Knights motives for the Third Crusade Flashcards
Religious Reasons - FOR
Religiosity of Europe –> Perennial ‘knightly dilemma’ to consider - obsession with sin, destination of soul, full indulgence.
AuditaTremendi –> Emphasis on sin due to defeat at Hattin which implored knights of Europe to cleanse their soul and take up responsibility of reclaiming Christ’s patrimony
The Preaching Campaign through Gregory :
> These charismatic men toured Europe extensively & propagated the message e.g. Joscius of Tyre became legate to France whilst Henry of Albano became legate to Germany.
Situation in the East
Fall of Jerusalem in 1187 and capture of the True Cross to Saladin
Saladin controls Syria, Egypt and now Jerusalem –> united under Sunni Islam
Christians forced into the port of Tyre
No male heir to the throne –> Sybilla & Guy only had girls
Templars were massively depleted & executed at Battle of Hattin
HOWEVER…Antioch, Tripoli and Tyre still in Christian hands
Social Reasons
FEUDAL OBLIGATIONS:
> 3 leading kings of Europe (Richard I, Philip II, and Frederick) led to an enormous chain reaction of recruitment
> When kings didn’t sign up, their followers didn’t either e.g. Canute VI of Denmark didn’t take part so there were very few Danes on the expedition
ANGEVIN - CAPETIAN RIVALRY (England v France rivalry):
> The Angevin-Capetian rivalry had been ongoing for decades; both families wanted to assert their supremacy in ‘France’
> Joining the Third Crusade would offer both Richard I and Philip II the opportunity to demonstrate their moral and militarysuperiority to the other
NOTIONS OF CHIVALRY:
> Troubadours –> These travelling singers and poets popularised stories of knightly heroism and virtue.
> Conon de Bethune sang the praises of men such as Conrad of Montferrat (and his efforts at Tyre) in order to spur other knights into going on crusade
Economic Reasons
Many lower ranked crusaders were attracted by the promise of a steady and decent income
HOWEVER…knights didn’t go for money or gains due to Richard and Philip for example raising huge sums through Saladin Tithe to get out of the East
There was also no intention to enrich as any gains received would be evenly split between all crusaders
