The Crusades Flashcards
what is meant by crusade?
word not used at time - called pilgrims or jerusalemites
differing idea of crusaders and those who wrote about them
ideology progressed as crusaders progressed
legality of crusading not formulated until 13th C.
a crusade was….
a holy war marked by papal or papally sanctioned preaching taking of the cross vow a penitential act form of salvation novelty of first crusade
background to the crusades
papal reform of 1040s
increased violence
increased influence of pope
involvement of papacy in secular affairs eg investiture
rival to eastern church after 1054 schism
start of the 1st Crusade
Claremont pope asked for troops by Alexios urbans lost speech - restoration of peace in christendom aimed at new class of knights peace of god ban on localised fighting increased popularity of pilgrimage penitential aspect of crusading
urbans intentions of the first crusade
jerusalem as main/only aim - very narrow minded view
using the skill set of knights for a just cause
rebuilding of relations between east and west
seen by crusaders as an armed pilgrimage
east after 1099
emergence of jerusalem as kingdom along with antioch etc
at its peak, latins controlled whole levantine coast
very few crusaders remained in east
varied social/regional diversity
integration with local populations
sacking of constantinople - no hope of good relations with eastern church
Settlement in East
obtaining of port towns eg acre - major source of wealth
quick turnover of frankish lords
castle feifs centres of lordship, taxation etc
military orders of templars, hospitaliers for protection of pilgrims
western wealth used to support projects in east
huge debate about colonialism and who it benefited
outremer and neighbours
most local historians dont even mention crusades
area as battleground between fatmids and seljuks
ruler of holy land was already alien on arrival of christians due to fatmid takeover
campaigns of saladin end fatmids, and jerusalem
brief recovery of area by latins due to mongol invasions
conquest of acre by mamelukes end of latins in east
fall of east
use of cyprus as a base to raid eastern mameuke territory
brief use of constantinople until byzantine revival
thriving of greek monasticism under latin rule
crusades in spain/germany
recruitment
lords likely to be accompanied by retainers
nobles likely to go with relatives
successful traditions of crusading used as recruitment tool
following in footsteps of predecessors
change from travelling by road to ship - knew exactly who was coming
leadership
2nd and 3rd crusades led by kings - failures
4th crusade led by nobles - more successful
importance of royal leadership, reflects increasing importance of monarchy
rulers now decided when to crusade then popes
increased cost of crusades relied on rules to fund them
popes sought to regain control through legates, didnt work
maintained influence of church
lateran 4 required money from all for crusades - allowed church to provide funding and have an input
this changed to monarchs though
change from death of crusaders to martyrdom
crusaders exempt from taxation, land held by church
Preaching
needed to be kept under control
preacher soften blamed for outbreaks of violence eg against jews
crusades sometimes promoted as revenge against jews - easy to see how could be turned
preaching delegated to certain individuals
expansion of Crusades
crusades other than east
argument - hard to argue that balkans same a jerusalemin being ‘rightful possession’
often seen as being called crusade in last resort eg albiguensian crusade
rulers often needed to step in - shows how popes could lose control
same indulgences
crusading becomes imbedded in european society
Sources
Humbert of Romans - critics of crusading, biased point of view
letters of Urban II - recruitment
