Why did people join the First Crusade?

Question 1

what are 4 reasons why people joined the First Crusade?

Answer 1

• Religious Devotion of Latin Christians
• Outlet for Sanctified Violence
• Economic Factors
• Social and Feudal Obligations

Question 2

which First Crusade leaders were motivated by religious devotion?

Answer 2

• Robert of Flanders’ (Count of Flanders)​ family had a history of pilgrimage to Jerusalem
• Godfrey of Bouillon (Duke of Lorraine) was personally pious
• Raymond of Toulouse (Count of Toulouse) was pious and seeking remission of his sins
• Adhemar (Bishop of Le Puy and papal legate) was the first bishop to sign up the the crusade. He was close to Urban II and was sent to represent him. He had good relations with Eastern Patriarchs and sought reconciliation between Eastern and Western Christians.

Question 3

why was Robert of Flanders motivated by religious devotion?

Answer 3

his family had a history of pilgramige to Jerusalem

Question 4

why was Godfrey of Bouillon motivated by religious devotion?

Answer 4

he was personally pious

Question 5

why was Raymond of Toulouse motivated by religious devotion?

Answer 5

he was pious and sought remission of his sins

Question 6

which crusader leaders joined the first crusade as an outlet for sanctified violence?

Answer 6

• Bohemond (‘prince’ of Taranto) had a history of fighting against Byzantium and had lost lands when Alexius recovered territory
• Tancred, nephew of Bohemond, found the concept of sanctified violence particularly appealing
• Raymond of Toulouse (Count of Toulouse) was a member of the milites Christi

Question 7

why was Bohemond motivated by sanctified violence?

Answer 7

he had a history of fighting against Byzantium and had lost lands when Alexius recovered territory

Question 8

why was Raymond of Toulouse motivated by sanctified violence?

Answer 8

he was a member of the milites Christi

Question 9

which crusader leaders were motivated by economic gain?

Answer 9

• Baldwin of Boulogne had left the church to be a knight and was seeking his fortune in the east
• Raymond of Toulouse (Count of Toulouse) planned to relocate to the Levant and took his family with him
• Bohemond (‘Prince’ of Taranto) was looking for land and wealth
• Tancred, nephew of Bohemond, was seeking lands and fortune

Question 10

why was Baldwin of Boulogne motivated by economic gain?

Answer 10

he had left the church to be a knight and was seeking his fortune in the east

Question 11

why was Raymond of Toulouse motivated by economic gain?

Answer 11

he planned to relocate to the Levant and took his family with him

Question 12

which crusader leaders were motivated by social obligations?

Answer 12

• Robert of Normandy (Duke of Normandy) was a very able warrior but poor administrator; he saw the Crusade as an opportunity to resurrect his reputation
• Robert of Flanders’ (Count of Flanders) family had longstanding connections and friendship with the Byzantine emperors
• Godfrey of Bouillon (Duke of Lorraine) was in a poor position in the H.R.E. and not well liked by Henry IV
• Raymond of Toulouse (Count of Toulouse) was the wealthiest crusader but had frequently been excommunicated for misconduct - reputation

Question 13

which crusader leaders were motivated by kinship?

Answer 13

• Stephen of Blois (Count of Blois) was rich and reluctant to go but his wife, Adela (sister of Robert of Normandy and cousin of ​Robert of Flanders) insisted for social reasons
• Baldwin of Boulogne was the younger brother of Godfrey of Bouillon and travelled with him
• Tancred was Bohemond’s nephew and travelled with him

Question 14

which crusader leader’s family had a history of pilgrimage to Jerusalem?

Answer 14

Robert of Flanders

Question 15

which crusader leader was personally pious?

Answer 15

Godfrey of Bouillon

Question 16

which crusader leader was pious and seeking remission of his sins?

Answer 16

Raymond of Toulouse

Question 17

which crusader leader was was the first bishop to sign up the the crusade?

Answer 17

Bishop Adhemar

Question 18

which crusader leader had a history of fighting against Byzantium and had lost lands when Alexius recovered territory?

Answer 18

Bohemond of Taranto

Question 19

which crusader leader found the concept of sanctified violence particularly appealing?

Answer 19

Tancred

Question 20

which crusader leader was a member of the milites Christi?

Answer 20

Raymond of Toulouse

Question 21

which crusader leader had left the church to be a knight and was seeking his fortune in the east?

Answer 21

Baldwin of Boulogne

Question 22

which crusader leader planned to relocate to the Levant and took his family with him?

Answer 22

Raymond of Toulouse

Question 23

which crusader leaders were looking for land and wealth?

Answer 23

Bohemond and Tancred

Question 24

which crusader leader was a very able warrior but poor administrator and so saw the Crusade as an opportunity to resurrect his reputation?

Answer 24

Robert of Normandy

Question 25

which crusader leader was in a poor position in the H.R.E. and not well liked by Henry IV?

Answer 25

Godfrey of Bouillon

Question 26

which crusader leader was the wealthiest crusader but had frequently been excommunicated for misconduct?

Answer 26

Raymond of Toulouse

Question 27

who was Stephen of Blois related to?

