Background to the First Crusade Flashcards
The First Crusade
how was Islam established?
Islam was established in the Near East after the emergence of the Prophet Muhammad.
Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570.
what was Muhammad known as?
The ‘lord of Arabia’
How did possession of Jerusalem originally pass from Christians to Muslims?
Muhammad’s Islamic Arab armies advanced across the Near East and in 638 they took the city of Jerusalem.h
what were he 2 main divisions in Islam?
Sunnis vs Shias
how did the Sunnis and Shias differ?
- Sunnis acknowledged Abu Bakr, a close colleague of Muhammad, as his successor and as Caliph.
- Shias acknowledged Ali, Muhammad’s cousin (and son-in-law) and his descendants as Caliph.
which Caliphate were Sunni?
Abbasid
which Caliphate was Shia?
Fatimids
who were the Abbasids?
- The dynastic name of the Sunni Muslims that were Caliphs in Baghdad by the 1050s.
- They had seized power in 750, flourished for two centuries and then went into decline.
why did the Abbasids begin to decline?
Their power was eroded firstly by the Mamluks and then by the Seljuk Turks; the Abbasids remained as Caliphs as the Seljuks recognised their religious authority, but the Seljuks ultimately gained political and military control.
who were the Fatimids?
- The Shia dynasty that ruled most of North Africa from 910 – 1171.
- They had conquered Egypt in 969 and founded their capital at Cairo.
- By the eleventh century the Fatimids had expanded into Palestine and were in possession of Jerusalem.
- By the 1070s and 1080s the Fatimids were in conflict with the Seljuk Turks over Palestine and Syria.
why did The Shia Fatimid Caliph challenge the authority of the Abbasid Sunni Caliph?
the Caliph is meant to be a single entity, so separate Sunni and Shia caliphs demonstrate the major split in Islam
describe the foreign policy of the Fatimid caliphate
The Fatimids were on reasonably good terms with the Byzantines (Eastern Christians) and were renowned for toleration, often allowing Christians, Jews, and Sunni Muslims to hold public offices (appointed purely on merit).
who were the Seljuk Turks?
The Seljuks migrated from Central Asia into Persia where they adopted the Persian culture, language and converted to Sunni Islam. By the early eleventh century they rapidly conquered Persia and seized Baghdad, the centre of the Abbasid Caliphate.
who was the Seljuk leader from 1064?
Alp Arslan
who was Alp Arslan?
the Seljuk leader from 1064
where did the Seljuks invade in 1068?
the Byzantine Empire
who did led the Seljuks in their invasion of the Byzantine Empire in 1068?
Alp Arslan
what did Alp Arslan encourage his generals to do in the 1060s?
encouraged his generals to conquer Byzantine lands in Anatolia.
which city did the Slejuks capture from the Fatimids in 1071?
Jerusalem
who was Alp Arslan succeeded by?
his son, Malik Shah
who did Malik Shah have to fight to succeed his father, Alp Arslan?
Malik-Shah had to battle Alp Arslan’s brother, Qavurt, until January 1074, to secure the succession
how did the Seljuk Empire change under Malik Shah?
- Under Malik Shah the Empire was at its largest extent bordering China in the East and the Byzantines in the West.
- Malik Shah strengthened his control of the Empire but left much of the governance to his vizier, Nizam al-Mulk
-by 1080 Malik Shah was very powerful but had lost control of Turks in Anatolia; Suleiman ibn Qutulmish founded Turkish Sultanate of Rum and gained Antioch, threatening to take Aleppo
who was Malik Shah’s vizier?
Nizam al-Mulk
how did Suleiman’s death in 1086 affect the Turks?
Suleiman’s death in 1086 caused greater fragmentation of Turkish territory in Anatolia - Danishmends gained greater power in northeast, Caka seized Smyrna
who was Hassan-I Sabbah?
a convert to Shia Islam who had been converting Muslims in Persian territories of Abbasid Caliphate since his own conversion in 1072
what did Hassan-I Sabbah and his followers do?
seized Alamut castle; his followers attempted to convert the local population, drawing hostility of Sunni Seljuk Turks, especially Nizam al-Mulk
why was Nizam al-Mulk murdered?
he was a threat to group of Shia Muslims led by Hasan al-Sabbah, living in Persian territories
why was Malik Shah I murdered?
