Crusade means Way of the Cross A series

§ Crusade means “Way of the Cross” § A series of “religiously” motivated military excursions § The Byzantine Empire had been losing land to Muslims, asked Pope for help § Pope Urban calls for a holy war § Generally refers to the first four crusades to the Middle East. Pope Urban II at Claremont

§ Deus Vult – God Wills It § Demonization of Muslims § Historically tolerant of Christians § Claimed the war was to reclaim holy lands § Why did it take 400 years to matter § Pitched as Pilgrimage with a side of conquering § War cannot get you to heaven

§ Pope Urban II: § Reunite Orthodox and Catholic Faith § Restore Power of the Church § Emperor Alexios I : § Regain territories lost over the last 400 years § European Nobles: § Gain fame, land, and forgiveness § Commoners: § Free pass to heaven § Random: § Search for Prester John § Mythical wealthy powerful Christian King who lived somewhere

§ Large group of mostly unarmed peasants joined § Marched overland, killing Jews, pillaging Christian cities § By the time they reached Constantinople Most: § § Were killed fighting Christians starved returned home sold into slavery § 40, 000 made and were slaughtered by Muslim armies § 0% Holy Land Recovered Peter the Hermit, leader of People’s Crusade

§ Not a single army, but armies from around Europe § Lead by five separate men § Language barrier § Successfully marches deep into Muslim lands § Muslims apathetic after peoples crusade § Muslims divided § Despite the odds, retook Jerusalem § Ate some Muslim’s butts along the way

Nearly all the Crusaders die, 0% holy land recovered

§ Most Famous of the Crusades § Called because Muslim leader Saladin retakes Jerusalem § Muslim leader Saladin and English King Richard the Lionheart are great leaders § Occasionally they met § Some suggest they were lovers § Richard failed to take Jerusalem, wanted to attack Egypt § Source of Muslim power but not glamorous, crusaders refuse § Legitimized notion that Crusades can target all enemies of the Church

§ Many volunteered § Venice agreed to sail them § Crusaders couldn’t pay § Offered free trip if they captured the city of Zara for them § Was a Christian city § Both Crusaders and Venetians excommunicated § Upon arriving in Constantinople they helped overthrow the Emperor for $ § He was in turn overthrown, Crusaders stuck and without money § Sacked Constantinople, the largest city in Christendom § Killed and raped Christians § Stole horse statues still in Venice today § Doomed the Byzantine Empire

§ Europeans become more interested in the East § Travel and Trade increase between East and West § Royal and Papal Authority grew § Created increased tension between Christians and Muslims