, etc. So as to be able to loan money.
3rd the Jews. Saw the crusades as an opportunity for making money. World in which crusades are happening anyway, so may as well make the best of it. Temporarily able to control land.
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11b. Development after the Third Crusade of the idea that providing support for a crusade in terms of materiel would earn one a proportionate indulgence.
Also new idea under Innocent III that a vow could be commuted or redeemed once taken – with money.
This radically alters crusade funding, recruitment, planning, and preaching.
Criticism: Crosses for Cash
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11c. Why was Crusading so expensive?
Mercenaries, definitely. But also:
For every knight, ten to twelve attendants. Some were squires. Some infantry.
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11d. 5th crusade
Louis kept elaborate records, including ships manifests
Military command always a difficulty to organize for a crusade.
Who do you report to if your lord away on crusade ? Personal loyalty, not institutional.
Work out a company structure of about fifty knights.
Company of St. Victor
14 knights, 90 retainers, 7 clergy, 342 commoners, 42 women
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11e. commoners; tanners, ferriers, cooks, etc. Merchants.
15 of the women were wives. Extra wife was wife of one of priests. Rest: cooks, laundresses, etc.
Only 14 took the cross.
This is why crusading was so expensive.
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- The world before the fourth crusade.
Circa 1200
Many local warlords in the Middle East. In fighting. Next several crusades about reclaiming Jerusalem and shoring up what remains.
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- Europe looks very different.
England, France, and Germany the dominant political powers.
These are the home of feudalism, to the degree it ever existed.
Feudalism not an identifiable set of ideas. But these regions dominated by interconnected land holders.
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- Economically and culturally, the center of life is the Mediterranean.
Crusades have made this abundantly clear to northern lords.
Literacy, government, etc a whole different world.
Tax revenue of city of Palermo 4 times what king of England got from his entire kingdom.
The crusades have connected more northerners to the Mediterranean.
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- City- states
Catalans in Spain extend influence to Sicily. Control western part of the sea.
Venetians control eastern Mediterranean.
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- Since 1100, the three northern kingdom have been trying to gain direct access to the Mediterranean.
Marriages. Land acquisition. Meta narrative of the politics of the twelfth century.
HRE gets control of the top third of Italy. Weak control. Swiss Alps interfere. About once a decade, emperor marches army south to remind the Italians who is in charge. Once he is gone, city -states essentially independent.
Extending in to Mediterranean far more important than holy land.
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- The Fourth Crusade
If the Simpsons had a crusade. D’oh! Wrong city!
Asbridge doesn’t spend time on this crusade
1202 to 1204
Loved by conspiracy theorists
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- In response to third crusade.
Region roiling with religious and ethnic strife, endangering the remaining crusader states.
Background politics for 4th crusade
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19 first. SLIDE
In 1182 the last of the Comneni ascended throne: Andronicus.
Heavy-handed
Widely hated
Provinces rebelled; Constantinople revolts and overthrows him.
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19 second
Isaac II Angelos
Bulgaris and Syria successfully rebel
Frederick Hohenstaufen marched through his lands and temporarily capturing Adrianople and Philiopolis
Fred leaves only after Isaac made huge concessions
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19 third
As Isaac gains back regional control, loses control inside the palace
1195 brother usurps
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19 fourth
Coup in Constantinople
Isaac II Comnenus had lost throne in 1195 to his brother. Blinded, imprisoned.
New emperor: Alexius III, evil uncle of Alexius Angelus
Corrupt
Rebellions in Bulgaria, Serbia
Drains treasury
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HRE. SLIDE
Philip of Swabia marries Irene Angelos soon afer Alexius takes throne. Brother to emperor Henry VI.
Daughter of Isaac
Henry also king of Sicily and so heir to Norman claims to Greek territories once conquered.
Hohenstaufen now have direct interest in Isaac’s claims over his brother
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HRE 2
Henry on verge of asking for new crusade against Constantinople
He would then command combined steengths of two empires against Jerusalem
Never goes anywhere
Henry died in 1197
Seed planted
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HRE 3
HRE in no position to do anything in 1197
Henry: king of Sicily, hre, king of burgundy, king of the romans, king of italy
Son an infant in 1197. Can’t rule
Two rivals: Philip of Swabia and Otto of Brunswick.
