February 18 - Crusades

February 18 – Crusades!

Never let it be said that compassion outweighed politics in the church. Oh wait … it is supposed to be that way. Well, once the two became married, it was difficult to separate them.

It all began in 638 AD when the Muslims took control of Jerusalem. During this day and age, Christians would go on a pilgramage to prove that they truly desired to repent of their sins. If you were to stop a Christian from doing this, it was believed that you put his salvation in jeopardy.

The Muslims allowed Christians to come to Jerusalem, but it wasn’t cheap. They charged tariffs.

In 1088 Emperor Alexis of Constantinople was worried that the Muslim Turks were gaining ground too quickly and he did not like the fact that they were in control of the land of Jesus. He called on Pope Urban II to help him deal with the problem.

Pope Urban was a crafty pope and saw this as a chance to wrest control of the church back so that it would be unified under his control. He preached a very impassioned sermon begging the people to join together and destroy the ‘vile race’ that had taken the lands of the church.

All of a sudden, something completely unexpected happened to the immense crowd that was gathered there. It was as if they had been waiting for this moment all their lives. As one they began to chant, “Deus vult! Deus vult!” which means God wills it! People from every walk of life sewed cloth crosses on their clothing. The pope’s sent his people throughout Europe, recruiting knights.

Some went because it would be a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, others saw the great financial gains from these attles, others were ready for a war against the infidels.

They met in Constantinople and the First Crusade had begun. But, it became quite clear as well that the East and West would never unite. The emperor worried that the crusaders would threaten his throne. The crusaders heard that he had made treaties with the Turks and felt he was a traitor because he wasn’t driving them from Constantinople.

But, the continued with their task. Emperor Alexis gave them provisions and the army moved south and east, capturing Antioch and Jerusalem. They believed that no captive should be left alive, so it is said that on the Temple Mount, Muslim blood flowed ankle-deep. Another observer said that soldiers ‘rode in blood up to their bridle reins.’ The Crusaders slaughtered men, women and children, torched a synagogue, burning the Jews inside alive … all in the name of Christ.

Jerusalem fell to the Crusaders on July 15, 1099. They soon turned to defense and built castles in Jerusalem to protect the city. Following this the Knights Templars and the Knights Hospitalers became powerful. They were originally only in existence to assist the crusaders, but soon they became their own military organizations.