Revision Topic Sheet 5: First Crusade Motivation Flashcards
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How did diplomacy between Pope Urban II and Alexios Komnenos begin?
Territory threatened by Robert Guiscard brought the Pope into question as a potential ally, which led to the Pope sending messages of reconciliation to Alexios in 1089 as he was also looking for allies. This also led to Alexios and the Pope being able to set up an alliance in 1095 for what would be the First Crusade.
What happened in 1095 at the Council of Piacenza and the Council of Clermont?
At Piacenza Alexios’ envoys asked Pope Urban II for support in the form of mercenaries, at Clermont Urban developed this appeal for help into a general crusade which he preached as being a way to save the eastern church from the persecution of the Turks.
How do historians disagree over the significance of the preaching of the Crusade?
Hans Mayer argues that Urban never intended to liberate Jerusalem but only to respond to his request for help. Also Hans Mayer and fellow historian Carl Erdmann also argues that the liberation of Jerusalem was a secondary objective. Johnathan Riley-Smith however argues that Jerusalem was the primary objective with all its religious connections.
Historian Johnathan Riley-Smith believed that a Crusade was an armed pilgrimage - true or false?
True - he believed that the indulgence to remove sin was an important factor for the First Crusade.
Historian Hans Mayer believed that Jerusalem was not of significance to the Crusaders - true or false?
False - he suggested the appeal of crusading to the wider population based on their understanding of the idea of Jerusalem as being both the physical location of Jesus’ death and the idea of heavenly Jerusalem described in Revelations.
What aspect of the Crusade linked with pilgrimage was suggested by Johnathan Riley-Smith?
The reform papacy - he argued that the reform movement encouraged the establishment of a peaceful society and the diversion of military forces into serving the church through the Peace of God movement.
How do historians disagree over the Crusade being an attack on Islam?
- Joshua Prawer argued that the First Crusade was a Christian offence against Islam, with persecution from the Turks only being a rumour spread by Pope Urban II, with the few incidents such as the massacre from mad Caliph Hakim in 1009 and the attack on German bishops in 1064 being used as propaganda.
- Historian Jean Richard argued that relations between Islam and Christianity were positive as evidenced by Pope Gregory VIII’s correspondence with North Africa princes; Jean Richard argued that few crusaders actually understanding the nature of Islamic beliefs which they were supposed to regard as evil.
What do historians think of the Crusade being an economic and social opportunity?
- D. Herhily argued that from 1000 onwards there were recurring famines in southern France and Italy which encouraged land owning classes to use the rule of primogeniture to force younger sons to seek their own fortune, leading to them usually joining the Crusade.
- Georges Duby similarly argued that the crusades offered individuals an escape from family restrictions.
- Johnathan Riley-Smith argued that economic reasons were not too significant as only 1/3 of the Crusaders settled in the Holy Lands, in addition to the fact that joining the crusade was expensive and risky.
What was frereche?
A system of land ownership involving family land and wealth being shared between them. It was argued as being a factor for the economic reasons for the First Crusade by historian Georges Duby.
How did the majority of Crusaders afford to join the First Crusade?
Richer lords usually paid for poor knights and peasants to join the First Crusade. Additionally, some kings raised taxes which helped fund the Crusade effort. Examples include Louis VIII in 1146 and both Henry II and Philip Augustus in 1185.