Nizam al-Mulk’s supporters suspected the Sultan, Malik Shah I, of murdering him, despite Hasan’s followers probably being responsible; Malik Shah killed December 1092
what was the impact of Malik Shah’s death?
- the empire split due to conflict between his brother and his four sons.: his brother, Tutush, seized Syria but was killed fighting his nephew, Barkiyaruq in 1094; In Anatolia, he was succeeded by Kilij Arslan; his nephews, sons of Tutush, Ridwan and Duqaq inherited Aleppo and Damascus and contested each other for control over Syria; In Persia, he was succeeded by his son Mahmud I whose reign was contested by his other three brothers.
- Another group of Turks, the Artuqids, gained control in northeastern Syria.
which city did the Turks lose control of to the Fatimids in 1098?
JERUSALEM
what was the sultanate of rum?
A Seljuk sultanate in Anatolia from 1077 created by Suleyman.
how was the sultanate of rum created?
In 1075 Suleiman captured the Byzantine cities of Nicaea and Nicomedia and in defiance of Malik Shah declared himself Sultan.
which important city did Suleiman capture for the sultanate of rum?
antioch
who was Suleiman ibn Qutulmish killed by?
Malik Shah’s brother (Tutush I of Syria)
who controlled the sultanate of rum by 1092?
Kilij Arslan
who were the danishmends?
A Seljuk dynasty ruling in eastern Anatolia; they were the chief rivals of the Sultanate of Rum and had established themselves in Anatolia after the Seljuk victory at Manzikert in 1071.
who were the danishmends at war with when the first crusade arrived?
kilij arslan
what was the impact of Turkish mercenaries becoming central to Fatimid military by 1060s?
- the Caliph al-Mustansir secretly recalled the Fatimid governor of Syria, Badr al-Jamali, to Egypt with his military supporters
- Badr had his Turkish enemies murdered at a banquet and he was proclaimed vizier and became the effective ruler of the Fatimid regime
- Badr al-jamali’s removal from Syria left a power vacuum filled by Atsiz, who undermined Fatimid control of Syria and Palestine
how did the Fatimid caliphate change under Badr al-jamali?
- Fatimids rebuilt military strength; mudbrick walls of Cairo replaced with stone and they launched counter-offensive against Seljuks in Palestine, recapturing Gaza, Ascalon, Sidon, and Tyre
what was the impact of badr al-jamali’s death
- the Caliph, al-Mustansir. tried to regain control but al-Jamali’s son, al-Afdal, became vizier, assuming his father’s dominant position
- al-Mustansir agreed the marriage of his youngest son - al-Musta’li - to al-Afdal’s sister
what was the impact of the marriage of al-Mustali to al-Afdal’s sister?
- there was a widespread expectation that the eldest son, Nizar, would become Caliph, but al-afdal supported al-Mustali and put him on the throne in a coup
- Nizar fled to Alexandria and led resistance until his death in 1095
- led to permanent split among Shia muslims; many muslims in Persia rejected al-Mustali
what countries did the eastern roman empire encompass in 1050?
- On its eastern side it consisted of Asia Minor (Anatolia - modern Turkey), part of Armenia, and Cyrus
- On its western side it covered Greece and the Balkans south of the Danube, the Aegean and Ionian islands, and Crete
- Had 2 isolated outposts: cities of Cherson and Bosporos across the the Black Sea in the Crimea, and part of Southern Italy, the provinces of Calabria and Apulia
what was the eastern roman empire?
By 1050, it was the largest and most prosperous political entity in the Christian world.
what was the capital of the eastern roman empire?
constantinople
who founded constantinople?
founded in the year 330 by the Roman Emperor Constantine I.
why did constantinople become teh most powerful city in the christian world?
