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Line 17: − + − ==Papal call== − Pope Urban II called upon the knights of Christendom to fight for the defense of the Christian East and the protection of pilgrims in a speech made at the [[Council of Clermont]] on November 27, 1095. Pope Urban specified the call to skilled fighters, not priests or monks, and specified that clergy were not to participate without consent of their superiors, reflecting a cool minded approach, not religious fervor to fight for Christian lands.<ref name="Andrea1">Andrew Holt and Alfred Andrea. 2015. Seven Myths of the Crusades. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 9781624664038 Page 39-41 </ref> Urban demanded that all internal feuds within Christendom end, threatening [[excommunication]] for anyone who continued to bicker internally, and promising an indulgence (less time in purgatory) to anyone who died in the crusade. − This time Europe listened. Those who were there erupted in spontaneous cries of "Deus le vult!" ("God wills it!") - which would become the watchword of what we now know as the Crusades.+ − − Nothing like this had ever been done, and the Pope himself had no military power and had to count on those who were in positions of power to supply it. While the monarchs of Europe did not get directly involved, it was a series of prominent nobles who answered the call, among the most famous being: the Norman Bohemund of Taranto, former claimant to the Duchy of Apulia, his nephew Tancred, Count Raymond of Toulouse, [[Godfrey Of Bouillon|Duke Godfrey de Bouillon]] of Lorraine, Duke Hugh of Vermandois (brother of the King of France), Duke Robert of Normandy, and Count Robert of Flanders. The spiritual leader who accompanied them was French Bishop Adhemar du Puy, who was appointed Papal legate. − − All that was known at the start was that the forces to participate would meet together in [[Constantinople]], where Alexius had no idea what was being unleashed. − − Line 44:
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On the other hand, the crusades in southern [[Spain]] were militarily successful, eventually leading to the end of Islamic power in the region in 1492. The Teutonic knights expanded Christian domains in Eastern Europe, and the [[Albigensian Crusade]], achieved its goal of destroying heretics in France.<ref>See Brian Tierney and Sidney Painter, ''Western Europe in the Middle Ages 300–1475''. 6th ed. (McGraw-Hill 1998)</ref>
On the other hand, the crusades in southern [[Spain]] were militarily successful, eventually leading to the end of Islamic power in the region in 1492. The Teutonic knights expanded Christian domains in Eastern Europe, and the [[Albigensian Crusade]], achieved its goal of destroying heretics in France.<ref>See Brian Tierney and Sidney Painter, ''Western Europe in the Middle Ages 300–1475''. 6th ed. (McGraw-Hill 1998)</ref>
== Need for a crusade ==
== Origin of the Crusades ==
The Holy Land had been part of the [[Roman Empire]], and thus the [[Byzantine Empire]], until the Islamic conquests of the seventh and eighth centuries that forced the Byzantines out and saw the area gradually turn Islamic. Calm returned and Christians had generally been permitted to visit the sacred places in the Holy Land until 1071, when the [[Seljuk Turks]] assailed the Byzantines, defeating them at the [[Battle of Manzikert]], and conquered Jerusalem from the Egyptian Fatimids the same year. They were not friendly to Christian pilgrims, in contrast to how the Fatimids had been, and soon pilgrims came under threat of robbery or even death as they were no longer welcome. The Byzantine Emperor [[Alexius I]] asked for aid from the west both to the Popes and the Christian monarchs. Nothing meaningful happened. Alexius may have been hoping for money from the Pope for the hiring of mercenaries.
The Holy Land had been part of the [[Roman Empire]], and thus the [[Byzantine Empire]], until the Islamic conquests of the seventh and eighth centuries that forced the Byzantines out and saw the area gradually turn Islamic. Calm returned and Christians had generally been permitted to visit the sacred places in the Holy Land until 1071, when the [[Seljuk Turks]] assailed the Byzantines, defeating them at the [[Battle of Manzikert]], and conquered Jerusalem from the Egyptian Fatimids the same year. They were not friendly to Christian pilgrims, in contrast to how the Fatimids had been, and soon pilgrims came under threat of robbery or even death as they were no longer welcome. The Byzantine Emperor [[Alexius I]] asked for aid from the west both to the Popes and the Christian monarchs. Nothing meaningful happened. Alexius may have been hoping for money from the Pope for the hiring of mercenaries.
Prior to the First Crusade in 1095, Muslims had conquered about two-thirds of the Christian world after centuries of attacks and so Western Europeans performed a counter offensive with the First Crusade.<ref name="Andrea" /> Thus, Westerners were not the initiators of conflict, but and instead the First Crusade was the latest phase of an ongoing conflict for territory.<ref name="Andrea" />
Prior to the First Crusade in 1095, Muslims had conquered about two-thirds of the Christian world after centuries of attacks and so Western Europeans performed a counter offensive with the First Crusade.<ref name="Andrea" /> Thus, Westerners were not the initiators of conflict, but and instead the First Crusade was the latest phase of an ongoing conflict for territory.<ref name="Andrea" />
===Timeline===
==Timeline==
The Crusades are traditionally taught in university courses as a stand-alone event that had no precedent. There is some problem with this thought process.
The Crusades are traditionally taught in university courses as a stand-alone event that had no precedent. There is some problem with this thought process.
By the time the Crusades finally began, Muslim armies had conquered two-thirds of the Christian world.<ref>[http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/the-truth-about-the-crusades-islamis-not-the-religion-of-peace/question-4697558/ The TRUTH ABOUT THE CRUSADES. ISLAM...is NOT THE RELIGION OF PEACE....!!]</ref>
By the time the Crusades finally began, Muslim armies had conquered two-thirds of the Christian world.<ref>[http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/the-truth-about-the-crusades-islamis-not-the-religion-of-peace/question-4697558/ The TRUTH ABOUT THE CRUSADES. ISLAM...is NOT THE RELIGION OF PEACE....!!]</ref>
==Papal call==
Pope Urban II called upon the knights of Christendom to fight for the defense of the Christian East and the protection of pilgrims in a speech made at the [[Council of Clermont]] on November 27, 1095. Pope Urban specified the call to skilled fighters, not priests or monks, and specified that clergy were not to participate without consent of their superiors, reflecting a cool minded approach, not religious fervor to fight for Christian lands.<ref name="Andrea1">Andrew Holt and Alfred Andrea. 2015. Seven Myths of the Crusades. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 9781624664038 Page 39-41 </ref> Urban demanded that all internal feuds within Christendom end, threatening [[excommunication]] for anyone who continued to bicker internally, and promising an indulgence (less time in purgatory) to anyone who died in the crusade.
This time Europe listened. Those who were there erupted in spontaneous cries of "Deus le vult!" ("God wills it!") - which would become the watchword of what we now know as the Crusades.
Nothing like this had ever been done, and the Pope himself had no military power and had to count on those who were in positions of power to supply it. While the monarchs of Europe did not get directly involved, it was a series of prominent nobles who answered the call, among the most famous being: the Norman Bohemund of Taranto, former claimant to the Duchy of Apulia, his nephew Tancred, Count Raymond of Toulouse, [[Godfrey Of Bouillon|Duke Godfrey de Bouillon]] of Lorraine, Duke Hugh of Vermandois (brother of the King of France), Duke Robert of Normandy, and Count Robert of Flanders. The spiritual leader who accompanied them was French Bishop Adhemar du Puy, who was appointed Papal legate.
All that was known at the start was that the forces to participate would meet together in [[Constantinople]], where Alexius had no idea what was being unleashed.
== The First Crusade ==
== The First Crusade ==