Answer 27

his wife, Adela was the sister of Robert of Normandy and cousin of ​Robert of Flanders

Question 28

who was Baldwin of Boulogne related to?

Answer 28

younger brother of Godfrey of Bouillon

Question 29

who was Tancred related to?

Answer 29

nephew of Bohemond

Question 30

what long-term events meant people were motivated by religious devotion on the first crusade?

Answer 30

- Belief in God and church was central to everyday life​ - Tradition of pilgrimage to sites of saints and veneration of relics; belief in the power of saints to act as intercessors.​ - Jerusalem was the most important pilgrimage site as it was Associated with life of and (more importantly) death of Christ. Focused on tomb of Christ (The Holy Sepulchre). Crusade presented an opportunity to participate. ​

Question 31

what recent events meant people were motivated by religious devotion on the first crusade?

Answer 31

- Belief in God’s will manifested through natural phenomena such as comets, cloud formations, ‘blood moon’ seen in 1095/96 etc. - Urban II had asked people to go at Clermont in November 1095; 13archbishops, 225 bishops, and over 90 abbots present to spread the word throughout Western Europe. ​ - They took a pilgrim vow, describing themselves in charters and letters home as ‘pilgrims in arms.’ They wore the sign of the Cross on their clothing.​

Question 32

how did natural phenomena 1095/6 encourage peolpe's religious devotion on the first crusade?

Answer 32

- Belief that God was directing people to go on the Crusade.​ - Growing Apocalyptic fervour – need to control Jerusalem​

Question 33

what long-term developments meant people were motivated by sanctified violence on the first crusade?

Answer 33

- development of Knightly dilemma​ and Holy War - Growing power of the church and its insistence on curbing violence between western Christians (Truce of God etc.) presented knights with a dilemma (occupation v. sin)​ - The crusade offered an outlet because knights could kill non-Christians and be forgiven for previous killings/sins simultaneously. ​ - Holy war​ - The papacy had encouraged violence between Christians and Muslims (Christian Duty and honour) which had developed from earlier ‘Just War’ theories. - Urban’s speech at Clermont aimed to ‘demonise’ Muslims - The papacy increasingly emphasised the religious element of the Spanish reconquest; many knights had been involved in this as well as being Milites Christi.​

Question 34

how did the knightly dilemma encourage people to join the first crusade?

Answer 34

- Growing power of the church and its insistence on curbing violence between western Christians (Truce of God etc.) presented knights with a dilemma (occupation v. sin)​ - The crusade offered an outlet because knights could kill non-Christians and be forgiven for previous killings/sins simultaneously. ​

Question 35

how did the development of Holy War encourage people to join the First Crusade?

Answer 35

- The papacy had encouraged violence between Christians and Muslims (Christian Duty and honour) which had developed from earlier ‘Just War’ theories. So the Crusade, like Spain and Sicily, could be seen as a ‘Just War’: - Urban’s speech at Clermont aimed to ‘demonise’ Muslims which could have persuaded many knights of the need to defend Christians.​ - The papacy increasingly emphasised the religious element of the Spanish reconquest; many knights had been involved in this as well as being Milites Christi.​

Question 36

what recent event may have meant people were motivated by sanctified violence on the first crusade?

Answer 36

Remission of sins​; Urban II promised that the previous sins pf participants would be forgiven.​

Question 37

why would the first crusade be seen as A means to gain wealth and territory​?

Answer 37

- The East had traditionally been depicted as wealthy and exotic; ‘land flowing with milk and honey’ ​ - It has been argued that younger sons were looking for lands as a consequence of spread of primogeniture but this has been heavily disputed.​

Question 38

why would the first crusade be seen as A means to escape poor conditions in Europe​ ?

Answer 38

- Europe had been suffering from several years of drought which led to famine. ​ - There is an argument has been made that Europe was overcrowded but this has been heavily disputed

Question 39

what long-term developments meant people were motivated by economic gain on the first crusade?

Answer 39

- A means to gain wealth and territory​ - A means to escape poor conditions in Europe​

Question 40

what recent events may have meant people were motivated by economic gain on the first crusade?

Answer 40

- Urban II promised them wealth and offered to protect their possessions in Europe during the crusade.​ - There was a famine in the years up to 1096.​ - Many of the crusader leaders seem to have tried to make territorial gains

Question 41

what long-term developments may have meant people were motivated by feudal obligation on the first crusade?

Answer 41

- Many lords sent their knights to represent them such as Fulk IV of Anjou.​ - Many knights were obliged to go with their lords on their expeditions and the crusade was no exception:​ - Urban II deliberately targeted great feudal lords​ - Raymond of Toulouse’s retinue is a good example of feudal ties. ​

Question 42

what recent events may have meant people were motivated by feudal obligation on the first crusade?

Answer 42

- Crusaders participated to prove their manliness and honour - Social prestige attached with undertaking pilgrimage amplified by military nature and novelty of ‘crusade’.​ - General desire for adventure; Popularity of epic stories set to music e.g. ‘Chansons de Geste’ depicting heroes. ​