Pope Urban II
by Barry Wright
Essay: Pope Urban II
Pages: 10
Rating: 3 stars
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The age leading up to the first crusade is detailed by many current historians, as well as Pope Urban II, as a time
period where inhabitants "rage[d] against [their own] brothers and cut each other [to] pieces" (Peters, Baldric of
Dol, 31) for economic and social advancement. In spite of these references, many people today believe that the
Pope instigated the crusades for the sole reason of reclaiming Jerusalem. However, other motivations such as
supplementary religious factors and the chance for economic, social, and political gain also played major roles.
These motivations were not experienced supremely by the Pope, in fact he needed to instill these inspirations in
all Christians to evoke their will to fight. The holy land had long been in the hands of a foreign power, and every
knight willing to fight for it would need the proper motivation.
Cities such as Jerusalem were controlled by the Seljuk Turks. Christians still presided in these lands, but they
possessed little or no power. In addition, the Turks showed no respect towards Christianity. Numerous reports of
desecration and sacrilege at the hands of these pagans reached Rome and other areas in the eleventh century.
Witnesses were claiming that "more suffering of brethren and devastation of churches remain[ed] than [could be]
spok[en] of one by one" (Peters, Baldric of Dol, 31). According to Robert of Rheims, a devilish race "ha[d] invaded
the lands of Christians and ha[d] depopulated them by sword, pillage and fire", they also "destroy[ed] the altars,
after having defiled them with their uncleanliness" (Peters, Robert of Rheims, 27). These accounts outraged the
Papacy and incited Pope Urban II to give his famous speech at Clermont, calling all knights to "en...
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