Were the Crusaders mercenary in their motive or were their intentions more spiritual?
I have just watched Kingdom of Heaven (set just before the third crusade.)
It has encouraged me to have another think about a paper I wrote last year. We might as well start at the beginnng with the 1st Crusade. My argument tends to give the crusaders the benefit of the doubt.
Here's a short version. What do you reckon? How many different groups of people went on the First Crusade, and what were their motives?
The First Crusade was possibly one of the most bizarre events in medieval history. The sheer number of participants was totally unprecedented. Huge numbers set off for Constantinople, âsome sixty thousand in allâ embarked from their homes in Western and Eastern Europe in response to Pope Urban IIâs request for martial aid to assist the beleaguered Byzantine Emperor Alexius.
This request had been made before, by Pope Gregory VII (1073-85) who had been willing to help the Emperor in return for the Eastern Church recognising the supreme authority of the pope.
âThis dream of a unified church inspired Urban IIâ¦â¦At the Council of Clermont in November 1095 he appealed for western armies to go to the aid of ALL the Christians of the East and to liberate Jerusalem from the infidel- his vision was no less than the rolling back of Islam and the restoration of Christianity.â
As an incentive for people to go Urban offered something quite new â this was a meritorious war and those who participated in a proper spirit should have all their sins forgiven them and, furthermore should they die in the holy land, the gates of heaven would be open to them. The warlike, militant and bloody military elite of Europe thought that all their Christmases had arrived at once. The Pope announced that they could find salvation by active participation in their favourite pass-time, war â each death they caused of a Moslem would be a sin forgiven. This offer was particularly attractive to the Normans. The Norman nobility took an almost psychopathic enjoyment in warfare and to the younger sonâs of Norman dukes and barons this was a potential chance to carve out their own petty duchy or principality as well as a chance to test their muscle and exercise their sword-arms.
Who travelled to Constantinople to join the assault on the Holy Land? As well as the obvious nobility, who provided the military elite, such as Robert of Flanders, Raymond of Toulouse and Robert of Normandy amongst others, there were numerous other groups. The medieval army was in some respects much like a modern army in that for every fighting man there were a dozen non-combatants who provided a supporting role and a retinue of men at arms. Each Knight would have been accompanied by at least one but often many squires and the Norman/Frankish Nobleman would expect to travel in style. Wagon drivers would have carried his provisions, Tents were often large elaborate affairs which were fully furnished and hung with tapestries â These knights did not travel light. There would have been donkey drivers, cow-herds (meat is fresher if it is still walking.) There would have been cooks, washer-women, servants, blacksmiths, some knights even went so far as to take their wives along; and what would happen when the army arrived at Jerusalem? Jerusalem was a fortified town (as were most during this period) there would be high, thick walls at the very least which would need to be breached, climbed or undermined. Hundreds of engineers would be needed. The retinue of the Knight was a large group of people.
As well as the military elite, their families and the paid help, whose motivation to take the cross was decided by their lord, there were other people who took the cross for personal reasons. A travelling army required provisions and merchants followed in the baggage train hoping to sell their wares . No doubt tasty snacks were on sale to supplement the issued rations, balms and ointments to soothe the feet after a hard days march across tough country, good quality steel sprung crossbows from France (Bargain! never fired â dropped only once!) or a weapon of Spanish steel and any other necessary item which a crusader might need on his long journey. There were also a large number of prostitutes who sated the more base needs of the crusaders and according to one source âA solitary nun, of dubious morality.â Did the presence of these sinners on a holy mission matter? Not if Urbanâs message was taken literally. If every Muslim death would be a sin forgiven a crusader could do what he wanted on the way to Jerusalem (he would just be rather busy when he got there.)
Why were so many prepared to go? Well, motives were mixed, For the merchants and prostitutes and other camp followers obviously the motive was financial but one must not overlook the importance of the spiritual motive for which the opportunity to find salvation inspired men â it is otherwise hard to explain why rich magnates like Robert of Flanders and Raymond of Toulouse should have gone. It is easy to dismiss these men as being mercenary in their ambitions but Pope Urbanâs call to crusade did not directly include an offer of land and wealth although younger nobles and knights would have seen the possibility of enrichment â loot and land, âfor Urban made it clear that rightful gain would be the result of righteous war,â however the principle motive of these men was the spiritual one. They believed they were doing Godâs will and hoped for salvation. If the opportunity for more material reward arose it was a bonus.
Other Noblemen hoped for a solution to their problems â Robert of Normandy was in difficulty at home and the crusade gave him an opportunity to escape with papal protection. Whist Stephen of Blois took the cross because his wife, the rather fiery and influential daughter of William the Conqueror and Sister of Robert of Normandy, told him to.
