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Alessandro Barbero - Le Crociate

Alessandro Barbero Fan Channel・53 minutes read

The Crusades were bloody conflicts with Christian and Islamic forces, initially celebrated but later viewed with shame. Pilgrimages to the Holy Land became a unique form of pilgrimage significant for Christians in the Middle Ages.

Insights

  • The Crusades were bloody conflicts between the Christian West and the Islamic world, initially celebrated but later viewed with shame due to violence, anti-Semitism, and hatred, showcasing a complex mix of religious fervor and political motivations.
  • Leaders like Louis IX embodied the ideal of the Crusades, risking their kingdoms for duty and sacrifice, showcasing a deep sense of commitment, humility, and duty over personal glory, highlighting a nuanced and multifaceted approach to these historical events.

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  • What were the Crusades?

    The Crusades were bloody conflicts between Christians and Muslims.

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Summary

00:00

Understanding the Crusades: A Historical Overview

  • The Crusades are a complex theme that will be discussed over three evenings, focusing on fundamental aspects.
  • The Crusades were bloody events involving conflict between the Christian West and the Islamic world.
  • They were initially celebrated but later viewed with shame due to violence, hatred, and anti-Semitism.
  • The Crusades were a unique form of pilgrimage, significant for Christians in the Middle Ages.
  • Pilgrimages to the Holy Land were seen as cathartic, risky, and a way to identify with Christ's suffering.
  • The Crusades aimed to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control, starting in 1095 with Pope Urban II's call.
  • Christians were urged to go armed to secure the holy places, leading to the First Crusade in 1099.
  • The Crusaders established the Kingdom of Jerusalem, marking the first European colonial experiment.
  • The Crusades had political and economic motivations alongside religious fervor, driving Europeans to risk their lives for conquest.
  • The Crusades became a legal institution under the Pope's authority, granting privileges and protection to crusaders.

16:09

Crusades in Middle Ages: Papacy vs Empire

  • The conflicts between the papacy and the empire in the Middle Ages were significant, leading to the proclamation of crusades against internal enemies.
  • Pope and cardinals quickly decided to launch crusades against internal adversaries like the emperor Frederick II and heretics in Provence or Lombardy.
  • Financing crusades involved complex negotiations between the church and kings, with contributions from bishops and the kingdom of France.
  • Over time, enthusiasm for crusades waned due to concerns about the Pope's motivations and the changing nature of the conflicts.
  • Saint Francis notably engaged in dialogue with the Muslim sultan during the Crusades, advocating for peace instead of violence.
  • Emperor Frederick II's willingness to negotiate for Jerusalem's recovery during a crusade highlighted a shift in attitudes towards conflict resolution.
  • The first crusade saw leaders like Godfrey of Bouillon organizing the conquered territories, with him becoming the first king of Jerusalem.
  • Louis IX of France, known as Saint Louis, embodied the ideal of the crusade, risking his kingdom to fulfill what he saw as a duty to conquer Jerusalem.
  • Louis IX approached the crusade as a penitential pilgrimage, emphasizing suffering, humility, and duty over personal safety or glory.
  • Louis IX's commitment to the crusade, despite the changing attitudes of his time, showcased a deep sense of duty and sacrifice that resonated with his contemporaries.

30:44

King Louis IX: Crusader King of Contrasts

  • An Italian friar named Salimbene from Parma, a Franciscan, reports on a French convent in Sounds where the king passes by during his journey to embark on a crusade.
  • Brother Rodrigo, an important figure in the convent and also an archbishop, prepares to meet the king with his archbishop vestments, but the king arrives on foot as a pilgrim.
  • The king expresses that he only needs prayers, not material help, surprising the friars and causing emotional reactions, including tears from the Italian and French friars present.
  • The king had vowed to go on a crusade after recovering from a severe illness, aiming to free the tomb of a friar in the Holy Sepulcher.
  • Despite strategic calculations to conquer Egypt during the crusade, the king and his troops face defeat, with many casualties and the king being captured and having to pay a large ransom.
  • The king, suffering from dysentery like many others, refuses to leave his men and opts to stay with them, even participating in burying unburied Christian corpses.
  • The king's behavior during the crusade is described as embodying both Franciscan ideals and warrior-like qualities, showcasing a complex persona.
  • Armenian Christian pilgrims passing through the camp on their way to Jerusalem request to see the king, highlighting his saintly reputation among them.
  • The king, known for his self-irony and reluctance to be adored as a saint, displays a unique attitude towards his own reputation and the expectations of others.
  • Richard the Lionheart, a renowned figure in the Crusades, is depicted as a fierce warrior who personally engages in battles, contrasting with King Louis IX's more pacifist approach.

45:13

"Crusades: Power, Politics, and Betrayal"

  • The knights, led by Richard the Lionheart, collect taxes and punish wrongdoers harshly with violence, all armed and engaged in continuous fighting.
  • The idea is proposed that the violence of the powerful could be channeled towards a noble cause, such as defending Christianity in the Holy Land through crusades.
  • Westerners believed seeking martyrdom and fighting for Christianity was right, even if it led to wealth and power, as seen in the case of Goffredo di Buglione.
  • The Marquises of Monferrato, facing diminishing power due to growing municipalities, sought opportunities in the Crusades to secure their future.
  • William the Elder of Monferrato sends his son, Guglielmo, to marry the sister of the leper King of Jerusalem, leading to political intrigue and tragedy.
  • Guido di Lusignano marries the widowed sister of the leper king and faces Saladin in battle to defend Jerusalem, ultimately failing.
  • Corrado di Monferrato arrives in the Holy Land, disguises his identity, defends Acre, and faces Saladin in a dramatic confrontation, ultimately becoming the ruler of Jerusalem.
  • Richard the Lionheart and other kings attempt to reconquer Jerusalem but fail, leaving Corrado as the sole ruler chosen by the barons.
  • Corrado is assassinated on his way to be crowned, highlighting the complex and dangerous political landscape of the time.
  • The story of Corrado's rise and fall serves as a window into the ideals, dreams, and struggles of the Crusades era, shedding light on the motivations and beliefs of the people of that time.

01:00:04

Crusades: Conquest, Massacre, Blessing, Ancestral Distinction

  • The essence of the phenomenon of the Crusades involves conquering, grabbing, and massacring, with the belief of being blessed by God.
  • Understanding the distant concept of the Crusades is essential, aiming to comprehend the differences from our ancestors.
  • The speaker's role is to convey and interpret what made our ancestors distinct, emphasizing the importance of their actions.
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