MEDIEVAL KNIGHTHOOD & THE CRUSADES
I.
KNIGHTS
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
KNIGHTS FOUGHT ON BATTLEFIELDS OF EUROPE FOR 600-800 YRS
2.
KNIGHTS & CASTLES PERHAPS SYMBOLIZES MA MOST
B.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1.
KNIGHTS APPEARED FOR FIRST TIME END OF 10TH C.
2.
ORIGINALLY OF MEDIOCRE STATUS
3.
RAISED ABOVE PEASANT BY OWNING EXPENSIVE HORSE & ARMOR
a.
ARMED RETAINERS FIGHTING FOR COUNTS
4.
SLOWLY IMPROVED POSITION IN SOCIETY UNTIL PART OF NOBILITY
5.
WHEN BEGAN MARRYING NOBLES' YOUNGER DAUGHTERS
6.
KNIGHTS & NOBLES FUSED INTO 1 SOCIAL CLASS 13TH C.
7.
ALTHOUGH KNIGHTS REMAINED LOWEST RANK OF UPPER CLASS
8.
KNIGHTHOOD ACQUIRED STATUS PRIZED BY GREAT NOBILITY & EVEN ROYALTY
C.
KNIGHTING CEREMONY
1.
CEREMONY OF DUBBING OR KNIGHTING ORIGINALLY OLD GERMANIC CUSTOM
2.
TO ANNOUNCE A YOUNG MAN ABLE TO BEAR ARMS
a.
PERFORMED AT AGE 12 OR 14
3.
W/GROWING USE OF HEAVY HORSES & INCREASED WEIGHT OF ARMOR,
4.
AGE MOVED TO 21 WHEN YOUNG MAN PHYSICALLY ABLE TO SUPPORT WEIGHT
5.
SIMPLE CEREMONY WHEN BOY GIVEN HIS 1ST SWORD & SPURS
a.
EVOLVED INTO ELABORATE CEREMONY
6.
BECAME ALMOST SACRAMENT AS CHURCH IMPOSED ITS RITUAL & OBLIGATIONS
ON CEREMONY
a.
CIRCA 12TH C
7.
NEW TITLE INVENTED "ESQUIRE" FOR THOSE WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN
KNIGHTED BUT COULD NOT AFFORD IT
D.
LIFE OF YOUNG NOBLES & KNIGHTS
1.
ONCE KNIGHTED SUPPOSED TO BE A MAN,
2.
READY TO TAKE PLACE IN SOCIETY & TO FIGHT FOR CHRISTIANITY
3.
BUT IN PRACTICE OFTEN FOUND HIMSELF W/LITTLE TO DO
4.
UNTIL HIS FATHER DIED HE COULD NOT BE LORD OF CASTLE
5.
SPECIAL MEDIEVAL LATIN TERM JUVENES OR YOUTHS =
a.
YOUNG KNIGHTS & NOBLES WHO HAD FINISHED EDUCATION & TRAINING
b.
BUT HAD NOT COME INTO THEIR INHERITANCE & RESPONSIBILITIES
6.
JUVENES PROVIDED GREAT MASS OF CRUSADERS IN 12-13 CENTURIES
7.
THESE JUVENES OR YOUTHS PARTICIPATED IN TOURNAMENTS
8.
ALSO JUVENES MADE UP MOST OF CONVERTS TO NEW MONASTIC ORDERS
II.
EQUIPMENT OF KNIGHT
A.
ARMOR
1.
ORIGINALLY CHAIN MAIL OR HAUBERK
a.
SHIRT EXTENDING TO MID-THIGH OR LOWER
b.
IRON LINKS RIVETED TOGETHER
2.
STEADILY BECAME MORE ELABORATE
a.
PIECES TO COVER NECK, ELBOWS, KNEES, ETC.
3.
14TH C HAUBERK YIELDED TO PLATE ARMOR
a.
LONG BOW COULD PENETRATE CHAIN MAIL
4.
FULL SUIT WEIGHED 60 LBS OR MORE
5.
WORST ENEMY FOR KNIGHTS NOT OTHERS SWORDS
a.
BUT LIGHTNING
6.
IN 14TH C. SO MANY ENGLISH KNIGHTS STRUCK DEAD BY LIGHTNING
7.
