Flaws of the Crusades

The biggest failure of the crusades was the attempt to recapture many cities numerous times. After the end of the first crusade the second crusade started and revolved around capturing the city of Edessa. In my opinion, this is one of the greatest failures of the crusades. There were many more to come.

During the second crusade absolutely nothing was accomplished. Saint Bernard called for the second crusade, and it was led by Louis VII (the king of France), and the German emperor, Conrad III. During the second crusade they tried to recapture the city of Edessa and failed miserably.

Saladin, the Muslim leader tried to recapture the holy city Jerusalem in the third crusade. Frederick I (German emperor), Philip Augustus (king of France), and King Richard the Lion Hearted (from France) led the third crusade in order to recapture the city from Saladin. Not only was the second crusade a failure, so was the third.

The fact that there was more than one crusade shows insignificant value of the crusades. All of the crusades, accept for the first, failed miserably. All this failure only caused more. It also caused unnecessary death.

I think that alot of the failures of the crusades were caused because of the crusaders having to recapture so many different cities so many different times. If this could have been prevented, then the crusades may have been more effective. after the first crusade failure was evident. This caused many people to unnecessarily die.

McKitterick, Rosamond. Times Medieval World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

Guy, John. Medieval Life. London: Ticktock Media Limited, 2001.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Saint Bernard was born in 1090, Fontaines, France. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was a French abbot. He was also the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian monastic order. After his mother died, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Three years later, on June 25, 1115, Bernard was sent to found a new house; He named it Claire Vallee, of Clairvaux.

In 1139, Bernard assisted the Second Council of the Lateran. Bernard denounced the teachings of Peter Abelard to the Pope, who called a council at Sens in 1141 to settle the issue. One of Bernard's disciples, Bernard of Pisa, was soon elected Pope. Having previously helped end the separation within the Church, Bernard was now called upon to combat heresy. In June 1145, Bernard traveled to Southern France and his preaching helped strengthen support against heresy.

After the Christians were defeated at the Siege of Edessa, the Pope hired Bernard to preach the second crusade. The Siege of Edessa took place from November 28 to December 24, 1144. It resulted in the fall of the capital of the crusader County of Edessa to Zengi, the atabeg of Mosul and Aleppo.

"Bernard's influence was soon felt in provincial affairs. He defended the rights of the Church against the encroachments of kings and princes, and recalled to their duty Henry Sanglier Archbishop of Sens and Stephen of Senlis, Bishop of Paris. On the death of Pope Honorius II, which occurred on February 14, 1130,a schism broke out in the Church by the election of two popes. Pope Innocent II and Pope Anacletus II. Innocent II having been banished from Rome by Anacletus took refuge in France. King Louis VI convened a national council of the French bishops at Etampes, and Bernard, summoned there by consent of the bishops, was chosen to judge between the rival popes. He decided in favour of Innocent II. This caused the Pope to be recognized by all the great powers. He then went with him into Italy and reconciled Pisa,Genoa, and Milan with the Pope. The same year Bernard was again at the Council of Reims at the side of Innocent II. He then went to Aquitaine where he succeeded for the time in detaching William X of Aquitaine,Count of Poitiers, from the cause of Anacletus.In 1132, Bernard accompanied Innocent II into Italy, and at Cluny the Pope abolished the dues which Clairvaux used to pay to that abbey. This action gave rise to a quarrel between the White Monks and the Black Monks which lasted 20 years. In May of that year, the Pope supported by the army of Emperor Lothaire III, entered Rome, but Lothaire, feeling himself too weak to resist the partisans of Anacletus, retired beyond the Alps, and Innocent sought refuge in Pisa in September 1133. Bernard had returned to France in June, and was continuing the work of peacemaking which he had commenced in 1130. Towards the end of 1134, he made a second journey into Aquitaine, where William X had relapsed into schism. Bernard invited William to the Mass which he celebrated in the Church of La Couldre. Eucharist, he "admonished the Duke not to despise God as he did His servants. William yielded and the schism ended. Bernard went again to Italy, where Roger II of Sicily was endeavouring to withdraw the Pisans from their allegiance to Innocent. He recalled the city of Milan to obedience to the Pope as they had followed the deposed Archbishop of Milan. For this, he was offered, and he refused, the Archbishopric of Milan. He then returned to Clairvaux. Believing himself at last secure in his cloister, Bernard devoted himself with renewed vigour to the composition of the works which would win for him the title of "Doctor of the Church" He wrote at this time his sermons on the Song of Songs." In 1137 he was again forced to leave his solitude by order of the Pope to put an end to the quarrel between Lothaire and Roger of Sicily. At the conference held at Palermo, Bernard succeeded in convincing Roger of the rights of Innocent II. He also silenced the final supporters who sustained the schism. Anacletus died of "grief and disappointment" in 1138, and with him the schism ended." (source)

