The Crusades
The crusading movement was a momentous event in the history of medieval Europe. The Crusades were a series of wars which began in 1095 and ended in the late 13th century. In a broad sense the Crusades were an expression of militant Christianity and European expansion. They combined religious interests with secular and military enterprises. The main objective of the First Crusade was for the Western European Christians to recapture from the Muslims the city of Jerusalem, which was sacred to Christians as the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The First Crusade was successful in its explicit aim of freeing the Holy Land. Although the primary cause of success of the First Crusade was the political divisions and fragmentation within Islam, recognition should be bestowed upon the crusaders themselves. Overall, the way in which Urban motivated and prepared the crusaders was ingenious in itself. Papal encouragement, the hope of eternal merit, and the offer of indulgences motivated thousands to the cause. It was the mass of crusaders, whose faith lay in the relics and the visions, who marched around the walls of Jerusalem. For them this was, despite the atrocities that were committed, a holy pilgrimag
By the 11th century the church had become more centralized and stronger as a result of a reform movement to end the practice whereby kings appointed important clergy. For the first time in many years, the popes were now able to effectively unite European popular support behind them. Pope Urban II who took advantage of this newly reformed papacy in 1095 at the Council of Clermont. The Pope had received a letter from the Holy Roman Emperor, Alexius pleading for aid in driving the Muslim invaders out of his country. Pope Urban II was an ambitious politician intent of spreading Christianity, and now he had the perfect opportunity to do so. Urban drew upon ancestral pride as a means of inspiration by alluding to those Christians who heralded them. He reminded his audience of the honor and courage of their ancestors who fought before them. "Let the deeds of your ancestors move you and incite your minds to manly achievements... oh, most valiant soldiers and descendants of invincible ancestors, be not degenerate, but recall the valor of your progenitors" (Robert, 27). Urban was in essence asking Christians to bear in mind the battles their ancestors fought, and to let the triumphs of their predecessors serve as an inspiration to them. He stressed the glory of war, and empowered the crusaders by referring to them as the progeny of "invincible ancestors". Pope Urban conveyed a tangible, prolific image of the beloved Holy Land. "Jerusalem is the navel of the world; the land is fruitful above others, like another paradise of delights... This royal city, therefore, situated at the centre of the world, is now held captive by His enemies, and does not cease to implore you to come to her aid" (Robert, 28). For Christians, the very name of Jerusalem evoked visions of the end of time and of the heavenly city. By reinstating the significance of the Holy Land, and referring to the Muslims as "His enemies", Urban struck the minds of the Christians. He fostered in them the belief that fighting this crusade was the word of God. These messages from God were employed later in the Crusade by way of relics and celestial visions. The religious reform that had just taken place was accompanied by an increase in popular spiritua
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Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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