Propaganda of the First Crusade

Crusades Paper

The first crusade resulted in the genocide of countless innocents and the destruction of whole Slavic cultures. Pope Urban II promised religious salvation to those who died for the cause of the church. Scores of people flocked hundreds of miles to Jerusalem where they fought and died for a "just cause." The Pope's speeches used religious justification and rewards to encourage christens on and "armed pilgrim to Jerusalem, and hatred of the Turks, Muslims, a non-Christians in general.

"God himself will lead them, for they will be doing His work. There will be absolution and remission of sins for all who die in the service of Christ. Here they are poor and miserable sinners; there they will be rich and happy. Let none hesitate; they must march next summer. God wills it! "(blackwellpublishing.com/.../Sample_chapter/9780631230229/001.pdf )

He is pushing off the death of men on God. He is saying "God told me to do this". Then he goes on to say that if you die all your sins will be washed away. He is selling admission into heaven and the price is your life. This gives hope to people because they will think that they are doing Gods will instead of the Popes, and if they die, they get a free ride into heaven.

The West must march to the defense of the East. All should go rich and poor alike. The Franks must stop their internal wars and squabbles. Let them go instead against the infidel and fight a righteous war." (blackwellpublishing.com/.../Sample_chapter/9780631230229/001.pdf )

Urban is using an image of social equality to fight against a common enemy. He is saying that they should put aside there differences and fight the infidels!!! This is affective because even the most unarguable groups will work together to defeat a common enemy.

In Medieval Europe the Popes word was law. The Pope had a higher status than any king and often undermined king's rulings. The people thought the pope was a direct messenger from god so they were all too happy to place their life in his hands. The church also had a vast amount of money so they could afford too fund some of the crusaders.

The people were promised a free "get out of purgatory free" card if they died. People were led to believe that they were going to hell no matter what they did. Questions about the Popes authority were met with an ultimatum such as "if you wish to be the friends of God, gladly do the things which you know will please Him. You must especially let all matters that pertain to the church be controlled by the law of the church."(8) Though most people went on the crusade to atone for their sins, some went for the promise of land and recourses only found in the Middle East.

The people took Urban's propaganda to heart. The peoples interpretation of Urban's speeches was that all un-christen people should either be converted or killed. Many crusaders were poor peasants