When the Roman empire converted to Christianity, Constantine’s successors saw Constantinople as the ‘new Rome’
who were the emperors of constantinople?
They were by the right the emperors whom Christ and St Peter had commanded that all Christians should obey and they held the title of ‘Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans’
what was the word used by the Byzantines to describe themselves?
Romans or Romaioi
what language did byzantium’s christian inhabitants speak?
Greek and it was also their Church language (whereas Western Christians in Europe used Latin for Church services).
why was the byzantine empire in decline in the 7th c.?
lost Egypt, Syria and Palestine to Muslim powers
what countries did the byzantine empire encompass by the 11th c.?
By the mid eleventh century the Byzantine Empire held Anatolia (Asia Minor), Cyprus, Greece, the Balkans south of the Danube and a small part of southern Italy.
what was the Latin West?
The Latin West was the parts of the former Roman Empire where Latin had been spoken; Rome had been the largest city in the world
who was the religious leader of rome?
the Patriarch (Bishop) of Rome - the Pope
what was the hierarchical position of popes in the 11th c.?
- held some honorary superiority over other patriarchates because of Rome’s status as the old imperial capital and because, according to legend, the first bishop of Rome was St. Peter, leader of Jesus’ disciples
- Popes were, in reality, usually appointed/controlled by the Holy Roman Emperor (a title held by the King of the Germans).
what was the impact of the collapse of the western half of the Roman Empire, on the status of the church?
- this meant the remaining source of organised authority in the west was the church
- bishops throughout the west were seen as both secular and spiritual leaders
- papacy claimed secular authority over Western Europe due to the Donation of Constantine
what was the donation of constantine?
document allegedly written by Emperor Constantine giving imperial land to the pope
how did emperors in constatinople react to the pope’s dominance in the latin west/
- Emperors in Constantinople rejected Rome’s superiority
- Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in Rome; seen as a challenge by the Byzantine emperors and relations became strained
what sort of policies had pope alexander ii backed?
he had backed the Norman invasion of England and encouraged Christians to reconquer lands from Muslims in Iberia
how did pope gregory vii come to power?
came to power by the Roman population - in violation of the reform movement’s insistence on election by Cardinals
what did Gregory vII support?
the primacy of the papacy over Christendom and the independence of the church from secular rulers
why did Gregory VII challenge Henry IV of Germany (H.R.E) for control of the Western Church?
- Gregory VII and Henry IV disagreed over who could appoint people as bishops (investiture).
- Gregory VII believed that his power as pope came from being the spiritual successor of St. Peter (Petrine Authority). He laid out his alleged rights in a document called Dictatus Papae.
- Gregory VII and his successor, Urban II, were attempting to make these claims a reality.
who did gregory vii support as the rival king of germany?
Rudolf of Rheinfelden
who did henry iv appoint as antipope?
clement iii
what happened after Henry IV gained control of Rome in 1084?
- he was crowned by Clement III
- Gregory VII hid in Castel St Angelo
- Otto of Ostia, papal legate, met with German bishops to convince them to support Gregory - also est. Peace of God movement in Germany
how was Gregory VII freed from Castel St Angelo?
Normans, led by Robert Guiscard, invaded S. Italy so Henry IV returned to Germany; Normans looted Rome and Gregory VII fled with them
who became pope after gregory VII?
victor III
who became pope after victor iii?
urban ii
what was the pentarchy?
term which refers the the 5 major centres of the Christian church in the early Middle Ages (Rome - St Peter and Paul, Constantinople - St Andrew, Alexandria - St Mark, Antioch - St Peter, Jerusalem - St James) - in early centuries church councils led by church leaders (patriarchs) from these 5 places had made most decisions regarding the Christian faith
which parts of the pentarchy were under christian control by the first crusade?
- by the 1st Crusade, only Rome and Constantinople were still under Christian control
- Jerusalem and Alexandria were under muslim rule
- Antioch had fallen to the Seljuks
what was the great schism?
