Religious Conflict and Warfare:The Age of the Crusades

Terms:• Pilgrimage= iter or peregrinatio (Latin)

pelerinage (French)• Holy War = bellum sacrum

guerre sainte• Expedition of the cross = expeditio crucis• Takers of the cross = cruces signati

Justification for Warfare

Just war principles established by St. Augustine in the 5th century

War must• Have a just cause based on past or present

aggression (causa justa)• Be authorized by legitimate authority (auctoritas

principis)• Be waged for right intention (intentio rectus)

– Must be only practical alternative– Participants must have pure motives

Prelude to the Crusades

Important events:• Arab conquests 7th & 8th centuries• Conversion of the Turks to Islam• Collapse of Abbasid dynasty c. 950• Battle of Manzikert in 1071

•Loss of Anatolia• Alexius’ letter to Pope Urban asking for help

regaining lost territory• Council of Clermont, 1095

Map of the Eastern Mediterranean in the 12th Century

Key Personalities

Alexius I Comnenus (1081-1118)Pope Urban II (1088-1099)Godfrey de Bouillon, duke of Lower LorraineBaldwin of Bourg, his brotherRaymond of St. Gilles, count of ToulouseBohemond of Otranto Robert Curthose, duke of NormandyStephen of Blois, count of AnjouPeter the Hermit

First Crusade 1096–1099

• Conditions for a valid Crusade– Authorized only by pope (legitimate authority or

auctoritas principis)– Crusader vow (votum)

• Cross sewed on clothing, signifying vow– Privileges

• Indulgence (spiritual reward for danger of journey)

• Protection of church (clerical status)• Immunity from seizure (lands, chattels)• Freedom from tolls or obligations

– Excommunication for failure to fulfill vow

First Crusade 1096–1099

Byzantine Empire under attack from Muslim Turks

1071 – Battle of Manzikert, Turks seize Anatolia

1094 – Alexis I appealed to Pope Urban II for help

1095 – Urban II’s speech at Clermont 1096 – Peasants’ Crusade (unofficial)1096 – Official crusade launched1099 – Crusaders capture Jerusalem

First Crusade 1096–1099

Second Crusade 1147–1149

1147 – Muslims defeat Europeans at Edessa, which catalyzed the 2nd Crusade

Preached by Bernard of ClarivauxFoolish decisions lead to disaster for the

crusadersCrusades now included an expansionist mission

in addition to a pilgrimage Origin of Military Orders: Templars,

Hospitalers, Teutonic Knights

Crusader States: Outremer, 1099–1187

• County of Eddessa, founded by Baldwin of Boulogne (1097–1144)

• Principality of Antioch, founded by Bohemond of Sicily (1098)

• Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099–1187)

• County of Tripoli, founded by Raymond of St. Giles (1102)

Krak des Chevaliers: Crusader Castle

Third Crusade 1188–1192

Muslim leader Saladin reconquers Egypt and most crusading states

1187 – Conquers Jerusalem, which precipitated the Third Crusade

Byzantium makes a pact with Saladin Leaders: Richard I of England

Philip II (Augustus) of FranceFrederick I (Barbarossa), Holy

Roman EmperorCrusade disintegrated through lack of cooperation

Fourth Crusade 1202–1204

Pope Innocent III organized crusade under papal auspices

Crusaders never reached the Holy LandDiverted by Venetians to Zara

Byzantium victim of the 4th CrusadeCause: dynastic intrigue & greed

1204: Crusaders sacked Constantinople

Crusades’ Overview