Can’t extend influence into Italy or Sicily
Unable to go on crusade
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- New pope. Innocent III. SLIDE
Most powerful pope of the Middle Ages. Good diplomat and politician.
His involvement in politics part of a larger policy in the church: plenitudo potestatis.
Fullness of power, or ultimate jurisdiction. Culminates under Innocent.
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- As believers, we all believe in judgment day.
Responsible primarily for ourselves.
But priest responsible for his flock to a degree.
Since this is the case, this is why priest can speak out about what you should and should not do for every aspect of your that has a moral component.
Priest has a right to be heard.
Then scale this up.
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21a. Innocent believed that Christendom needed a new crusade for morale.
Called for crusade in his first year 1198
Holy land as mirror of Christendom’s soul
Described crusading as the negotium crucis (business of the cross) or negotium crucifixi (business of the crucified)
Song of Antioch: Jesus on Cross preaching crusade
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21aa. Emergence of terms that give us “crusade”/”crusader”
cucesignati
croisier (lange d’oil)
crrozeia (langue d’oc)
crozada (langue d’oc)
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Innocent. SLIDE
Crusading letter 1198 to all bishops
Philip and Richard to stop fighting not to go on crusade but to prevent interference with the crusade
Genoa and Pisa truce, but they are to join crusade
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21b. Negotiated truce between Richard and Phillip. Wanted Richard to go on crusade. Richard died of crossbow bolt in shoulder. France and England back at war
And Church must stay involved. Land campaigns long and inefficient.
Sea route decided upon.
First go to Egypt. Key to holding on to the holy land.Main food source. In theory, easy to conquer as cities are not fortified.
Innocent organizes the preaching and financing.
SLIDE on who goes
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22a. Deal with Venice to provide ships and money. At this point Innocent lost control of the crusade
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Venice. SLIDE
Richest city in the west Ruled by tightly knit upper class of merchants and propert owners, represented by the doge: elected for life by council. Enrico dondalo. 90s. Blind
Wealth from trade: eastern mediterranean to lombardy over alps to northern europe
Ruled much of adriatic
Outposts on dalmatian coast and in greece
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Venice 2
Significant trading interests in outremer
Poor relations with constantinople
Had special trading rights in the city, but privileges eroding of late
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Venice 3
1171: Manuel ordered mass arrest of Venetians throughout empire
1182: all Latin’s massacred
Isaac had renewed privileges, as did Alexius III, but latter only for form’s sake. In reality, harrassed V and favored Genoans and Pisans
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Venice 4. SLIDE
1201 French lords come to contract with the Venetians
Ships for 4500 knights and horses, 9000 squires, 20000 foot
Cost: 94,000 marks
Paid in installments
Fleet at service of army for one year
Fifty additional warships and equal share in conquests
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Over-estimation of numbers.
Trouble quickly brews. Those on their way hear about it and stay away.
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22z.But not enough crusaders showed up.
Venetians probably cooked the book a bit, price gauging.
Crusaders don’t have enough money.
Venetians won’t let them board. But what to do with 30,000 crusaders ?
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22b. Waiting through the summer. going through their provisions. Cannot pay.
Deal with Doge: Enrico Dondalo. 90s. Blind.
Doge has to be careful as pope angry. Threat of interdict.
SLIDE
Doge will delay remainder if they take Zara
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Zara
On Dalmatiancoast where king of hingary inciting rebellions against venetian rule
Lost 15 years ago
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Zara 2
Little choice: shame, dishonor to abandon crusade
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22c. Zara nominally under control of king of Hungary, who has taken cross, so protected property of the Church.
Leave Venice October 1202. Doge take the cross. As do many venetians
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- City of Zara on Adriatic coast.
They take it in 2 weeks. But it was a christian city. Some refuse to partcipate in siege
Innocent livid. Excommunicates the entire army.
Crusaders go and explain. Lifted.
Venetians don’t. Remains.
Still not allowed to attack C
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24z. Crusaders stuck in Zara. What to do? SLIDE
Egypt: no provisions while fighting
Syria: burden
Enter conspiracy theorists.