- Rome and Constantinople had drifted apart after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire; the translation from Greek into Latin led to differenceds between the 2 Christian rites
- in 1054 a dispute over issues led to mutual excommunications between the pope and the patriarch
what was the holy roman empire?
territory including Germany, N. Italy, parts of Netherlands and S. France
what did henry iv struggle with in the 1060s?
Henry IV struggled with his saxon nobles during the 1060s; won a decisive victory over them in 1075
what was the relationship between the papacy and the holy roman emperor like in the 1070s?
- Henry IV condemned & deposed the pope, Gregory VII, so Gregory VII excommunicated Henry IV
- Henry IV faced rebellion of his nobles and was forced to beg Gregory VII to lift his excommunication at Canossa
what was the impact of Henry IV’s recognistion of Clement III on his territories?
- Henry IV struggled to control Saxony as they refused to remove bishops who rejected Clement III
- 1089: Henry IV forced to accept greater Saxon autonomy
who did Henry IV arrange to be crowned as his co ruler in may 1087?
his son, conrad
whose lands did henry iv invade in 1090?
matilda of tuscany
where were matilda of tuscany’s lands?
in between rome and germany
who did matilda of tuscany support?
pope urban ii
how did matilda of tuscany oppose and resist henry iv?
- by June 1092, Henry IV had crushed Matilda and her allies but they refused to acknowledge Clement III as pope
- in 1093, Matilda turned Henry IV’s son, Conrad, against him
- Matilda allied with major Lombard towns and, with the support of German allies, they blocked Henry IV’s retreat to Germany, forcing him to seek refuge in Verona
- in 1094, Henry IV’s wife, Empress Eupraxia, abandoned him and was rescued from Verona by Matilda of Tuscany
- in March 1095, Eupraxia accused Henry IV of serious sexual crimes at the Council of Piacenza; Urban II accepted the charges and recognised her stepson, Conrad’s, claim to the throne
who were allies of matilda of tuscany?
her in-laws, the welf family
how did henry iv regain dominance against matilda of tuscany?
Henry IV restored Welfs to the Duchy of Bavaria and they lifted the blockade of Verona; when Henry IV returned to Germany his nobles returned to their allegiance and deposed Conrad
who was king of france during the first crusade?
philip i
why was the french king’s power limited in this period?
France was dominated by virtually independent warlords (ruled territories like Normandy, Flanders, Anjou, Brittany, Blois) with only tokenistic deference to the king - the Capetian dynasty’s power largely limited to territory around Paris (Ile-de-France)
why was philip i excommunicated?
- 1092: Philip I seduced/abducted Bertrade, Countess of Anjou and repudiated his wife Bertha (claiming she was too fat) and married Bertrade in May
- it was unclear whether Philip or Bertrade were legally divorced when they married; Fulk IV of Anjou was, apparently, comfortable with the situation
who was illiam I’s main ally in the English church?
Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury
why did william i annoy the pope?
- William I ignored papal provisions against lay investiture and chose his own, largely Norman, supproters
- Pope Gregory VII complained and demanded the payment of a tithe he alleged England had traditionally paid, William I ignored him
who succeeded william i?
was succeeded by his second son, William II, and his eldest son, Robert received Normandy
what happened when William II became seriously ill?
- in a panic, he nominated Anselm of Bec to be Archbishop of Canterbury whenoffice had been left vacant since Lafranc’s death in 1089 so the king could pocket the revenue
- Anselm was a strong supporter of the Gregorian reform movement which was at odds with the tight control over the English and Norman Churches enjoyed by the kings of England since 1066
- relations between Anselm and William deteriorated so Anselm fled into exile; Urban II agreed with Anselm but made a deal with William II, so Anselm remained in exile
name 4 christian kingdoms of northern Iberia
Leon, Castille, Navarre, Aragon
whose land were the christian kingdoms of northern iberia encroaching on in the 1080s?
Taifa muslim princes of southern iberia
where did alfonso VI, king of leon and castile, capture in may 1085?
