Call
to crusade
In
November 1095, Pope Urban II gave a spiritual incitement speech at Clermont
(Fordham.edu). This sermon was the
beginning of a territorial movement that ignited the first crusade. The documentation
of the speech can be attributed to the actions taken by the members. The basics
of the message can be argued to be the source of the reason Christians had a
good reason to embark on a journey to fight in the holy land. Recounting the
sermon given by the pope, there are adequate reasons that cement the
justification of the Christians to embark on a “holy war”
(History-world.org). The pope introduces
his speech by addressing the Franks as the chosen and beloved nation of God.
This is justified through an emphasis of their works, which is through their
catholic faith and honor of the church. Religious dogma is well-inculcated in
religion and the church as opposed to belief in God. The Pope uses the nation’s
belief in the church and not God to recount to them on their importance and
purpose and the imminent threat from the pagans.
The
belief in the church makes the Pope an infallible source of information; true
and credible (Historytoday.com). Therefore, the message delivered by Pope Urban
II on the need of the Christians to rise and take from the heathen what is
rightfully theirs makes his message irresistible. The reaction of the
Christians would be based on the message of the Pope because they believed he
was never wrong. The civil unrest that was in France gave the Pope the
opportune moment to deliver his message. He urged the citizens to restore the
country to its former glory and not shame their ancestors. This was through
elevating the noble and great deeds of their ancestors. To maintain such a
noble course, the Pope recounted that Christians in the East were facing
resistance from pagans (the Persians), and were in dire need of France. Their
brothers in faith were being persecuted, tortured and killed. Other than this,
the holy place was being tarnished, and the name of their savior was being
taken for granted. He recounted that the soldiers who would forego their
comforts and embark on a journey to assist in the war would be forgiven their
sins and save their souls from eternal condemnation.
Other
than wasting time-fighting each other, Christians were urged to embark on a
noble course of avenging their brothers and reclaiming the territory that had
fallen to the hands of the pagans. He painted the Persians as a race that was
accursed, and entirely alienated from God. In this regard, he emphasized they
had no right to win the war and that dominion was promised to the people of God
and was theirs by the taking (Historytoday.com). The religious incitement of
the Christians by the Pope was no doubt a good reason for them to embark in a
dangerous journey to fight in Jerusalem. An obligation had been placed upon
their shoulders through the sermon. It was their duty to protect the holy land
and restore it to its former glory. This could not be achieved through sitting
back and doing nothing. The need to salvage their souls from eternal
condemnation and fulfill the will of the church was a major reason that they
were motivated to embark on the holy journey. The Christians needed to restore
value in the church and show their commitment to the gospel (Fordham.edu). They
were ready to leave their comfort zones, their wives, and their children and
carry the cross and follow the Lord. This was to be done literally as opposed
to spiritually.
Works
cited
Fordham.edu,. 'Medieval
Sourcebook: Urban II: Speech At Clermont 1095 (Robert The Monk Version)'. N.p., 2014. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.
History-world.org,. 'The
Crusades'. N.p., 2014. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.
Historytoday.com,. 'The
Call Of The Crusades | History Today'. N.p., 2014. Web. 17 Sept. 2014.
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