Why Were the Crusades Fought?

Medieval Western Europeans understood crusading to be a very particular type of warfare, war that earned spiritual benefits. Thus, for a war to be considered a crusade, the cause had to be not only just, but holy. A Christian prince might have just reason to wage war against another Christian prince, but the war could never be called holy. However, a war to drive out infidels from a position of power could be a saintly act. The First Crusade was called by Pope Urban II in 1095 in response to Seljuk Turkish conquests in Syria and Anatolia. Pope Urban's close diplomatic relationship with Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos made him keenly aware of the sufferings of Eastern Christians resulting from Seljuk victories. In addition, Western Europeans were concerned about the safety of Christian pilgrims traveling through Seljuk territory to reach Jerusalem, which is why Pope Urban's message resonated so deeply with the knights who decided to take up the cause of the First Crusade. The Third Crusade was called in response to Saladin's capture of nearly the whole of the The loss of the Holy Land deeply moved many of Christendom's leading monarchs, who vowed to lead armies to beat back Saladin. Richard the Lionheart, King of England, expressed in one of his letters his reasons for crusading. Notice how Richard describes this warfare as a holy work. This same language would have been used to describe prayer and sacrifice. Crusading had come to occupy a place on par with such traditionally pious activities. Crusades called in the Iberian Peninsula to drive out Moorish rulers from previously Christian lands were also considered to be spiritually beneficial wars. In 1228, King James launched a crusade to recapture the island of Majorca. In his autobiography, The Book of Deeds, James describes why he considered the cause to be sacred. And we set out on this voyage in the faith of God and for those who do not believe in him, going against them for two reasons, to convert them or to destroy them, and to return that kingdom to the faith of our Lord. As we go in the name of God, we are confident that he will guide us. James highlights several important ideas, which are seen frequently in medieval expressions of crusading intent. For one, he stresses the importance of returning a formerly Christian region to Christian rule. In addition, he says that he is confident that God not only approves of his mission, but will aid him in this endeavor. Thanks for watching! My new book, Why Does the Heathen Rage? A novel of the crusades set during the reign of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem, is now available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon. Please click on the link in the about box of this video to get your copy. Also, if you would like to support Real Crusades History by offering a donation, you will find a PayPal donate link in the about box of this video. Thank you!