elationship between the East and West was, and cleverly figured it would be beneficial to continue repairing things between the two Empires. Urban II recognized the potential of amending Christendom and the harmony that was meant to exist between pope and Emperor. Additionally, this was Urban II’s chance to fulfill the desires of his predecessor, Pope Gregory VII. In 1 071 and 1 074, Pope Gregory VII had attempted to defend the Church “in response to Turkish victories against Byzantium (Armstrong 63). Unfortunately, very few knights were persuaded to join the Knights of St. Peter, and nothing would ever come of Gregory’s call to arms. Pope Urban’s “appeal to the knights of Europe twenty years later” (Armstrong 63) would incur an incredibly different response, allowing him to fulfill Pope Gregory VII’s original plans (Armstrong 63). Lastly, the people under Pope Urban II’s care had fallen into disarray in every aspect imaginable. The continent was “torn apart by small wars” (Jones 2), riddled by the petty, now violent arguments of “nobles with too much time on their hands” (Jones 2). The knights of the Roman Empire had begun to act terribly hostile towards one another, constantly fighting and making messes all throughout the Empire. Countless younger siblings who were denied an inheritance by their elder brothers’ and their claims would furiously attack one another in the streets. Hundreds of unemployed soldiers similarly invented ways to cause trouble, often forming gangs and infecting the towns with the plight of gang-warfare (Jones 3). Though Pope Urban II may have lacked the passion of Gregory VII, he was “broad-minded, less obstinate, and more skillful in handling men” (Runciman 57). Identifying the futile violence spotting up all over the Empire, he realized that an armed pilgrimage would be the perfect way to send these troublesome men out of the cities, now armed with a purpose to fuel their violence. It was a wonderfully practical solution (Jones 3). It is important to note that Urban had specific, practical intentions with his initiations of the crusades. In fact, he never even used the word to describe his endeavours. Pope Urban II wanted an armed pilgrimage not vengeful battle, and this is an important distinction. He intended for a group of trained, noble knights to pick up their arms and travel to the Holy Land on a mission of faith. The goal was never to slaughter Muslims and destroy them all. He also made it clear in the version of Robert the Monk that it was not necessary for the poor, any women, the elderly, or untrained to come along, as they would only be a hindrance and burden (Peters 4). Their goal was simply meant to be to go on a pilgrimage, exercising their right to worship the Lord. If they had to defend themselves from the Turks, then so be it. Ultimately, however, it was a practical, logical solution to three problems the Church and Pope Urban II himself had been plagued with for years. Unfortunately, the execution of Urban’s goal was , to say the least. Whether or not he intended it to be, Pope Urban II speech at the Council of Clermont was the seed that sprouted two centuries worth of conflict, beginning with the First Crusade (Peters 2). Urban delivers his speech during the Council ofClermont 6
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