R Rinaldi
During the 11th Century, the Holy Land had been under extreme pressure by the invading Muslim world. Alexius II spoke to Pope Urban about the troubles that Constantinople was facing and his need for soldiers to fight against the Turks. Pope Urban gave a speech during the launch of the crusades movement that addressed these pressures and implored fellow Christians to fight for the Holy Land’s liberation against the vile race that threatened their peace. This speech was not officially recorded but there are four people that wrote down their accounts and their writings were seen as evidence of this event having took place. The two focused on on this analysis are Fulcher of Chartes and Robert the Monk’s documentation of the speech.
In both Fulcher and Robert’s account, the Pope addressed his fellow believers as the “most beloved” (by God) which elevates their status and encourages the elitism mindset that is intertwined with Christianity. Also in both accounts, he begins his speech with encouraging Christians on the success they’ve already had and the good faith they have shown over the nations in order to appeal to the feeling of alliance and equality between all followers of Christ. Pope Urban gives this speech as an “ambassador of Christ” (39) and has received his authority from other bishops and God himself, which means that his message and his instruction should not be argued or questioned. Pope Urban also reminds believers of their duty to spread the news of this attack and to protect the Holy Land by helping their fellow brothers whose lives are being destroyed.
In Fulcher’s account, he states “All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins.” (40) This is a persuasive argument to gather more volunteers to fight because he knows there are believers who will jump at the first opportunity to sacrifice their lives for God. The believers at this time couldn’t find a better way to show their loyalty and to be cleansed from their sins but to die for a fellow brother who is being attack. Pope Urban was given authority to ask God’s beloved people to leave their families and lives behind because of the weight that his words held from his God given papal power. Not only did God give him the authority to ask for such a sacrifice, but other powerful and authoritative bishops and cardinals accompanied him while he gave this speech. Also the use of scripture and well recognized documents gave more support to his claims. The use of scripture to validate an argument in this time, was a strong tactic because as seen in Robert the Monk’s account, scripture not only confirmed and strengthened Pope Urban’s arguments, but reminded believers of God’s perspective on these issues. Christians at this time also see the Holy Land as their God given property and it was up to them to protect their faith and their territory with their lives.
By describing the barbarians with abusive and descriptive language, the believers were elevated in status and in confidence because they had their Lord God on their side. They also felt spurred on and victorious before they even faced their enemies in battle because of the verbiage and battle cry language that Pope Urban used to inspire and rally up more participants in the crusades. This reminded me of a coach getting their team excited before a big match by insulting the opponent and elevating the team’s status with encouragement and giving a boosting of their confidence.
During the 11th Century, the Holy Land had been under extreme pressure by the invading Muslim world. Alexius II spoke to Pope Urban about the troubles that Constantinople was facing and his need for soldiers to fight against the Turks. Pope Urban gave a speech during the launch of the crusades movement that addressed these pressures and implored fellow Christians to fight for the Holy Land’s liberation against the vile race that threatened their peace. This speech was not officially recorded but there are four people that wrote down their accounts and their writings were seen as evidence of this event having took place. The two focused on on this analysis are Fulcher of Chartes and Robert the Monk’s documentation of the speech.
In both Fulcher and Robert’s account, the Pope addressed his fellow believers as the “most beloved” (by God) which elevates their status and encourages the elitism mindset that is intertwined with Christianity. Also in both accounts, he begins his speech with encouraging Christians on the success they’ve already had and the good faith they have shown over the nations in order to appeal to the feeling of alliance and equality between all followers of Christ. Pope Urban gives this speech as an “ambassador of Christ” (39) and has received his authority from other bishops and God himself, which means that his message and his instruction should not be argued or questioned. Pope Urban also reminds believers of their duty to spread the news of this attack and to protect the Holy Land by helping their fellow brothers whose lives are being destroyed.
In Fulcher’s account, he states “All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins.” (40) This is a persuasive argument to gather more volunteers to fight because he knows there are believers who will jump at the first opportunity to sacrifice their lives for God. The believers at this time couldn’t find a better way to show their loyalty and to be cleansed from their sins but to die for a fellow brother who is being attack. Pope Urban was given authority to ask God’s beloved people to leave their families and lives behind because of the weight that his words held from his God given papal power. Not only did God give him the authority to ask for such a sacrifice, but other powerful and authoritative bishops and cardinals accompanied him while he gave this speech. Also the use of scripture and well recognized documents gave more support to his claims. The use of scripture to validate an argument in this time, was a strong tactic because as seen in Robert the Monk’s account, scripture not only confirmed and strengthened Pope Urban’s arguments, but reminded believers of God’s perspective on these issues. Christians at this time also see the Holy Land as their God given property and it was up to them to protect their faith and their territory with their lives.
By describing the barbarians with abusive and descriptive language, the believers were elevated in status and in confidence because they had their Lord God on their side. They also felt spurred on and victorious before they even faced their enemies in battle because of the verbiage and battle cry language that Pope Urban used to inspire and rally up more participants in the crusades. This reminded me of a coach getting their team excited before a big match by insulting the opponent and elevating the team’s status with encouragement and giving a boosting of their confidence.