Knights and why they went on crusade

Reasons for the power of knights

1. Technology- horses, high saddle = secure position to fight from

2. Equipment: swords + lance cavalry charge + heavily armoured

4. Experience of fighting - Bohemond of Taranto's experience fighting Byzantines

5. Weakness of enemy tactics - Seljuks not good at fighting armoured soldiers

Impact of chivalric values on crusading

1. Shift from knightly values of simply being brave/violent/conquering to chivalric values focused on loyalty to your lord, development of military skills, behaving courteously

2. Resulted in court poetry emphasising crusading as way to live according to chivalric values - symbolised by figure of Richard I in Third Crusade

Military orders + pilgrims

1. Constant threat to pilgrims trying to visit Holy Land - 300 pilgrims killed in 1120 during Muslim raids from Ascalon

2. Knights Templar founded in 1120 to protect pilgrims - recognised by pope in 1129.

3. Hospitaller movement - ran Order of St John's Hospital in Jerusalem, with beds for 2,000 pilgrims in 1185

HOWEVER never more than 500 members each

Settlement and acquisition of wealth

1. Urban described Holy Land as "land of milk and honey".

2. Mentions of booty/looting in chronicles of First Crusade.

3. Opportunity to escape dominance of wealthier relatives

First Crusade leaders motivated by land

1. Bohemond of Taranto - made himself prince of Antioch despite this being against oath he made to Alexios

2. Baldwin of Boulogne - limited inheritance opportunities in France, took control of Edessa

3. Tancred of Hauteville - nephew of Bohemond, even fewer opps

4. Raymond of Toulouse - took his third wife with him suggesting desire to stay

Evidence against land being primary motive

1. Seen genuinely as a pilgrimage, not a permanent move- only around 300 stayed after First Crusade

2. It cost money to crusade - those returning were poor

3. Popes/kings had to introduce specific taxes to pay for crusades (Saladin Tithe in 1188)