First Crusade - Page 2 of 21

Preaching and Preparation

The First Crusade was called by Pope Urban II in 1095. The reason why he did this has long been a cause of debate among historians. We know that the Byzantine emperor, Alexius Comnenus, had sent letters and an embassy to the West asking for military aid to combat the Turks in Asia Minor. We know that Urban was a reforming, activist pope who was looking for some great event or cause. My own interpretation is that Alexius' very limited request sparked a grander plan in Urban's mind, which he undertook without bothering to consult with the emperor or indeed with very many people at all.

The events themselves are much clearer than the motivations. Urban called a church council for November 1095 at Clermont in southern France. The council was typical of Urban and of the past generation of reformist popes. It was a kind of court at which proclamations were read and papal policy could be made known. Here, too, Urban heard the many complaints and petitions that always attended a court.

But this council was unusual in one regard. Urban announced that he intended to close the council with an important public speech. Everyone was invited to this speech, which was to be held in the cathedral.

This cause a good deal of local excitement, for it was known that Urban intended to speak regarding the Holy Land. Everyone knew about Jerusalem, although they had only the foggiest of ideas of its location and situation. But they knew well that Jerusalem was in the hands of the Muslims, and that the Turks were a new and fearsome presence in the region.

History of Western Civilization

Boise State University
Last revised: 31 August 1996