Reasons for the first crusade. 9 Factors that Caused the First Crusade 2019-01-10

Causes, History and Violence of the Crusades

Nor did the crusaders see themselves as the first, since they did not know there would be more. It also found its way into the arts, as patrons and artists from diverse backgrounds and traditions were brought together to create new forms of expression. Academic debate moved forwards significantly during the 1980s, as discussion concerning the definition of a crusade gathered real steam. About a quarter of Peter's followers were killed, but the rest arrived largely intact at in August. Up until that time there were horrible reports ofpilgrims being executed, some by crucifixion, and by the eleventhcenturies, things had actually gotten much worse under a new Muslimdynasty. It is the will of God! These reforms gave the church renewed spiritual vigor and an emphasis on purity that discouraged tolerance of irreligious behavior, whether that was clerics breaking the rules — a common target of the reformers — or heathens living at the edge of Christendom. The crusaders were men who believed by default in sin, damnation, and salvation.

What was the real cause of the Crusades?

They could see the broader trends and act to drive them in the direction they preferred — one that served both the moral values and the self-interest of the men running the church. Like a holy warrior in a holy war, one would carry a weapon and fight for the Church with all its spiritual benefits, including the privilege of an or if one died in battle. The problem faced was one of supply as well as culture: the people needed food and supplies, and they expected host cities to give them the foods and supplies — or at least sell them at prices they felt reasonable. From Translations and Reprints from Original Sources of European History Vol. The Byzantines had suffered a serious defeat at the hands of the at the three years previously.

9 Factors that Caused the First Crusade

According to legend, an army of Christian came to the aid of the crusaders during the battle and crippled Kerbogha's army. He wanted Christian Pilgrims to be able to visit the Holy Land and other important religious sites. Their Churches were destroyed and they weresubjected to extremely harsh conditions. When Muslim cities were captured by Christian crusaders, it was a standard operating procedure for all inhabitants, no matter what their age, to be summarily killed. Christians understood the Crusades as a path to salvation for those who participated. The same year, succeeded and would continue to reign until 1092. Especially was it thought that a pilgrimage to the land that had been trod by the feet of the Saviour of the world, to the Holy City that had witnessed his martyrdom, was a peculiarly pious undertaking, and one which secured for the pilgrim the special favor and blessing of Heaven.

Why Did People Join the Crusades?

A military expedition against the Turks held out a lot of promise, not least of which was the possible reunification of the Eastern and Western churches, should the West prove capable of defeating the Muslim menace which had for so long plagued the East. Hypothesize the types of problems encountered by families when a member went on crusade. Were the Crusades primarily religious, political, economic, or a combination? Greed and lack of knowledge mostly caused the First Crusade. These states were on the whole more concerned with consolidating their own territories and gaining control of their neighbours, than with cooperating against the crusaders. I now believe that it was its most important defining feature. Once word of wealth and spoils began to spread, the Crusades became a treasure hunt for some participants.

Jonathan Riley

During the crusade, knights and peasants from many nations of Western Europe travelled over land and by sea, first to Constantinople and then on towards Jerusalem, as crusaders; the peasants greatly outnumbered the knights. In 1095, the year before the First Crusade, the papacy was gaining much of its prestige back. The Papacy saw the Crusades as a way to assert Catholic influence as a unifying force, with war as a religious mission. I would that it were brought there worthily, since God will not that I have the strength to go thither. With regards to their target, crusades were also called against the Muslims of the Iberian peninsula, the pagan peoples of the Baltic region, the Mongols, political opponents of the Papacy and heretics such as the Cathars or the Hussites. The benefits of the indulgence were therefore twofold, both for fighting as a warrior of the Church and for traveling as a pilgrim. Christians commonly try to defend the Crusades as political or at least as politics being masked by religion, but in reality, sincere religious devotion — both Muslim and Christian — played a primary role on both sides.

The True Story of the First Crusade

The 2 Reasons why the crusades started:The first reason that the crusades started was that the Christians wanted to regain power over Jerusalem because the Turks wasn't allowing Christians to enter the city; and because Jerusalem was the Holy City to Christians, Muslims and Jews there was a lot of conflict between the three Religions. The churches in Jerusalem were destroyed or turned into stables. For the rest of 1095 and into 1096, Urban spread the message throughout France, and urged his bishops and legates to preach in their own dioceses elsewhere in France, Germany, and Italy as well. The charters denoting these transactions were written by clergymen, not the knights themselves, and seem to idealize the knights as pious men seeking only to fulfill a vow of pilgrimage. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem commemorated the hill of crucifixion and the tomb of Christ's burial.

The Crusades: A Complete History

The Christians were not long in realizing that power had fallen into new hands. Even other Christians were not safe from the Christian crusaders. The Turks were experienced, savvy, and had local knowledge; most of the People's Crusade —a bunch of amateur warriors and unarmed women — were massacred upon entering Seljuk territory. Anyone who successfully made the long and arduous journey to Jerusalem not only demonstrated their religious devotion but also became beneficiaries of significant religious benefits. He then took control of Aleppo in June 1128 and began adding to his territory from lands Christians and non-Christians had controlled. The Doge of Venice convinced the crusaders to burn Constantinople on their way to the Holy Land since the Republic of Venice had interests in a weak Byzantine Empire so they could spread their influence into the Eastern Mediterranean. In arts and literature The success of the crusade inspired the literary imagination of poets in France, who, in the 12th century, began to compose various celebrating the exploits of Godfrey of Bouillon and the other crusaders.

9 Factors that Caused the First Crusade

The First Crusade - The People's Crusade The months which followed the Council of Clermont were marked by an epidemic of religious excitement in western Europe. What factors on the Muslim side led to the First Crusade? Encouraged by the success and in some cases threatened by excommunication for nonparticipation or desertion , more armies left for Jerusalem in 1100-1101; these armies were defeated in Asia Minor. The decision of which family members would take up the cross, and which would remain behind was often made collectively. Its lone success in the long line of Crusades proves its uniqueness among the six others that were mostly ineffective. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.

Why Did People Join the Crusades?

Accompanying the knights were many poor men pauperes who could afford basic clothing and perhaps an old weapon. George Duby, The Chivalrous Society. Once the first crusaders realized the amount of wealth the Islamic people of the East possessed and began returning with spoils, others decided to join so they too would have an opportunity to improve their financial situations by capturing a few of the riches, which were not taxed if taken in the name of God during a crusade. However, the actual crusade didn't restrict itself to Edessa, but rather became a general campaign to capture lands held by nonbelievers; the crusaders fought in Lisbon, Damascus and other cities far from Edessa. Jonathan Riley-Smith, A History: The Crusade, New Haven, London: Yale University Press, 2005 , 1.