The Result and Actions based on the Speech at Clermont, France.
The speech of Pope Urban II that was given in Clermont, France was more successful in creating what is now known as the First Crusade, mainly because of those occurrences within France. The speech was not so much a push at war, but as a way to keep the soldiers and knights from fighting one another. Unfortunately, the speech also led not only to the First Crusade, but to eight different crusades over a 200 year period (The Europeans, The Middle Ages, N. pag.; The Crusades, N. pag.). So what was the issue presented in the speech? Why did it emit such loyalty and compromise between families that use to hate one another? The essence of the speech of Clermont helped lay the foundation of the First Crusade was the promises of abdication of sin and the ability to fight and kill in another nation and not at home.
The speech was mainly addressed to the Noble class and the knights of France. Pope Urban II was truly just trying to stop the unnecessary fighting between the different Noble families and the Noble knights. At the time of the speech, the country of France was falling apart. Nobles were trying to overcome other Nobles, and knights had pent up warrior energy that needed to be released. Pope Urban II knew of these issues in France and other countries. He had also received a message from a Noble in the East needing help. An opportunity had arrived that Pope Urban II saw and which could not be ignored. The needed help was a way to get the Nobles and knights focused on something other than each other and keep the country together (Halsall, N. pag.; Halsall, N. pag.; Munro, N. pag.; Oldenbourg, 69; Woods, N. pag.;).
The defined enemy in the speech was portrayed as worshipers of Satan, and defilers of Gods sanctuaries, and the corrupting of Christian’s living in the Middle East. Pope Urban stated that the infidels were burning churches, forcing Christians to become Muslim or die and that the buildings not burned to the ground, they consecrated to their god, Satan. He also led them to believe that the Holy Land was theirs by the gift of God, and by allowing the infidels to take it away, defiled not just the Christians, but God. Unfortunately, much of the speech was propaganda based on misinformation, or skewed away from the truth to get the Nobles and knights to fall into line with going on this battle blessed and consecrated by the church (Halsall, N. pag.; Halsall, N. pag.; Munro, N. pag.; Oldenbourg, 69; Woods, N. pag.;).
Pope Urban II promised many rewards to the soldiers, knights, and Nobles for their participation in the Holy War, or Crusade. He constantly reminded the listeners that Jerusalem was the city of milk and honey and paradise not unlike Eden. However, the main promise he gave that created a rush of people wanting to join up was the promise of the abdication all sin. Urban II aristocratic upbringing allowed him to give such an impassioned speech that the results were overwhelming and unexpected (Halsall, N. pag.; Halsall, N. pag.; Oldenbourg, 69; Woods, N. pag.;).
In the speech, Pope Urban II mentioned the fact that the Nobles and knights needed to step up and pledge allegiance to the church. He continued by emphasizing the concept of Christendom and that with the Crusaders and the blessing of the church, the lands can become centralized in all aspects. The listeners join in the revelry, but do not seem to get the idea of what Pope Urban II is saying. For Urban II, death in a holy war is noble and nothing is as important, but he also sees a way to take over the Middle Eastern countries and creating a centralized religion, political infrastructure and sociological climate for all followers of Christianity (Halsall, N. pag.; Halsall, N. pag.; Oldenbourg, 142; The Europeans: The Middle Ages, N. pag; Wood, N. pag.).
Many believed at the time and even into the modern age that the Crusades and the Islamic Jihad are essentially they are wrong in this belief. For one, the Crusades invaded land that had never truly been theirs in the first place. Yes, Solomon had built his temple in Jerusalem, but this was not enough of a reason. In fact, many Christians who went on the Crusade, began to realize that these people may be infidels, but they had much to offer, especially in the way of medical uses and diets to heal. Educational interests, and many of the arts were influenced by the Middle Eastern culture. What Pope Urban II did was force the Nobility and knights, and soldiers to come together for a greater good and stop fighting among themselves. What he did not realize was the amount of people who wanted to participate. He did not look to see what consequences could occur, because he thought he was doing the best for Europe. Unfortunately, the 200 years of 8 Crusades caused many to go broke and lose everything, while others died for a cause that was no longer about saving God’s land but filling their own pockets with pillaging and massacre.
Works Cited:
Halsall, Paul. Urban II: Speech at Council of Clermont, 1095, according to Fulcher of Chartres. March 1996 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2-fulcher.html. Unpaged.
Halsall, Paul. Urban II: Speech at Clermont. 26, Jan, 1996. Medieval Sourcebook. 15 November 2008 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2a.html Unpaged.
Munro, Dana, Carlton. Speech at Clermont – 1095. May 2005. Crusade- Encyclopedia. 15 November 2008 http://www.crusades-encyclopedia.com/speechatclermont.html Unpaged.
Oldenbourg, Zoé. The Crusades, Translated by Anne Carter. London: Phoenix Press, 2001.
The Europeans: The Middle Ages. DVD. Films for the Humanities and Sciences. 2004. Unpaged.
Woods, James, narr. The Crusades. DVD. Films for the Humanities and Sciences. 2003. Unpaged.