Bernard felt as if his death were approaching by the beginning of 1153. Bernard died at age sixty-three on August 20, 1153, after forty years spent in the abbey. He was buried at Clairvaux Abbey. However, it was destroyed in 1792 by the French revolutionary army. His remains were then transferred to the Troyes Cathedral.

McKitterick, Rosamond. Times Medieval World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

Guy, John. Medieval Life. London: Ticktock Media Limited, 2001.

The First Crusades

The First Crusade began in 1096 by Pope Urban II with the goals of conquering Jerusalem and the Holy Land and freeing the Christian from Islamic rule. Knights and peasants from western Europe traveled to Jerusalem, and captured the sacred city in 1099. The kingdom of Jerusalem was then established along with other Crusader states. The first crusade was a major turning point in the expansion of western power.

There were many causes for the first crusade. One of the main causes was the popularity of pilgrimages at the time. Pilgrimages were so popular because the spirit of adventure was revived in the Western European cultures because of the rapid recovery that was made after the raids by the Viking and Magyars occurred. Even though the pilgrimages were a holy act, the pilgrims enjoyed the city just like tourists.

The second main cause of the first crusade was Italian city state merchants that formed navies. These navies were made up of merchant/ fighting vessels that eventually took control of the Mediterranean.These navies had reconquered southern Italy and Sicily from the Muslims. Europe was already in a period of expansion (before the first crusade), and its capacity for war and conquest had grown.

The third and final main cause of the first crusade, that I will be discussing, is the wide spread spiritual reformation happening at the time. There was a huge increase in spirituality. People no longer passively accepted a religion, they wanted to be involved and active in their religion. They wanted to participate in things that would be pleasing to God.

The first crusade was successful, unlike all the rest to follow, and the holy land of Jerusalem was captured in 1100. They benefitted from the disunity of the Muslims and were then able to set up the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. Although it was only ninety years before the Muslims had reorganized themselves and taken back most of what they had lost, the effect of the crusaders' success was great.

McKitterick, Rosamond. Times Medieval World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

Guy, John. Medieval Life. London: Ticktock Media Limited, 2001.

Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor of Aquitaine was the Duchess of Aquitaine and Gascony. She was also the Countess of Poitou. During the high middle ages Eleanor was one of the wealthiest and powerful women in Europe. Eleanor was also the Queen consort of two kings, Louis VII of France and Henry II of England.Eleanor was also the mother of two kings of England, Richard I and John. She was most famous for her participation in the second crusade.

At age fifteen, Eleanor's father died and his duchy was left to her. His duchy included most of Southern France. Shortly after, Eleanor married the son (Louis)
of the French king. The king of France died and Louis became king.

Eleanor went on the second crusade along with Louis. Eleanor had two children with Louis, both of which were girls. Soon after the birth of there second daughter their marriage was annulled(after 15 years of marriage). Eleanor then met Henry, who by this time, was the king of France. Henry was 10 years younger than Eleanor.

Eleanor and Henry had eight children together. Two of which, Richard I and John, grow up to become kings of England. Eleanor became very jealous of her husband and supported her sons militarily in a revolt against him. the revolt failed and she was put in prison. She remained in prison for about sixteen years, until her husband's death.

Richard took the throne in 1189 and ordered his mother be released from prison. Richard then placed her at the head of the government. She then returned to Aquitaine and became the abbess of a convent there. She died in Aquitaine in 1204. She goes down in history as one of the greatest female sovereigns.