As well as those who followed in the baggage train or retinue of the crusading noblemen there was another group. This group was the motley collection of people who had been inspired to take the cross by the preaching of Peter the Hermit. Many of Peterâs followers were peasants but there were also some noblemen too. Peter preached across what is now modern France into Germany and although the Frankish nobility did not follow Peter but rather preferred to accompany the great lords this was not the case in Germany. None of the most influential German nobles took the cross and those lesser nobles who had been inspired by the crusading idea followed Peter instead. By the time Peter left Cologne to head towards the Austrian Kingdoms he had amassed a following of some twenty thousand . These followers came from a variety of backgrounds but all were united in their Christian faith.
âMost of them were peasants but there were townsfolk among them, there were junior members of knightly families, there were former brigands and criminals. Their only link was the fervour of their faith.â
Exactly what Pope Urban II thought of Peterâs âarmyâ is unclear but it is certain that he had intended for the professional military nobles to heed the call to arms and not the peasants.
What were the Peasants motives? Why would they wish to leave their homes and undertake such an arduous journey? For the Peasants the hope of salvation was equally attractive and again the principle motivation was the higher spiritual one. This was an opportunity to go on a pilgrimage which they might never have seen again. There were other issues too which encouraged them. The peasants of Europe were during this period going through a particularly hard time.
âLife for a peasant in north-west Europe was grim and insecure. Much land had gone out of cultivation during the Barbarian invasions and the raids of the Norsemen. Dykes had been broken, and the sea and rivers enroached into the fieldsâ
So agriculture was in disarray during this period and it wasnât helped by the fact that many noblemen were reluctant to clear forests to make way for farming as it meant the loss of their hunting grounds.
Urban had appealed to Genoa for naval support which would be a vital condition of success, and the Genoese were interested in establishing trading bases in the middle-east. For the Genoese the allure of money was the principle motive and in order to bring about success on the venture they employed a large expeditionary force of mercenaries. Men motivated by gold.
There were then numerous different groups of people with an interest in the crusading cause. Some were motivated by the opportunity for personal gain but for the vast majority of crusaders the real motive was the spiritual one. The opportunity to carry out Godâs will and the quest for redemption.
Sources
J. Riley-Smith, The Crusades. A Short History, (London, 1987)
J. Riley-Smith, The First Crusade And The Idea of Crusading, (London, 1993)
W.B. Bartlett, God Wills It! An Illustrated History of The Crusades, (Stroud, 2000)
Walter Porges, âThe Clergy, The Poor and The Non-Combatants on The First Crusade.â Speculum 21:1 (1946)
Steven Runcimen, A History of the Crusades 1: The First Crusade, (Cambridge, 1951)
I have just watched Kingdom of Heaven (set just before the third crusade.)
It has encouraged me to have another think about a paper I wrote last year. We might as well start at the beginnng with the 1st Crusade. My argument tends to give the crusaders the benefit of the doubt.
Here's a short version. What do you reckon? How many different groups of people went on the First Crusade, and what were their motives?
The First Crusade was possibly one of the most bizarre events in medieval history. The sheer number of participants was totally unprecedented. Huge numbers set off for Constantinople, âsome sixty thousand in allâ embarked from their homes in Western and Eastern Europe in response to Pope Urban IIâs request for martial aid to assist the beleaguered Byzantine Emperor Alexius.
This request had been made before, by Pope Gregory VII (1073-85) who had been willing to help the Emperor in return for the Eastern Church recognising the supreme authority of the pope.
âThis dream of a unified church inspired Urban IIâ¦â¦At the Council of Clermont in November 1095 he appealed for western armies to go to the aid of ALL the Christians of the East and to liberate Jerusalem from the infidel- his vision was no less than the rolling back of Islam and the restoration of Christianity.â
As an incentive for people to go Urban offered something quite new â this was a meritorious war and those who participated in a proper spirit should have all their sins forgiven them and, furthermore should they die in the holy land, the gates of heaven would be open to them. The warlike, militant and bloody military elite of Europe thought that all their Christmases had arrived at once. The Pope announced that they could find salvation by active participation in their favourite pass-time, war â each death they caused of a Moslem would be a sin forgiven. This offer was particularly attractive to the Normans. The Norman nobility took an almost psychopathic enjoyment in warfare and to the younger sonâs of Norman dukes and barons this was a potential chance to carve out their own petty duchy or principality as well as a chance to test their muscle and exercise their sword-arms.
Who travelled to Constantinople to join the assault on the Holy Land? As well as the obvious nobility, who provided the military elite, such as Robert of Flanders, Raymond of Toulouse and Robert of Normandy amongst others, there were numerous other groups. The medieval army was in some respects much like a modern army in that for every fighting man there were a dozen non-combatants who provided a supporting role and a retinue of men at arms. Each Knight would have been accompanied by at least one but often many squires and the Norman/Frankish Nobleman would expect to travel in style. Wagon drivers would have carried his provisions, Tents were often large elaborate affairs which were fully furnished and hung with tapestries â These knights did not travel light. There would have been donkey drivers, cow-herds (meat is fresher if it is still walking.) There would have been cooks, washer-women, servants, blacksmiths, some knights even went so far as to take their wives along; and what would happen when the army arrived at Jerusalem? Jerusalem was a fortified town (as were most during this period) there would be high, thick walls at the very least which would need to be breached, climbed or undermined. Hundreds of engineers would be needed. The retinue of the Knight was a large group of people.
