Crusading+Rhetoric

This page should outline the birth and development of crusading rhetoric and theory. This may begin with the speech made by Greogry VII, as well as his justification for it, before moving onto the ideas of Urban II. Clear references should be made to both of these speeches, the images contained within them and also and other relevant developments between the two pillars of crusading propaganda. Plan:

1. Gregory VII's actions in pusing forward the idea of crusading. 2. How urban expanded on these ideologies. 3. How the formation came about through Alexius' embassy who begged the pope for defence against the pagans. - **Matt Rogers** 4. Responces to the Speeches - **Mitchell** 5. Then how urban managed to convince these soldiers that "god wills it!"

Gregory VII reformed the church with the belief that the church was founded by God and had the goal of bringing together a mankind of society. In effect, Gregory did not encourage the crusade, but merely encourage joint acts in a christian world. Gregory also made the role of the pope as the messenger of God, so that any disobediance to the pope was also a disobediance to God himself. This meant that in the future, any order given by the Pope would be considered to be "God's will," and there would be no basis upon which to disobey the Pope's orders. Gregory VII's reign as pope was important because of his battle for papal supremacy, he wished the Church to become a higher order from which there could be no doubt of their authority. (MB)


 * Pope Urban II**

Urban was a member of a reform movement that wanted the clergy to be more removed from "worldly values" and influences, bringing life in general closer to life in a monastery. His motivations were possibly to seek reunification of the Eastern and Western churches, but he also may have wanted to redirect hostilities towards a common enemy instead of between themselves. The most likely motivation was that he wanted to assert the Roman Catholic influence in the Near East, trying to expand his ideas to Christians in the East. [AC]

**Defence against the pagans**

Pope Urbans speech at Clermont was triggered by Alexius' appeal to send Christians to the 'Holy Land'. The Emperor's request met with a favourable response from Urban, who hoped to heal the Great Schism of 40 years prior and re-unite the Church under papal supremacy. As the Great Schism was brewing between the Catholic Western church and the Greek Orthodox Eastern church, Alexius expected some help from a fellow Christian. However, the response was much larger, and less helpful, than Alexius desired, as the Pope called for a large invasion force to not merely defend the Byzantine Empire but also retake Jerusalem. What started as a minor call for aid quickly turned into a wholesale migration and conquest of territory outside of Europe. (MR)

 Response to the speeches

Pope Urban managed to persuade many in medeval scoeity that it was their duty and that "God wills it" for them to go to Jerusalem and rescue the Christian faith from the brutallity of the "pagans." This in turn promoted a throughly possitive attitude towards the idea of a pilgirmage to the holy land and the rhetoric employed by Urban further emphasised this idea. His language was always very powerful and inspiring, particulary the idea that this was a "defense of the Holy Church against the Pagans." Furthermore, the responce was improved by the immediate support that he recieved from Adhemar, who following the speech at Cluny, immediately stepped up to support Urban. Many as a consequence followed suit and the rhetoric employed makes this appear to be a defensive act, which further makes it seem far more devout, while demonising the Muslims depicting them as lawless and secular. **[MC]**