McKitterick, Rosamond. Times Medieval World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

Guy, John. Medieval Life. London: Ticktock Media Limited, 2001.

William the Conqueror

William I, also known as William the Bastard and William the Conqueror, was about eight when his father,Robert, decided to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Before leaving, Robert called his vassals together and ordered them to swear devotion to William. Reluctantly the men obeyed. Robert did not expect to return from the Holy Land,and he didn't. He died on his journey, and his illegitimate son (William) became the new Duke of Normandy.

William was the Duke of Normandy from 1035 until his death in 1087. He also became king of England in 1066.William was crowned on Christmas day of 1066 as king of England. He was crowned in Westminster Abbey. His reign as king of England also lasted until his death in 1087. In order to claim his crown, William invaded England in 1066. He led an army of Normans to victory over Harold Godwinson and his forces of Anglo-Saxons. This was is known as the Battle of Hastings.

William's victory at the Battle of Hastings marked the beginning of the Norman Conquest. The victory also brought Norman rule to England. Although the south of England submitted quickly to Norman rule, resistance in the north continued for six years (until 1072). During the first two years, William suffered many revolts throughout England. Then, in 1068, Harold's illegitimate sons attempted an invasion of the south western peninsula, however they were defeated by William.

The Norman Conquest was extremely vital to the history of England in several ways. It removed the native ruling class of England. It was replaced with a French speaking monarchy, aristocracy and clerical hierarchy. This transformed the English language as well as the culture of English.

In 1087 William burned and besieged a town called Mantes. However in the process, William was thrown off his horse up against the pommel of his saddle. He was thrown so violently that his intestines burst. Five weeks later, on September 9, 1087, William died. At his funeral, William's bloated body was shoved into a sarcophagus that was way too small. In the process his body exploded.

McKitterick, Rosamond. Times Medieval World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

Guy, John. Medieval Life. London: Ticktock Media Limited, 2001.

NO BLOG!!!!!!!

NO BLOG THIS WEEK!!!! YAY!

Charlamagne (Charles the Great)

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, lived from 747-814. He was a Frankish king that ruled from 768-814(46 years). During his reign, he conquered Italy. He was also crowned Imperator Augustus by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800. Also during Charlemagne's reign, the Carolingian Renaissance took place. The Carolingian Renaissance were when art religion and culture were revived through the Catholic church.

Charlemagne's appearance is described in detail by the author Einhard. He is said to be tall, stately, and have fair hair. He was also described as having an extremely large neck. He was seen to be an ideal ruler and was portrayed in this way in statues, paintings, etc.

"Charles was large and strong, and of lofty stature, though not disproportionately tall (his height is well known to have been seven times the length of his foot); the upper part of his head was round, his eyes very large and animated, nose a little long, hair fair, and face laughing and merry. Thus his appearance was always stately and dignified, whether he was standing or sitting; although his neck was thick and somewhat short, and his belly rather prominent; but the symmetry of the rest of his body concealed these defects. His gait was firm, his whole carriage manly, and his voice clear, but not so strong as his size led one to expect." (source)

Charlemagne was married a total of five times, and had many concubines. He also had many children. Although his family was large he was close to his family. Sometimes he would even bring his sons along with him on campaigns. He also had a great respect for the Catholic church and heaped great wealth upon it. However, he never committed fully to any religious law.

Today Charlemagne is regarded as the founding father of both French and German monarchies.He is also regarded as the father of Europe because his empire united most of Western Europe for the first time since the Romans. The Carolingian renaissance encouraged the formation of a common European identity.

"The empire created by Charlemagne extended over most of what is now regarded as Western Europe." (McKitterick, 30)

When Charlemagne died in 814 he was succeeded by his surviving son, Louis, who had been crowned the year prior to his death. His empire lasted only one more generation. The Carolingian empire, according to custom, was divided between Louis's own sons after their father's death laid the foundation for the modern states of France and Germany.

McKitterick, Rosamond. Times Medieval World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

Guy, John. Medieval Life. London: Ticktock Media Limited, 2001.