Before we can consider the reasons for the success of the First Crusade, we have to first ask
some initial questions that should be kept in mind throughout my essay. To begin with, we
have to raise the question if the crusade was a success. To do so we have to establish what
qualifies as a success. To judge its success is to compare the ideals and aims of the crusade
with what happened and what was actually achieved. Here, though, we meet yet another
problem in that we ask which aims should we look at? Those of pope Urban II? Those of the
military leadership of the crusade, or those of the ordinary participants? Finally, we may
wish to define success. Let us start by asking what the aims of the First Crusade were.
The most obvious place to look for aims is Pope Urban II's speech, made on 27
November 1095 at the Council of Clermont. At this meeting Pope Urban II responded
publicly for the first time to Alexius Comnenus' appeal for help against the Muslims, “to stem
the flood of Turkish violence”1, that had almost reached the Bosporus. There are four2 main
accounts of the speech; those of Fulcher of Chartres, Robert the Monk, Guibert of Nogent,
and Baldric of Bourgueil. His first appeal, which all four sources mention, is for the
cessation of hostilities between fellow Christians and the unification of Christendom.
Fulcher of Chartres quotes Urban as saying “those who once waged war against their brothers
and blood relatives should fight lawfully against barbarians”3, Robert the Monk´s account
Urban comments on Christians fighting each other and advises, “stop these hatreds among
yourselves”4. In this account he even charges “the Turks with violating the women of
Anatolia”5. This account was written 25 years after Urban's call in France and does not claim
to give more than a general idea of the pope's arguments. [...]
1 Penny J. Cole, The Preaching of the Crusades to the Holy Land, 1095 – 1270, (Cambridge, Mass : Medieval
Academy of America, 1991), 11.
2 James A. Brundage, The crusades. Motives and Achievements. (Boston: D. C. Heath and Company, 1964), 7.
3 Jonathan and Louise Riley-Smith, The Crusades: Idea and Reality 1095-1274, (London: Edward Arnold,
1981), 42.
4 Ibid., 44.
5 P.W. Edbury (ed.), Crusade and settlement. (Cardiff: University College Cardiff Press, 1985), 61.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Aims of the First Crusade
- The People's Crusade
- The Frankish Contingents and their Motives
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay examines the reasons for the success of the First Crusade. It begins by questioning the very definition of "success" in this context, considering the diverse aims of Pope Urban II, the military leaders, and the ordinary participants. The essay then analyzes the extent to which these aims were achieved.
- The multifaceted aims of the First Crusade (religious, political, personal)
- The role of Pope Urban II's pronouncements in mobilizing the crusaders
- The contrasting motivations of different crusader groups (religious zeal, personal gain, revenge)
- The challenges of leadership and unity amongst diverse crusader forces
- The impact of the Crusade on relations between the West and the Byzantine Empire
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage for the essay by posing crucial questions about the definition of success in the context of the First Crusade. It highlights the complexity of evaluating the Crusade's outcome by considering the differing motivations and objectives of various stakeholders—Pope Urban II, military leaders, and ordinary participants. This establishes the analytical framework for the essay and emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of the Crusade's "success."
The Aims of the First Crusade: This chapter delves into the objectives of the First Crusade, primarily focusing on Pope Urban II's speech at Clermont in 1095. Analysis of various accounts of the speech reveals the dual aims: the unification of Christendom and the recapture of Jerusalem. The chapter explores the complexities of these objectives, showing how the call for unity was not fully realized due to the unexpected influx of diverse participants, and how the liberation of Jerusalem, while a powerful motivator for crusaders, wasn't initially the Pope's primary focus. The chapter demonstrates how the Pope's call, despite its initial intentions, inadvertently empowered the laity and enhanced the position of the Western Church.
The People's Crusade: This chapter examines the People's Crusade, a spontaneous and largely uncontrolled movement of common people who responded to Pope Urban II's call. The chapter highlights the contrasting preparedness and motivations of this group compared to the later Frankish armies. It discusses the disastrous consequences of their actions, including the massacres of Jews in the Rhineland and the near-total annihilation of the main force in Anatolia. This section serves as a stark contrast to the better-organized and ultimately more successful Frankish expeditions, emphasizing the importance of military discipline and strategic planning.
The Frankish Contingents and their Motives: This chapter analyzes the three main Frankish contingents of the First Crusade, led by Bohemond of Taranto, Godfrey of Bouillon, and Raymond of St. Gilles. It examines the motivations behind each contingent's participation, highlighting the diverse factors at play, ranging from religious zeal to personal ambitions and revenge. The capture of Nicaea and the subsequent dispute with the Byzantines are used to illustrate the tension between the crusaders' desire for plunder and the Byzantine Empire's concerns for its territorial integrity. This section emphasizes the internal conflicts and competing objectives within the crusader army that complicated the pursuit of the overall goals.
Keywords
First Crusade, Pope Urban II, Jerusalem, Byzantium, Seljuk Turks, People's Crusade, Frankish armies, religious zeal, political motivations, personal gain, military strategy, unity, leadership, success.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of the First Crusade
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a text analyzing the First Crusade. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords, offering a structured overview of the essay's content for academic use.
What topics are covered in the Table of Contents?
The Table of Contents lists the following sections: Introduction, The Aims of the First Crusade, The People's Crusade, and The Frankish Contingents and their Motives.
What are the main objectives and key themes explored in the essay?
The essay examines the reasons for the success of the First Crusade, questioning the definition of "success" itself and considering diverse aims of various participants (Pope Urban II, military leaders, and ordinary people). Key themes include the multifaceted aims of the Crusade, Pope Urban II's role, contrasting motivations of different groups, challenges of leadership and unity, and the impact on relations between the West and the Byzantine Empire.
What does the Introduction chapter cover?
The Introduction sets the stage by posing questions about defining success in the context of the First Crusade. It highlights the complexity of evaluating the outcome due to differing motivations and objectives of stakeholders, establishing the analytical framework for the essay.
What is discussed in "The Aims of the First Crusade" chapter?
This chapter analyzes the objectives of the First Crusade, focusing on Pope Urban II's speech at Clermont in 1095. It explores the dual aims of unifying Christendom and recapturing Jerusalem, revealing complexities and how the Pope's call inadvertently empowered the laity and enhanced the Western Church's position.
What does the chapter on "The People's Crusade" detail?
This chapter examines the spontaneous and largely uncontrolled People's Crusade. It highlights the contrasting preparedness and motivations of this group compared to the Frankish armies, discussing the disastrous consequences, including massacres of Jews and the near-total annihilation of the main force in Anatolia. This contrasts with the better-organized Frankish expeditions.
What is the focus of "The Frankish Contingents and their Motives" chapter?
This chapter analyzes the three main Frankish contingents, led by Bohemond, Godfrey, and Raymond, examining their motivations—religious zeal, personal ambitions, and revenge. The capture of Nicaea and disputes with the Byzantines illustrate tensions between the crusaders' desire for plunder and Byzantine concerns for territorial integrity, emphasizing internal conflicts within the crusader army.
What are the key words associated with this essay?
Key words include First Crusade, Pope Urban II, Jerusalem, Byzantium, Seljuk Turks, People's Crusade, Frankish armies, religious zeal, political motivations, personal gain, military strategy, unity, leadership, and success.
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- Michael Gärtner (Author), 2003, With reference to the sources and relevant secondary literature examine the reasons for the success of the First Crusade., Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/13983