Toledo
who captured toledo in may 1085?
alfonso vi, king of leon and castile
who did the taifa princes invite to defend them from the christian kingdoms of northern iberia in the 1080s?
the almoravids from north africa
what battle did the Taifa princes, with Almoravid assistance, win in october 1086?
Battle of Sagrajas
what undermined the efforts of taifa princes at the battle of sagrajas?
divisions between them
why did the almoravids force grenada to surrender to them in the 1090s?
they had come to regard the taifa princes as an obstacle
which territories did the almoravids sieze from the muslim taifa princes in the 1090s?
- grenada
- 1091: Almoravids took Cordoba
- early 1092: Almoravids seized Murcia
- 1094: Almoravids captured Badajov after its ruler sought an alliance with the Christians of Castile
which place did the almoravids try to gain control of, but lost it to el cid?
valencia
how did the battle of manzikert contribute to the launch of the 1st crusade?
The collapse of Byzantine rule in Anatolia was a major factor in the request for military aid from the West, manifesting in the First Crusade; the loss of Anatolia has often been ascribed to the defeat at Manzikert.
why was the battle of manzikert fought?
at the end of 1070, Byzantine Emperor Romanus IV led an expedition towards Manzikert, intent on destroying an invading Turkish force led by the Sultan Alp Arslan
how did the byzantine forwhat happened when romanos iv’s expedition reached manzikert in auguast 1071?
- Byzantine force advanced steadily; Seljuks harried them with arrows whilst steadily moving back
- mid-afternoon Byzantine centre division had reached and overrun Seljuk camp; losses so far seem to have been minimal, but flanks were becoming out of hand
- constant arrows caused considerable annoyance to Byzantine forces; frustration motivated many units to attempt to charge their foes
how did the turks outsmart the byzantines at manzikert?
Turks feigned retreat, drawing imperial forces into higher ground and a series of ambushes
why did romanos iv withdraw at manziekrt?
Light fading and emperor no longer in close contact with wings, and had no supplies; orderly withdrawal planned and centre began to pull back
how did the byzantine withdrawal at manzikert fail?
- right wing misunderstood signal who believed the emperor had fallen and they panicked
- rearguard essential to success of withdrawal without haste and panic; leader of rearguard was Andronikas Doukas (enemy of Romanus IV) who deliberately failed to follow normal procedures and marched back to camp without waiting to cover the retreat (left Romanus’ division exposed and wings isolated)
how did the seljuks take advantage of the poor byzantine retreat at manzikert?
- Seljuks launched all-out attack; byzantine right wing fled, left wing withdrew in order until Turks that had cut right wing off from centre swept into rear and forced it to flee
- Romanus tried to recall and rally panicking units but his signal was ignored and central division began to break up and withdraw; Romanus attempted a final stand until his horse was killed under him
what happened after the battle of manzikert?
- after being recognised and taken to the sultan, Romanus IV was released and he fled back to Constantinople where he was blinded and deposed by the angry populace for the humiliation his defeat had brought to the empire
- Byzantine empire fell into a decade of civil war; turks overran and conquered most of anatolia
why was the battle of manzikert so significant?
- Manzikert struck a fatal blow at Christian and imperial power in Anatolia; with the Byzantine field-army gone, the Turks spread over the central plateau
- in the struggles for the throne after the battle, rivals hired Turkish troops, meaning the Turks got possession of towns and fortresses they could not have taken otherwise - change in fundamentals: use of land, religion, law & order
- Greek landlords and officials fled; the peasants, deprived of their natural leaders, in time adopted to the religion of their new masters - long-term spread of Islam
- Cut off the Byzantines from their supply of Armenian manpower, a critical source of recruitment’
- the psychological and spiritual effects of the battle: the major casualty was the soul of an empire itself.
why was the battle of manzikert not significant?
- contemporary claims that casualties were very high seem largely to have been exaggerated and the Byzantines probably suffered no more than about 8000 casualties which cost them ~20% of their total military strength. This was not a significant loss and would quickly be made up by the recruitment of native soldiers and professional recruits from around the medieval world.