DEATHS OUTNUMBERED THOSE LOST AT FAMOUS BATTLES OF POITIERS &
2
B.
C.
D.
CRECY DURING 100 YEARS WAR
8.
HELMETS CHANGED OVER TIME TOO
a.
INCREASING IN WEIGHT & COVERING EFFECT
WEAPONS
1.
SWORD
a.
MOST NB
2.
LANCE OR SPEAR
a.
TRADITIONAL WEAPON OF HORSEMAN
3.
FLAIL OR MACE
a.
FAVORITE OF MARTIAL BISHOPS, ABBOTS & OTHER CHURCHMEN WHO
EVADED LETTER OF CANON LAW FORBIDDING CLERICS TO SMITE WITH
THE EDGE OF THE SWORD OR TO SHED BLOOD
4.
SHIELD
a.
GENERALLY MADE OF WOODEN BOARDS NAILED TOGETHER & COVERED
W/HEAVY HIDE SURROUNDED BY METAL RIM
b.
OFTEN HAD METAL BOSS IN CENTER TO DEFLECT OPPONENT'S SWORD
BLADE
c.
FOOT-SOLDIERS CARRIED ROUND SHIELDS
d.
KNIGHTS USUALLY BORE KITE-SHAPED SHIELDS
5.
CROSSBOW
a.
END OF 12TH C GENERAL ADOPTION OF IT AS WEAPON
b.
CHURCH DEPLORED THIS INHUMAN WEAPON
6.
BOW & ARROW
a.
GREAT WEAPON OF INFANTRY
b.
LONGBOW - 6 FEET LONG INVENTION OF WELSH 12TH C.
(1)
BECAME FAVORITE WEAPON OF ENGLISH
7.
SIEGE INSTRUMENTS
c.
BATTERING RAMS
d.
ARBALESTS OR GIGANTIC CROSSBOWS
e.
TREBUCHETS
TOURNAMENTS
1.
APPEARED FOR 1ST TIME 12TH C
a.
SUBSTITUTES FOR OPEN WARFARE
2.
CONDEMNED BY CHURCH BUT ENORMOUSLY POPULAR ANYWAY
3.
BURIAL IN CONSECRATED GROUND DIFFICULT IF KILLED IN ONE
a.
PEOPLE KILLED IN 12TH C TOURNAMENTS W/SOME FREQUENCY
4.
MAIN FORM OF FIGHTING - MELEE
a.
FREE-FOR-ALL ON HORSEBACK
b.
MIGHT GO ON ALL DAY & RANGE OVER SEVERAL SQ MILES
5.
JOUST - FIGHT BETWEEN 2 OPPONENTS
6.
WARRIORS FOUGHT THEORETICALLY W/BLUNTED WEAPONS
7.
TAKING OF PRISONERS FOR RANSOM MAIN PURPOSE OF TOURNAMENT
a.
TYPICALLY A MAN'S HORSE & ARMOR RANSOMED
8.
SKILLFUL FIGHTER COULD DO VERY WELL FOR HIMSELF ON TOURNAMENT
CIRCUIT
KNIGHTHOOD & CODE OF CHIVALRY
1.
TO MEDIEVAL MEN KNIGHTHOOD MORE THAN A CAREER
2.
SPIRITUAL & EMOTIONAL STRUCTURE FOR ENTIRE WAY OF LIFE
3.
CHURCH DEVISED CODE OF CHIVALRY TO ENHANCE KNIGHTHOOD
a.
CODE OF CONDUCT TO UPGRADE BEHAVIOR OF KNIGHTLY CLASS
b.
HAD GREAT INFLUENCE ON MANNERS & MORALS
c.
BUT CHIVALRY BECAME AMBIGUOUS WORD AS MEANT SO MANY THINGS
(1)
CORPS OF KNIGHTS THEMSELVES
(2)
PANOPLY OF TOURNAMENT & HERALDRY
(3)
CODE OF CONDUCT
3
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
III.
(4)
COURTLY LOVE
AS PART OF THIS NEW CODE OF CONDUCT
a.
WOMEN IN UPPERCLASS BECAME MORE RESPECTED & UTILIZED
b.
WHEN HUSBANDS OFF FIGHTING, THEY TOOK CARE OF HOME
c.
