Religious Motives for the Crusades

The need for the concept of "just war"

Problem: How to justify breaking the Ten Commandments since doing so would result in eternity in hell

Solution: with help of Matilda of Tuscany, the development of idea of penitential warfare

1 multiple choice option

What made the crusades "just"

1. Good reason - Christians had right to reclaim Holy Land since home to Jesus + once part of Roman Empire

2. Good intention - crusaders would be like pilgrims travelling for love of Christ

3. An official leader - proclaimed by the pope, God's representative on earth

The impact of the papal reform movement

1. Pope Gregory VII wanted to reform the Catholic Church and encourage the idea of copying life of Christ

2. Encouraged by a movement started at Abbey of Cluny - greater focus on sins and need for penance

3. Rise in popularity of going on pilgrimages to visit holy relics for remission of sins

The guarantees of plenary indulgence

1. Urban in 1096 offered remission (forgiveness) of sins by going on crusade - extreme pilgrimage for knights who killed lots

2. Eugenius III in 1145 offered plenary indulgences - cancellation of all the punishment due for sins committed during a person's life - no purgatory

The importance of Jerusalem

1. Location of key biblical events - Calvary (where Jesus was crucified) + Holy Sepulchre (where Jesus was resurrected)

2. Pilgrimage destination since early 4th century - 7,000 Germans visited in 1060s

Jerusalem's situation before the First Crusade

1. Nothing significant had changed since 638 when Muslims took control of the city.

2. Seljuk invasion of Muslim world = destabilised region, making it harder for pilgrims to visit sites

3. Egyptian Fatimids had taken Jerusalem from Seljuks not long before arrival of First Crusade

The role of Jerusalem in causing the crusades

First Crusade: Urban II said Muslims were polluting Jerusalem with their presence + ultimate destination for crusading pilgrims.

Second Crusade: Bernard of Clairvaux said loss of Edessa was threat to Jerusalem

Third Crusade: Loss of Jerusalem to Saladin in 1187 shocked a pope so much he died

The role of popes

1. Issuing threats to keep crusaders committed - Paschal II threatened to excommunicate anyone who quit First Crusade

2. Writing letters - Quantum Praedecessores by Eugenius III in 1145 + Audita Tremendi by Gregory VIII in 1187

3. Developing propaganda - Urban II's encouragement of 'taking the cross' at public ceremonies + Alexander III's letter to be read in churches across Europe

4. Raising funds - mentioned in papal letters + Clement III asked for funds to pay for Third Crusade

Methods used by preachers to recruit crusaders

1. Organised public gatherings where men took the cross, called an invitatio

2. Chose meaningful days such as saint's days

3. Gathered in outdoor spaces with big images of Muslims attacking Jerusalem

4. Maximised the quality of audience, for example having kings present (Louis VII at Vezelay in 1146)

5. Created a pious mood by encouraging fasting

6. Encouraged miracles (Bernard of Clairvaux cured cripples)