- The Byzantines themselves seemed not to have imbued Manzikert with any great significance; for them, their defeat and decline were simply God’s punishment for their sins.
-The real causes for the loss of Anatolia were far more diverse and had little to do with battles - The rearguard and reserve units under Andronikos Doukas escaped entirely intact and marched back to Constantinople and the left wing units were successfully back in battle the following year. Of the units with the emperor in the centre and on the right wing some of the elite units managed to withdraw in some order.’
- The terms dictated by the victorious sultan were generous, because his main aim was to resume his campaign against his most dangerous enemy, the Fatimids; he made no demands for the cession of Byzantine territory and released the captive Romanus after only a few days. The sultan’s generosity and preoccupation elsewhere should have allowed the Byzantines a respite to recover from the defeat
what were the immediate consequences of the battle of manzikert?
- Emperor Romanus IV was captured by Alp Arslan, the Turkish leader, and released one week later. (after 3rd September 1071). He wrote to his wife, the empress Eudocia, informing her of what had happened.
- October 1071 - Michael VII Doukas was proclaimed emperor and Eudocia was compelled to become a nun.
- Andronikos Doukas, who had betrayed Romanus IV, stirred up the capital (Constantinople) against the Emperor who was deposed and blinded when he returned.
- Civil War erupted between various factions at the Imperial court and army commanders jostled for power.
why was Michael VII Doukas able to be proclaimed emperor after the loss at Manziker?
he was the son of Constantine X (1059-67) and had the support of his uncle, John.
who did Emperor Michael VII attempt to repair relations with?
in 1073 he attempted to repair the Empire’s relationship with the Bishop of Rome. Pope Gregory VII planned to lead an expedition to fight the Turks but was unable to achieve this.
how did Rome promise to help Byzantium in 1073?
Pope Gregory VII planned to lead an expedition to fight the Turks but was unable to achieve this.
who led a rebellion against Michael VII in 1077?
Nikephorus Botaneiates
who supported Nikephorus Botaneiates in his rebellion against Michael VII in 1077?
Suleiman, Sultan of Rum, supported Nikephorus.
who was Michael VII’s successor in Byzantium?
Nikephorous
who was Nikephorous deposed by?
one of his generals, Alexius Comnenus (with the help of Western mercenaries)
list the order of Byzantine emperors from 1071-81
- Romanos IV
- Michael VII
- Nikephorous III
- Alexius I
who did Alexius I depose?
Nikephoros III
who did Nikephoros IIi depose
Michael VII
why did Gregory VII excommunicate Nikephoros III in 1078?
he had used Seljuk support to take the throne
who threatened Alexius I from the west in the 1080s?
The Normans
who led the normans when they invaded the western parts of the byzantine empire in 1081?
robert guiscard
which battle did the normans under robert guiscard defeat Alexius I at?
Battle of Dyrrachium
how did Alexius I respond to the threat from the normans in the 1080s?
- 1081 - Alexius made an alliance with Henry IV (Holy Roman Emperor – the ruler of Germany)
- In the 1080s Alexius made a truce with a group of Seljuk Turks and used their forces against the Normans too.
how did alexius i’s 1081 allience with henry iv help him against the normans?
Henry IV invaded Norman territory in Italy in the 1080s which reduced pressure on Byzantine Empire because the Normans had to retreat to fight him.
who threatened alexius i from the north in the 180s-90s?
the pechenegs
how did the pechenegs threaten alexius I?
1087 - Pechenegs invaded Byzantine territory (Thrace) - Alexius I forced to buy them off
how did alexius i get the pechenegs to retreat from thrace in 1087?
bought them off
how did alecius i respond to the threat from the pechenegs in the 1090s?
1091 - Alexius bribed and allied with the Cumans to destroy the Pechenegs (who had also allied with the Seljuk Turks against Byzantium)
who threatened alexius i from the east in the 180s-90s?
the seljuks
why was alexius i able to respond to the seljuk threat in the 1090s?
