HIST 107 Introduction to Medieval History Lecture 11 The First Crusade Main Questions 1 What was the background to the First Crusade 2 What motivated people to go on it Preliminary Remarks Recall from previous lectures the Church especially monasticism exerts a considerable influence on the eleventh century aristocracy At the same time the aristocracy particularly in France is experiencing a shift in its family structure towards tighter lineages One indication of this is the growth in the vendetta as a social practice Meanwhile the Gregorian reform papacy has been extending its influence since the mideleventh century and is taking a more active role in European affairs The Byzantine empire continues to survive although its territory in modern Turkey is under threat from the migration of a nomadic people the Turks who have converted to Islam And for Christians in the West pilgrimage including long distance pilgrimage to Jerusalem remains a popular expression of religious enthusiasm Key Points Three main questions to address A What in outline was the First Crusade B How was it possible C Why did people go on it A What in outline was the First Crusade A brief description of events will allow us to isolate its key features Military expedition from western Europe but a military expedition of an unusual sort directed towards Palestine especially Jerusalem therefore a journey of about 2000 miles for most participants Initiated by the pope Urban II a former disciple of Gregory VII formal launch at Council of Clermont November 1095 probably cued by appeal for help from the Byzantine empire empire had used western knights in the past Clermont followed by extensive preaching campaign huge impact on localities Goal liberate key buzz word Jerusalem from Muslim control Crusaders depart over spring and summer of 1096 most parts of Europe represented most polyglot army since heyday of the Carolingian war machine but largest element from France north and south aristocrats from France will assume the leadership difficult to estimate numbers but probably c 100 000 equivalent of several million today Various armies travel by land eastwards converging on Constantinople accommodations reached with the emperor Alexius Comnenus the crusaders must return former Byzantine territory they conquer though in the event these agreements break down Crusaders enter Muslim Asia Minor spring 1097 long and very tough campaign ensues including debilitating siege of Antioch October 1097 June 1098 Antioch is the climacteric of the crusade visions and relics raise the stakes of holy war crusaders convinced they are God s instruments finally Jerusalem besieged and captured July 1099 even then crusade not over Egyptian army defeated August 1099 by now maybe down to fewer than 10 of original numbers Important coda a follow up expedition from Europe is planned in 1101 if anything larger and better funded than in 1096 but it fails miserably in Asia Minor result magnify sense of achievement of the 1096 1099 crusaders we know Muslim disunity explains the success but the crusaders assign it to divine favour Long term effects creation of cluster of states in Palestine and Syria in which people of western European descent form the political and military elite the Latin East or Frankish East most important element Latin kingdom of Jerusalem at fullest extent roughly the area of modern day Israel B How was the First Crusade possible Convergence of practical and ideological factors 1 at practical level the crusade is the brainchild of the reform papacy the administrative co ordination encouraged by reform aids preaching Urban II an ex monk of Cluny taps into his monastic networks monks among the main recruiters Urban s mentor Gregory VII had attempted something similar ish in 1074 after dip in 1050s Byzantine relations with the West especially the papacy are thawing this makes Alexius s appeal possible this partly explains why Jerusalem suddenly of concern event though has been in Muslim hands since 637 2 ideological framework probably more significant three factors worthy of emphasis a papacy here directly organizing and authorizing warfare not going through kings and emperors this grows out of powers claimed by reform papacy in any event the king of France is excommunicated in 1096 b the crusade is made possible because God is believed to be political a threat to the Church a threat to the divine order Christian society must pursue a script to realize this order c most important of all relationship between religion and violence this very different from modern expectations most cultures accommodate religion and warfare see e g images of military saints so important not to judge the crusaders by anachronistic standards C Why did people go on the First Crusade This is perhaps the question that has exercised historians of the First Crusade more than any other A good way to approach it is to look at some reasons set out in older fashioned histories but which still crop up then look at more realistic factors Old arguments A it was about people wanting to get rich No it was hugely expensive to go on crusade B it was about creating European colonies because of overpopulation No there was still lots of unexploited land close to home in Europe And most of the survivors return to Europe anyway C it was about younger sons making themselves scarce No Families had to club together to send members on crusade There is no evidence younger sons were conspicuously represented on the crusade D it was about the Church cleverly getting rid of the most turbulent elements of society No there was more disorder while the crusaders were away So why did they go Key crusading is a expensive b unpleasant c voluntary Therefore key to motivation is ideology especially religious ideology Two main strands A pilgrimage tradition the crusade piggybacks off this gives the expedition a clear goal gives the crusade a ritual framework vow on departure pilgrimage rituals en route B influence of monastic ideals on lay people but lay people are immersed in sin crusading squares the circle evidence of Ralph of Caen on Tancred The crusade is therefore ultimately a pastoral message this explains inclusion of non combatants women children monks nuns But the crusade is especially pitched at aristocrats and knights crusade as a form of vengeance avenge your Lord and brothers partly explains pogroms of Jews in 1096 Hook of crusade idea that the crusade is so tough it will be a