Violence and brutality under medieval Christianity. A comparative analysis of the first and sixth crusades

Seminar paper from the year 2018 in the subject History of Europe - Middle Ages, Early Modern Age, grade: 8, VU University Amsterdam , language: English, abstract: The Crusades are, despite the fact the first one took place almost thousand years ago, still an often debated topic, both for their historical significance all over Europe and the Near East and for their religious-moral aspect, as well as for their brutality. It is not surprising that these journeys have such a lasting impact on both our memory and historic debate considering their incredible impact and global relevance. This paper explores the question of why the first crusade was so much more violent than the sixth, for which the answer lies in the motivations of involved parties. It is separated into two parts. First,it discusses the events of the first and sixth crusades to prove the first one was especially brutal compared to another, much more peaceful one. This forms the basis of the research question. To answer it, the second part discusses the motivations of different parties involved in the first and sixth crusade. Why did the main figures of the crusades command their people to march to Jerusalem? Why did all these people from different social status, culture and even different religions attack the holy city and murder hundreds of people? Why didn't they two hundred years later? In this chapter, I will focus on pope Urban II, emperor Frederick II and the crusaders themselves.