Richard I and the Crusades Flashcards
What is one reason for why English people went on Crusades?
Religion. Men responded to Pope Gregory’s call to defend the holy places and win back Jerusalem. They were also attracted to the promise of an indulgence - which forgave sins
What is another reason why English people went on Crusades?
Men were encouraged by influential individuals. For example, Archbishop of Canterbury Baldwin spent a year touring Wales and was estimated to have enlisted 3,000 volunteers.
What is another reason why English people went on Crusades?
Revenge and reward. Many men were genuinely disgusted at the loss of the Holy Land in 1187, but also knew that they could gain land and titles for themselves in the region by fighting.
What is another reason why English people went on Crusades?
For many young knights, the Crusades reflected an opportunity to make a name for themselves and to demonstrate their chivalry. They also knew they would not have to pay the Saladin tithe if they fought.
What is one reason for why Richard I went on a Crusade?
Personal connection - he was the great grandson of Fulk of Anjou, who had been King of Jerusalem. He believed it was a family duty to fight for Jerusalem and to defeat Saladin.
What is another reason for why Richard I went on a Crusade?
Personal glory - Richard was proud of his reputation for bravery and wanted to nurture it. He felt participating in the Third Crusade was his chance to be remembered as a great warrior in the songs and poems of future generations.
What is another reason for why Richard I went on a Crusade?
Religious devotion - as was a general cause for anyone thinking of participating in the Crusade, Richard I felt that the Crusade was the sacred duty of Christians.
What is another reason for why Richard I went on a Crusade?
The time was right - as the Crusade was called for while he was King, he realised that he had all the wealth, power and influence he would need to make sure the Crusade was a success.
What are examples of positive attitudes the English had to Crusaders?
- Richard I was championed as a Crusader King, people respected him for it. People saw him as a defender of the faith.
- Support for the Crusade was evident in the slaughter of the Jews in 1189-90. Support for the Crusade created a positive and appreciative atmosphere for these killings.
What are examples of negative attitudes the English had to Crusaders?
- Family members were frustrated at having to manage lands for absent knights. Since sons often accompanied fathers on Crusades, difficult conversations had to be made about who would stay and who would go.
- People resented the cost. The Saladin tithe and then the ransom to release Richard I from captivity at the end of the Crusade was resented by a population already poor and with limited freedoms. Many people chose to go on the Crusade so they didn’t have to pay the tax!
- Some chroniclers, for example WIlliam Newburgh, argued that it was a violation of a King’s duty for Richard to go on such a long journey at the neglect of his kingdom.
What is one reason for why Richard I failed to capture Jerusalem?
The first march failed because of fear and difficult conditions. Richard’s men believed that Saladin’s forces would surround them and that they would be cut off from supplies if they moved too far from the coast. Therefore, Richard suspended the march on Jerusalem and ordered the strengthening of the base in Jaffa. What followed was a slow move to Jerusalem, from base to base, first the occupation of two ruined fortresses at Yasur - which needed two weeks to rebuild - and then Ramla, where there was a slow and painful stocking-up on supplies while rain fell, demoralising the soldiers and ruining the roads.
What is another reason for why Richard I failed to capture Jerusalem?
The slow movement towards Jerusalem, and Richard’s decision to go against his own judgement in cancelling the first march, gave Saladin time to become aware that an attack on Jerusalem would soon happen and to build up the defences of the city. He ordered his men to reinforce the stone defences and, able to deal with the heavy rains far better than Richard, launched ambush attacks on nearby Crusaders, attacking supply lines to the larger army.
What is another reason for why Richard I failed to capture Jerusalem?
Eventually, the Crusading Army began to break-up. When Richard his army to capture Ascalon (on the coast south of Jaffa), the army began to break-up. Many men doubted that a move on Jerusalem would ever happen, so they left the Crusade - retiring to Jaffa and Acre. This left Richard with a much weaker army and army supplies and actually slowed the plan for a second march on Jerusalem down even more as it took longer to build a base in Ascalon (four months). Despite this, by May 1192, plans for a second march on Jerusalem were made because of much better weather conditions.
What is another reason for why Richard I failed to capture Jerusalem?
The second march also failed. Partly this was due to the strength of the defences that Saladin had built around Jerusalem and his decision to poison all of the water wells close to the city. Furthermore, around the time of the second march, Richard became distracted by news from home about Prince John’s rebellion which would have clouded his decision making process. Secondly, the failure was down to Richard not knowing how weak Saladin was. He did not know Saladin was preparing to leave the city and, had he attacked, would have forced Saladin into a fight he did not want.
