The Crusades: A Just War?
The Crusades were a series of wars taking place roughly between 1095 and 1270. They were waged by Christina men for the purpose of gaining back land they lost to the Muslims and rescuing fellow Christians. It is estimated that nearly 20, 000 people were killed. People are taught that the crusades were fought by selfish power hungry Christian savages seeking more land and riches for them selves. Without a doubt, there were commanders and soldiers taking part in the crusades who were seeking riches, land, and power. There is substantial evidence that the majority of crusaders were fighting a just war to reclaim wrongfully taken holy land that they believed was entitled to them by god and to preserve the dying culture and religion of Christianity. The crusades began in 1095 at the council of Clermont. Pope Urban II called upon all Christian men to form an army dedicated to stop Muslim armies from conquering Christian territories. He received an unexpectedly overwhel
These men were not poor men anxious to plunder a foreign land for wealth. The local bishops even tried to stop the brutal raids but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful. Even if these crusaders knew their actions were unjust, they managed to justify them in the name of Christ. Not only was the war being fought for a just cause, it was waged by a legitimate authority, the Pope, who spoke directly for Christ. The crusaders saw it as a just cause to regain the holy lands entitled to them by god and to fight for fellow Christians. Thousands of men were willing to partake in the holy mission. In one particular case, a band of soldiers led by Count Emicho of Leiningen found them selves short on money and supplies as they traveled down the Rhine River. Theses righteous men were willing to give up everything in return for nothing to fight a war in the name of god. They murdered all the Jewish soldiers encountered and robbed them of their money and supplies. They were mostly wealthy European men who already owned a hefty share of land. Along with the misconception that the crusades were fought by poor greedy peasants, many people believe the crusades were fought to force Muslim conversion to Christianity. They were indeed fought by righteous men. The crusades were not wars that were led or fought by purely power hungry men. In the course of this holy war for Christ, innocent people were killed and some seemingly unjust attacks took place. They were carrying out the commands of their god.
Common topics in this essay:
War Crusades,
Urban II,
Jews Muslims,
North Africa,
Christians Christ,
Christ Muslim,
Rhine River,
Emicho Leiningen,
crusades fought,
muslims enemies,
dying culture,
fellow christians,
entitled god,
money supplies,
holy lands,
power hungry,
people killed,
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