I have always loved history. I was quite amazed to discover how little I actually knew about the Crusades. I find an odd similarity between Christian crusades and Islamic jihad.
In 1095, Pope Urban II preached the idea of crusade. It is rather interesting how the good pope was convinced to do so. Basically, the Seljuk Turks were beginning to infringe on the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines were unable to stop the Turks and Emperor Alexus I had a brilliant idea...He asked the Pope for assistance. Of course, the Emperor pointed out that his empire was Christian and since the empire was under attack from Muslims...shouldn"t other Christians move to assist his beleaguered empire. Rumor has it that the Emperor even insinuated that such a coalition could heal the split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Pope Urban II took the bait.
The Church was extremely wise in it"s method of convincing men to take up arms and travel to the "Holy Land". If you accept the request to take up the cross and go on crusade to capture the Holy Land from the infidels" Any crimes you had committed would be erased. All sins against God would be forgiven and you were guaranteed a free pass into Heaven. To insure your lands would be safe, the Church promised to protect them for you. Also, any taxes owed would be forgiven"thus insuring your property would not be seized. And of course, it was preached that killing an infidel was not a sin"it was the path to Heaven.
Interestingly, the truly "first" crusade was launched by peasants. An army of unarmed peasants marched from France to Byzantium. Of course, the Emperor was appalled to hear of a large mob approaching his empire. Along the way, this mob created much distress by looting anything they wished. The wise Emperor quickly ferried the Peasant Crusaders through his empire and sent them on their way toward the Holy Land. As the peasants marched through Seljuk Turk territory, the Turks launch an attack on them and annihilated the peasant army.
The Europeans had begun to form a true army, which moved a short time after the peasant army. This was an army formed of fighting men and it was intent on freeing Jerusalem. When this army reached Byzantium, the Emperor agreed to supply the food requirements of the crusaders. When the Crusaders reach Seljuk Turk lands, the Turks once again attacked. This time, however, the tables were turned. The Crusaders won what they considered to be an easy victory. Since their supplies would be transport by sea, the Crusader army marched very close to the sea. They took city after city. Not easily, but they took them. The First Crusade members suffered greatly in order to receive the reward the Church had promised. When the army was first formed, some 7,000 knights were among the fighting force. By the time they reached Jerusalem"only about 1,500 knights had survived.
The crusaders finally reached Jerusalem on June 7, 1099. After a lengthy siege, Jerusalem fell. The crusaders, once inside the city, killed almost everyone. Men, women and children".
Seven of the crusades involved the Holy Land. Some of the crusades were rather small, such as the crusade to rid France of the Cathars in 1180. The removal of the Moors in Spain was also a crusade. Basically, all the crusades had a few things in common. First, they were "Holy Wars". Second, the Church offered special incentives to convince fighting men to volunteer.
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When it absolutley, positively has to die....30/06
Can you elaborate more on how one goes about infringing on an Empire?
Basically, the Seljuk Turks were a dislocated tribe/nation. The Mongols had pushed them west into direct contact with the Byzantine Empire. During a long drawn out conflict, the Turks were able to seize a substantial portion of Byzantine territory. Eventually, the Turks would seize the entire empire.
__________________
When it absolutley, positively has to die....30/06
Can you elaborate more on how one goes about infringing on an Empire?
Basically, the Seljuk Turks were a dislocated tribe/nation. The Mongols had pushed them west into direct contact with the Byzantine Empire. During a long drawn out conflict, the Turks were able to seize a substantial portion of Byzantine territory. Eventually, the Turks would seize the entire empire.
Aaaaahhh, so that's what happened to Constantinople.
I have always loved history. I was quite amazed to discover how little I actually knew about the Crusades. I find an odd similarity between Christian crusades and Islamic jihad.
In 1095, Pope Urban II preached the idea of crusade. It is rather interesting how the good pope was convinced to do so. Basically, the Seljuk Turks were beginning to infringe on the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines were unable to stop the Turks and Emperor Alexus I had a brilliant idea...He asked the Pope for assistance. Of course, the Emperor pointed out that his empire was Christian and since the empire was under attack from Muslims...shouldn"t other Christians move to assist his beleaguered empire. Rumor has it that the Emperor even insinuated that such a coalition could heal the split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Pope Urban II took the bait.
The Church was extremely wise in it"s method of convincing men to take up arms and travel to the "Holy Land". If you accept the request to take up the cross and go on crusade to capture the Holy Land from the infidels" Any crimes you had committed would be erased. All sins against God would be forgiven and you were guaranteed a free pass into Heaven. To insure your lands would be safe, the Church promised to protect them for you. Also, any taxes owed would be forgiven"thus insuring your property would not be seized. And of course, it was preached that killing an infidel was not a sin"it was the path to Heaven.
Interestingly, the truly "first" crusade was launched by peasants. An army of unarmed peasants marched from France to Byzantium. Of course, the Emperor was appalled to hear of a large mob approaching his empire. Along the way, this mob created much distress by looting anything they wished. The wise Emperor quickly ferried the Peasant Crusaders through his empire and sent them on their way toward the Holy Land. As the peasants marched through Seljuk Turk territory, the Turks launch an attack on them and annihilated the peasant army.
The Europeans had begun to form a true army, which moved a short time after the peasant army. This was an army formed of fighting men and it was intent on freeing Jerusalem. When this army reached Byzantium, the Emperor agreed to supply the food requirements of the crusaders. When the Crusaders reach Seljuk Turk lands, the Turks once again attacked. This time, however, the tables were turned. The Crusaders won what they considered to be an easy victory. Since their supplies would be transport by sea, the Crusader army marched very close to the sea. They took city after city. Not easily, but they took them. The First Crusade members suffered greatly in order to receive the reward the Church had promised. When the army was first formed, some 7,000 knights were among the fighting force. By the time they reached Jerusalem"only about 1,500 knights had survived.
The crusaders finally reached Jerusalem on June 7, 1099. After a lengthy siege, Jerusalem fell. The crusaders, once inside the city, killed almost everyone. Men, women and children".
Seven of the crusades involved the Holy Land. Some of the crusades were rather small, such as the crusade to rid France of the Cathars in 1180. The removal of the Moors in Spain was also a crusade. Basically, all the crusades had a few things in common. First, they were "Holy Wars". Second, the Church offered special incentives to convince fighting men to volunteer.
Thanks, I am a bit of a history buff, so enjoyed the info.
As with most historical documents, you must remember who was writting, and what their motives were. As with this quote:
The Church was extremely wise in it"s method of convincing men to take up arms and travel to the "Holy Land".
This may be totally true, however it is also said that every land owner at that time was as a "little king" and had to protect his domain. This required hireing professional soldiers at the owners expense,of which there was a vast supply and surplus. These unemployed soldiers of fortune were prong to traveling in bands, robbing and looting about the countryside. The crucades was a convient means of putting these rogue soldiers to work for the churches profit, also relieving the local land owners of the robbers and thieves who had been a thorn in their flesh for years. Less protection was hired to guard their own "little kingdoms". It was a financial"win-win" situation for all involved. Does this sound familar to some of the conflicts we find ourselves involved in today? Isn't the ecomomy always "fixed" by getting involved in a military conflict of some sort? Isn't it true that the good old U.S. often loses more young men to violent crime on the streets of L.A., Miami, N.Y., and the "City of Brotherly Love", than we do in the wars and conflicts overseas?
The Crusades...