As well as the military elite, their families and the paid help, whose motivation to take the cross was decided by their lord, there were other people who took the cross for personal reasons. A travelling army required provisions and merchants followed in the baggage train hoping to sell their wares . No doubt tasty snacks were on sale to supplement the issued rations, balms and ointments to soothe the feet after a hard days march across tough country, good quality steel sprung crossbows from France (Bargain! never fired â dropped only once!) or a weapon of Spanish steel and any other necessary item which a crusader might need on his long journey. There were also a large number of prostitutes who sated the more base needs of the crusaders and according to one source âA solitary nun, of dubious morality.â Did the presence of these sinners on a holy mission matter? Not if Urbanâs message was taken literally. If every Muslim death would be a sin forgiven a crusader could do what he wanted on the way to Jerusalem (he would just be rather busy when he got there.)
Why were so many prepared to go? Well, motives were mixed, For the merchants and prostitutes and other camp followers obviously the motive was financial but one must not overlook the importance of the spiritual motive for which the opportunity to find salvation inspired men â it is otherwise hard to explain why rich magnates like Robert of Flanders and Raymond of Toulouse should have gone. It is easy to dismiss these men as being mercenary in their ambitions but Pope Urbanâs call to crusade did not directly include an offer of land and wealth although younger nobles and knights would have seen the possibility of enrichment â loot and land, âfor Urban made it clear that rightful gain would be the result of righteous war,â however the principle motive of these men was the spiritual one. They believed they were doing Godâs will and hoped for salvation. If the opportunity for more material reward arose it was a bonus.
Other Noblemen hoped for a solution to their problems â Robert of Normandy was in difficulty at home and the crusade gave him an opportunity to escape with papal protection. Whist Stephen of Blois took the cross because his wife, the rather fiery and influential daughter of William the Conqueror and Sister of Robert of Normandy, told him to.
As well as those who followed in the baggage train or retinue of the crusading noblemen there was another group. This group was the motley collection of people who had been inspired to take the cross by the preaching of Peter the Hermit. Many of Peterâs followers were peasants but there were also some noblemen too. Peter preached across what is now modern France into Germany and although the Frankish nobility did not follow Peter but rather preferred to accompany the great lords this was not the case in Germany. None of the most influential German nobles took the cross and those lesser nobles who had been inspired by the crusading idea followed Peter instead. By the time Peter left Cologne to head towards the Austrian Kingdoms he had amassed a following of some twenty thousand . These followers came from a variety of backgrounds but all were united in their Christian faith.
âMost of them were peasants but there were townsfolk among them, there were junior members of knightly families, there were former brigands and criminals. Their only link was the fervour of their faith.â
Exactly what Pope Urban II thought of Peterâs âarmyâ is unclear but it is certain that he had intended for the professional military nobles to heed the call to arms and not the peasants.
What were the Peasants motives? Why would they wish to leave their homes and undertake such an arduous journey? For the Peasants the hope of salvation was equally attractive and again the principle motivation was the higher spiritual one. This was an opportunity to go on a pilgrimage which they might never have seen again. There were other issues too which encouraged them. The peasants of Europe were during this period going through a particularly hard time.
âLife for a peasant in north-west Europe was grim and insecure. Much land had gone out of cultivation during the Barbarian invasions and the raids of the Norsemen. Dykes had been broken, and the sea and rivers enroached into the fieldsâ
So agriculture was in disarray during this period and it wasnât helped by the fact that many noblemen were reluctant to clear forests to make way for farming as it meant the loss of their hunting grounds.
Urban had appealed to Genoa for naval support which would be a vital condition of success, and the Genoese were interested in establishing trading bases in the middle-east. For the Genoese the allure of money was the principle motive and in order to bring about success on the venture they employed a large expeditionary force of mercenaries. Men motivated by gold.
There were then numerous different groups of people with an interest in the crusading cause. Some were motivated by the opportunity for personal gain but for the vast majority of crusaders the real motive was the spiritual one. The opportunity to carry out Godâs will and the quest for redemption.
Sources
J. Riley-Smith, The Crusades. A Short History, (London, 1987)
J. Riley-Smith, The First Crusade And The Idea of Crusading, (London, 1993)
W.B. Bartlett, God Wills It! An Illustrated History of The Crusades, (Stroud, 2000)
Walter Porges, âThe Clergy, The Poor and The Non-Combatants on The First Crusade.â Speculum 21:1 (1946)
Steven Runcimen, A History of the Crusades 1: The First Crusade, (Cambridge, 1951)
