The Crusades
Perhaps the greatest irony of the Crusading period is that Pope
Urban II, the man who cried "Dieu Le Volt : God wills it" , the very
words that rallied men to take up the sword in the name of
Christendom, died in 1099 before hearing of the success of the First
Crusade to Jerusalem. Urban II was born in 1042 CE and was
crowned Pope in 1088 at the age of 46. As was mentioned on the
overview page, we may never know what was said by the Pope on
November 27th, 1095, as the many accounts of that speech are varied.
More important, however are the reasons the crusade was called in the
first place. Some possible theories are as follows:
Urban sought a reunification of the Eastern and Western Churches
He wanted to make safe travel routes to and from the Holy Land as
many pilgrims were traveling to the area and being killed on route.
This would support the later formation, in 1118, of the Knights Templar
Put an end to the fighting among land owners and feudal societies in
Europe. By redirecting hostilities towards a common enemy, the
Infidels, the Christians could fight a mutual cause.
Assert the power of the Roman Catholic Church to the near East
The second crusade
Antioch
King Richard and Saladin
Richard The Lion hearted
Saladin
The Battle Of Hattin