The+Western+European+Crusaders

With Pope Urban II’s call for a holy crusade during the Council of Clermont on November 27, 1095 many Europeans began to gather and set their affairs for their great journey across Europe to the Holy Land. Those gathering for crusade came from every corner of the Catholic world. Aided by Urban’s tour of most of Central and Western Europe, many felt a great fervor to join the holy armies. Jonathan Riley-Smith, a scholar of the crusades has gathered sources and compiled a notation of where many of the crusaders hailed from. Following Urban’s tour of French lands, Riley-Smith observed great numbers of crusaders leaving for war. The distribution of locations of persons leaving follow a distinct curve starting between Aachen, Lille, and Boulogne in Northern French and German lands and following down through Rheims, Paris, Chartres, Tours, Angers, Poitiers, Limoges, Clermont, and Marseilles. Although there is large recruitment from other regions this area seems to pull the largest number of crusaders that historians can find record of. Considering its closeness to the seat of the Catholic Church, Italy also provided a great number of crusaders. News of the Crusade travelled down not only from Urban and the Church spreading the call, but also the word of mouth from merchants travelling, and even more importantly with the lordships and families that heard the call. Lords answered the call in various ways. One such way was to leave their lands with a trusted servant or family member to safe guard and operate while they were away. When they left some encouraged or discouraged their serfs from travelling with them to war. Another way lords participated was to send their servants and knights in their place to the war.
 * The Call **

For the family, however, many went with each other and there is evidence that many families fought within the same portion of the army. For example Bohemond of Taranto’s army from southern Italy in 1096, most of his army was gathered from those looking to leave for the crusade from France and northern Italy as they traveled south to Italian ports. What is striking about this is that within an estimated 500 knights were the groupings of 5 major families including his own. They were “Richard and Rainald of the Principate (Salerno), Geoffrey of Montescaglioso, Robert of Buonalbergo, and Robert of Molise. Within in each of these families’ ranks were many numerous captains all sharing relation either directly or through great service to the lord’s father prior to his death (Riley-Smith, 100-1). 
 * Family **



 Somewhere prior to Urban’s announcement he had involved himself with some level of strategic planning and development for the mass migration of pilgrims to the Holy Land. Riley-Smith shows evidence of this when he cites meetings that were held with Urban or his advisors prior to the announcement. Through this planning the date of August 15, 1096 was set as the date of departure for the Crusading army (Riley-Smith, 106-9). One thing that John France puts forward for consideration is the justification for the Crusade due to the instability of logistical support. He cites the cases earlier in the century with William the Conqueror in 1066 and then Henry IV in 1080. Both cases were militaristic victories but ultimately failed or resulted in retreat due to a loss of logistical support. Logistical support ranges from food, water, and weapons to shelter, transport, and other such cargo that may be necessary for war. (France, 34-35). Even then when wars were fought the outcome relied mostly upon the relations of the conqueror with the persons conquered. “It was usual to try to come to terms with the existing population. Distance, geography, and weather made the process complex and liable to miscarry,” (France, 204). Yet despite this Urban II proposed a very large military expedition to a location 4,000 km from Clermont and the bulk of the Catholic populous intended to go. What was even more bizarre was the fact that the expedition was to be unpaid except for an indulgence to rid the crusader of the burden of sin. Surprisingly the call worked and over 60,000 Catholics responded, (France, 204). Although the planning of the overall movement is important, it is more fascinating to observe the individual planning for going to war. Persons were asked to leave land, money, and family behind in order to answer the call faithfully (France, 204-5). Innocent III would later compare, “The crusader’s duty to that of a vassal obliged to come to the aid of a dispossessed lord,” (France, 205). For many this call was difficult, commoners often did not have the money to finance joining the army. “Warfare has always been a costly business and the First Crusade was war of a type never experienced before,” (Riley-Smith, 109). What made the travel even more grueling was that the Crusade was to travel overland. Although boats were to be used to gather the army, its departure and travels would be that entirely made overland. France’s argument is showcased here in that the complexity of the planned travel of the army across this great distance of terrain and geography while maintaining a supply line of logistical support is astounding.  For some the cost was too great to answer and they remained behind to maintain their roles in society. The majority of which were commoners or those in the caste system that sat in roles of civil duty, such as those that assumed the role of Sheriff. Although sources are extremely sketchy it is understood that corruption existed at home. Such can be assumed through the passing of stories such as the fictional story of Robin of Loxley, otherwise known as Robin Hood. For others still, such as Helias of Maine, who answered the call but upon his departure found his lands had came under attack had to remove himself from the Crusades. When he withdrew he declared that, “I wished to fight the pagans in the Lord’s name, but now I see that I must wage a war nearer to home against enemies of Christ,” (France, 205).
 * Planning and Departure **
 * Those Still at Home **

By: Cory Bosco