Political Influences and Outcome of the Crusades

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ONLINE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POLITICAL INFLUENCES AND OUTCOME OF THE CRUSADES

 

 

 

 

A PAPER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR KING

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR CHURCH HISTORY 301 B06

 

DEPARTMENT OF CHURCH HISTORY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY

ERIC FOURNIER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA

8 FEBRUARY 2012

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                       2

 

introduction                                                 3

ESTABLISHED POWERS                                   4

MOTIVATION                 5

SOCIAL EFFECTS AGAINST THE EVANGLISM OF THE GOSPEL                                     6

CONCLUSION                7

 

WORKS CITED               8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

            The Crusades was a period of time in European and Middle Eastern history which was covered in the blood of both parties.  The Muslims in recent past to the time of the Crusades had conquered the Northern parts of Africa along with what is known as the Straight of Gibraltar and most of Portugal and Spain.  The bad sentiments left in the mouths of European Christians were strong during this period.  Close to the end of tenth century there came a time of religious endeavor motivated by millennial propaganda and expectation for the second coming of Christ.  An important factor to add into the equation of reasons for the spurn of revenge was the alleged mistreatment of Christians by Jews in the Holy land conducting their pilgrimages to Holy Sites.  These events would turn into a close to five hundred year war and consume many resources, see the change of numerous nations, claiming the lives of thousands innocent and guilty alike.  In this period of time the motivating factor for the invaders of the Middle East, for it truly was a massive invasion against a set of warring nationalities who un-united could not stand against the flowing force of the united Western Church.  It is important to note that the Eastern Empire never fully joined this Western Crusade until the mid twelve hundreds when the East took advantage and conquered Byzantine for their glory; conquering Byzantine they united for a stronger assault while costing them politically when years later when the West regained power because it formed a rift lasting many centuries later between Latin Christians and Eastern Christians.  The exchanges between all sides of the war did bring to both sides many technological and cultural advances.  There also came rise distinct societies which would last until late after the crusades, some of which like the Templar knights whom would be persecuted and charged with heresy and witchcraft by those in power that became jealous of their superior wealth.  Though all this happened, the most influential power which motivated the conquerors was religion and the granting of absolution from all and any sin by the crooked religious heads responsible for the organization and envisionment of the spearhead which ripped apart the Muslim world for a time.  The results of this war would be so grim that it would close of relations acceptable enough for the spreading of the gospel in the Muslim world, but would be beneficial in establishing future trading routes and cultural mixing centers rich with trade and education.

ESTABLISHED POWERS

            The first head of power which endorsed the Crusades was, “Pope Urban II in 1095.” ⁽¹⁾  He would push for the furtherance of the Eastern Empire to defend their boarders against the encroaching Muslim armies in Spain.  Where Pope Urban encouraged the Crusade, at Clermont Ferrand would become known as, “Har Afel, "the mount of gloom," by Jewish chroniclers of the Crusades.” ⁽²⁾ According to Zyromski, “Great enthusiasm was generated for the Crusades because they were, at first, a defensive effort,” which would succeed and become an offensive move against their Eastern enemy.  The whole idea of Crusading became popular among another significant class of people, they were the honorable knights.  Glory and honor spurred on their courage and enticed them to fight in the name of Christianity.  Further leaders and Crusades would follow suit, most famous of these are the Crusades of Richard the Lion Hearted, Phillip II of France, Emperor Frederick, King Louis of France, and regrettably the Children’s Crusade.  ______________________________________________________________________________

1.  Page Page McKean Zyromski. "The Crusades." Catechist, March 1, 2007, 53. http://www.proquest.com/

            2.  Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. Vol. 5. 2^nd ed.  Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. P 310

 

MOTIVATION

            Motivations for joining the Crusades came from, “reports received from Jerusalem concerning the maltreatment of Christian pilgrims and the manner in which their access to the Holy Places was obstructed.” ⁽³⁾  Perhaps though a greater influence was, “In many of these reports, the malevolence of the Jews was also stressed,” ⁽⁴⁾  Fortunately most European Jews saw the coming crisis when the call for the crusades happened.  Jews in France were the first to sense the danger and sent warnings as far as Germany.  Even though the first part of the crusades was massed against the abuse of Christians by Jews it is still important that this was only a brief part of the history involving the Crusading mass which ascended into the Middle East.  Persecution of the Jewish people, rivaling reports compare this period of time to the Holocaust of Germany in World War II.  Leaders of the Crusades would soon turn to protecting religious treasures that had already been established and pursuing legends of further treasures worthy of glory.  Perhaps one could view this war as a massive attempt by European nobility to lay claim and honor making a name for themselves in Christianity as to maybe claim Sainthood or their own glory as the secret keeper of the relic they obtained.

SOCIAL EFFECTS AGAINST THE EVANGLISM OF THE GOSPEL

            On the Jewish side, “ the Crusades became the symbol of the opposition between Christianity and Judaism, and the tension aroused by the persecutions was far more severe than

the tensions between Christianity and Islam to a head.  Though relations did become better for a

            3. Shwarzfuchs, Simon. Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. Vol. 5. 2^nd ed.  Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. P 311

            4.  Shwarzfuchs, Simon. Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. Vol. 5. 2^nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. P 311

that which had existed since the origins of Christianity. The debate ceased to be a theological one…” ⁽⁵⁾  Important to also remember was that the Crusades also brought time in which trade and education plus technology were shared in border towns according to Nikolas relations would fail short centuries later. ⁽⁶⁾  It was impossible for them to maintain relations when such fierce animosity was held by both Muslims and Jews for their Christian neighbors.  The Crusades caused massive shifts in political powers.  These shifts were not only felt in Europe, but due to the wars many leaders fell in the Mid East causing rise to massive new leaders over established regions of cultural diverse but religiously organized individuals.  Also there rose further hatred among Shiite and Sunni Muslims, though animosity had been held before the Crusades began for one another, they did come together in an organized effort to fend off the massive Christian armies.  It was this unison which would win them back their precious lands and create boundaries which exist currently.  In recent history one can view the outcome of what the Christians of Europe did to the Muslims.  There remains a sense of Ji-Had which had existed during that time against European invaders.  In fact, there remains almost no Christian influence in any of the countries including Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Dubai, Sudan, and Iraq.

CONCLUSION

One must ask what the true stake of the Crusades was.  According to the history and interpretation of events it would appear as if the Crusades harmed the cause for Christianity.  It

            5.  Shwarzfuchs, Simon. Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. Vol. 5. 2^nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. P 313

            6.  Jaspert, Nikolas. 2006. Crusades. Routledge, 2006. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost

was motivated by top political powers in the church and by leaders of countries to repel the invading Muslims and to establish in the Holy land a sanctuary for Christians.  They encountered much resistant, saw many of their own die, but were unable to establish any firm religious ground because their cause and method of evangelism was in err.  They were unable to establish churches, convert Muslims and Jews except by force, and it even became an acceptable practice by Jews to be committed to Martyrdom for their faith, a sad mirror image of what they did to Christians in the early church.  It is unbelievable that the true motivation for the Crusade was the conversion of the people they saw as heretics and murders of their God, but instead it becomes believable that the Crusades became a mission in honor and for the hunt of glory of man.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORKS CITED

Jaspert, Nikolas. 2006. Crusades. Routledge, 2006. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed March 2, 2012).

Page McKean Zyromski.  2007. The Crusades. Catechist, March 1, 53.  http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed March 5, 2012).

Shwarzfuchs, Simon. Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. Vol. 5. 2^nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. P 310-314