Alexius arrives in Zara. Again presses his case
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24b. Young Alexius had sent envoys to crusaders leaders. Had escaped prison.
While crusaders in 1202 preparing to attack Zara, A in Italy. Appealed to them.
Now full army learns of the proposal. SLIDE
Deal with crusaders 1203: sail to Constantinople and take the city and restore me. And I will supply you for mission to holy land. And I will restore the Greek church to the Latin church and recognize papal supremacy.
Alexius would even join the crusade personally
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24c. Most crusaders dislike this.
Leaders realize they need money for crusade to be successful
Works for venetians due to promise of restoration of privileges
Crusade leader Boniface of Montferrat might thus reclaim thessalonica
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24d. Get to Constantinople.
Despite A’s promises, people do not rise up to overthrow evil uncle.
Mooned crusaders instead
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24e. July 1203. SLIDE
northern suburb unsuccessfully attacked.
Venetians start fire to defend thmselves. Gets out of control.
Large.
Alexius III flees with gold
SLIDES of attack on Constantinople
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24f. Isaac restored by the people. Alexius co-emperor. SLIDE
Mission accomplished?
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24g. Alexius pays half of what he promised immeidately.
Cannot pay more without becoming more unpopular than he already is.
Due to letting barbarians stay and feeding their gold lust.
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24h.Alexius asked crusaders to winter to consolidate his power. Fears being overthrone. Would give him time to get money together.
SLIDE
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24i. Relations begin to sour. Crusaders start some fires in teh city.
One of hte biggest urban fires in human history. Center of city.
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24j. Crusaders angry that they’ve not been paid what they’ve been promised.
Demand payment –> run out of town
“pay themselves”: raiding the surrounding area
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24k. SLIDE
Alexius unable to stop raids
First coup: meeting of nobles, civil servants, people in hagia sophia elects Nicholas Kanabos emperor. Isaac dies of shock or murder.
N spens time in hagia, supported by lower classes
City enraged. Finds champion. Alexius “Mourtzouphlos”
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24l.Champion leads a coup in Feb 1204
Strangles Alexius IV
Becomes Alexius V
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24m. People happy. SLIDE
Crusaders appalled
First time they agree to actually capture constantinople
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24n. Crusaders in a bind.
Clergy steps in: Byz failure to accept primacy of Rome and the murder of hte emperor means the city was a legitimate target of crusade.
Complete opposite of wishes of Innocent
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24o. April 8 attack on Northern harbor. Fails.
April 12 same place attacked, More successful.
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24p. Small group of knights find walled up gate.
Warrior priest first through, brother trying to hold him back.
Big guy.
Roars
Soldiers run away.
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24q. Priest opens a gate.
Crusaders rush in.
Soldiers run. Most not cityfolk.
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24r. Alexius tries to rally the people to counter-attack.
They don’t.
City hasn’t, can’t fall. It will just be a new emperor.
So very very wrong
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24s. 3 days of pillaging. Most profitable sacking of a city in history, one of.
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24t. Innocent at first delighted that Constantionple in Catholic hands.
Learns of sacking: enraged
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- SLIDE
1204 to 1261. Latin Empire Of Byz. Emperor Baldwin of Flanders
Raided and pillaged the empire rather mercilessly.
Hope of Christian Unity. Nope
Hope of help to holy land. Nope
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- Innocent not pleased. Excommunicated a second time.
Crusader vow broken. Unconscionable.
Crusade effectively ended with the second excommunication.
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- SLIDE
New wave of propaganda over who is to blame.
Villehardouin. One of the military commanders of the 4th crusade.
Very detailed chronicle. Determined to show that the leaders had had no other options.
Look to Alexius and the Greeks or the Venetians for a bad guy.
Venetians probably had this all planned from the start. Doge must have plotted with Alexius from the start.
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- Innocent never let up on the crusaders. SLIDE
In the holy land; the catholic archbishop in Jerusalem had raced up to C. supposedly to help restore C to Catholicism.
Innocent excommunicated him for abandoning his flock to line your pockets and has a long list of how the anchbishop had enriched himself, supplied by an informant.
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- Innocent wanted another crusade and then a third crusade to unseat the crusaders in C. Second called (Cathars); third not.
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