- In the early 1080s Alexius had an alliance with Suleiman of Rum, but he died in 1086.
- After defeating his other enemies (nromans, pechenegs) Alexius could now turn on the Seljuks in Anatolia.
how did alceius i work against the seljuks in the 1090s?
- In the early 1090s, Alexius worked to stir up conflict between rival Seljuk princes.
- 1094 - Alexius appealed to Pope Urban II in Western Europe for aid.
- March 1095 - Byzantine delegation reached Pope Urban II at Council of Piacenza with Alexius I’s letter asking for military aid against the Turks
who lifted gregory vii’s excommunication of alexius i?
urban ii
why was the council of piacenza important?
Alexius I had sent an embassy to the Pope at the Council of Piacenza in Northern Italy asking for help against the Seljuk Turks
how did byzantine ambassadors ask for help from the west at the council of piacenza?
Byzantine ambassadors probably exaggerated the immediate danger to the empire, which was temporarily stalled by Seljuk infighting. Alexius told them to remind the pope that Jerusalem, the centre of Christian faith, was held by Muslims.
what was the outcome of the council of piacenza?
Urban II succeeded in inducing many of those present to promise to help Alexius, but no definite step was taken by Urban until he summoned the Council of Clermont
which clergy members attended the council of clermont?
13 archbishops, 225 bishops, and over 90 abbots answered the pope’s summons
how many notable laypeople attended the council of clermont?
Urban II’s reception in France had been enthusiastic: 1000s of nobles and knights had met for the council
which issues did the council of clermont discuss first?
Synod began by reiterating the Gregorian Decrees against simony, investiture, and clerical marriage. King Philip of France was excommunicated for adultery.
who was excommunicated at the council of clermont?
king philip of france
why was king philip of france excommunicated?
for adultery
what was the outcome of the council of clermont?
It was decided an army of horse and foot should march to rescue Jerusalem and the Churches of Asia from the Saracens; this became the First Crusade.
how did religion and politics interlink in this period?
Religion and politics were closely interlinked; rulers ruled and people obeyed, because they because they believed God willed it so (the ‘Great Chain of Being’.)
where did all power come from in this period?
All power – both that of kings and lords and the spiritual power of the Pope in Rome -came from God.
what economically tied the church and pople iin this period?
- All land not already owned by the Church was taxed.
- The Church did not pay taxes on anything donated to it.
- One tenth (a tithe) of everything produced on all land was given to the Church.
- Pilgrims often made offerings to the churches associated with saints which made the Church very rich.
- By the end of the Middle Ages, the Latin Church owned approximately one third of all the farmed land in Western Europe.
how much of all the farmed land in W. Europe did the latin church own by the end of the middle ages?
1/3
how did the latin chuurch control people’s lives?
- Everyone belonged to their local parish and the Church was responsible for all aspects of village social life.
- People believed everything happened because God wanted it to happen e.g. when good things happened, people thought they were being rewarded by God and in the absence of scientific explanation, illness was seen as an invasion of the body by the Devil.
what are relics?
holy objects associated with holy people such as Jesus or the saints.
what are the two types of relic?
- Brandea
- Bodily Relics
what are brandea?
ordinary objects which had become holy by coming into contact with holy people or places
who could own brandea?
Pilgrims could make their own Brandea; by rubbing a piece of cloth against a holy tomb or by filling a flash with holy water.
what are bodily relics?
actual pieces of the body of the saint; a bone, a piece of hair, the head etc.
why were bodily relics so important?
Bodily Relics were particularly important because the spirit of the saint was said to have remained in the bodily remains.
what is a pilgramige?
A pilgrimage is a journey undertaken with a religious purpose
give 3 reasons why people went on pilgramige
- Many people wanted to see and touch the places and objects that were considered holy
- Others visited holy sites to make amends for having committed sin; by doing a pilgrimage for penance, they hoped for forgiveness.
- Some people went on pilgrimage for the enjoyment of travelling; pilgrimage was exciting and an opportunity to leave village life behind.