EVEN DEFENDED CASTLE
GAME OF CHESS SYMBOLIZES THIS WELL
a.
INSTEAD OF QUEEN, MALE FIGURE SYMBOLIZED KING'S CHIEF MINISTER
WHEN CHESS CAME TO WEST, THIS PIECE TURNED INTO QUEEN
SOMETIME BEFORE END OF MA QUEEN BEGAN TO MOVE ALL OVER BOARD
FIGHTING WAS THE GENTLEMAN'S TRADE
EVERY SPRING EFFECTIVE KING TRIED TO LEAD HIS WARRIORS ON AGGRESSIVE
EXPEDITIONS
W/PEACE CAME POVERTY
FOR WAR MEANT RANSOMS NOT NECESSARILY KILLING
CRUSADES
A.
CALLING OF FIRST CRUSADE
1.
NEARLY 900 YRS AGO
2.
POPE URBAN II GAVE POTENT SPEECH
3.
URBAN'S SPEECH SO INSPIRED THOSE PRESENT, THEY TORE THEIR CLOAKS INTO
STRIPS & MADE CROSSES
a.
WHICH THEY SEWED ON THEIR TUNICS
b.
& VOWED NOT TO TAKE THEM OFF UNTIL CHRISTIAN SHRINES RETURNED
TO CHRISTIANS
4.
100,000 PEOPLE RESPONDED TO URBAN'S CALL & LEFT FOR HOLY LAND
5.
OF ALL DEVELOPMENTS OF HIGH MIDDLE AGES
6.
NOTHING REVEALS RELIGIOUS ENTHUSIASM OF PEOPLE
7.
& INFLUENCE OF REFORMED PAPACY
8.
THAN EXTRAORDINARY OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR FIRST CRUSADE
9.
& MANY CRUSADES THAT FOLLOWED
B.
WHY DID PEOPLE GO ON CRUSADES?
1.
CRUSADES BROUGHT TOGETHER THREE FORCES IN MEDIEVAL SOCIETY
a.
RELIGIOUS LONGINGS OF LAYMEN
b.
BELLICOSE MENTALITY OF NOBLES & KNIGHTS
c.
PAPAL LEADERSHIP
2.
BUT RELIGIOUS REASONS MAIN REASON WHY PEOPLE WENT
a.
CRUSADES SATISFIED RELIGIOUS LONGINGS OF MEN
3.
JERUSALEM EARTHLY IMAGE OF HEAVENLY CITY
4.
THOSE WHO DIED ON WAY WENT STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN
5.
IF CRUSADER KILLED A PAGAN, HE COMMITTED NOT HOMICIDE BUT MALICIDE
a.
LITERALLY KILLING OF EVIL
6.
PEOPLE GIVEN FULL PARDON FOR ALL SINS IN FORM OF INDULGENCE IF WENT
a.
IF DECIDED AGAINST GOING COULD PAY SUM & STILL RECEIVE
INDULGENCE FOR FULL PARDON
7.
LANDS & FAMILY OF ANY CRUSADER WOULD BE SAFEGUARDED IN HIS ABSENCE
a.
ANY ACT OF AGGRESSION WOULD BE REGARDED AS A MORTAL SIN
b.
ALL DEBT HELD IN ABEYANCE WHILE ON CRUSADE
8.
POORER FOLK HOPED TO BETTER THEMSELVES
9.
PRIMOGENITURE INCREASING & SO YOUNGER SONS NEEDED SOMETHING TO DO
& STRIVE FOR
10.
NEW LAND IN MIDDLE EAST
11.
& PRESTIGE
a.
IN AN ARISTOCRATIC & MILITARY SOCIETY MEN COVETED REPUTATIONS
AS CRUSADERS
b.
CHRISTIAN KNIGHT WHO HAD BEEN TO HOLY LAND ENJOYED GREAT
4
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
PRESTIGE
12.
CONSEQUENTLY SO MANY KNIGHTS WENT THAT CRUSADING BECAME A
DISTINCTIVE LIFE-STYLE FOR UPPERCLASS
REASONS WHY POPE OR PAPACY CALLED CRUSADES
1.
WHILE EASTERN EMPEROR WANTED HELP TO FIGHT & REPEL TURKS
2.
POPE AS GREAT DISCIPLE OF GREGORY VII'S IDEA OF PAPAL MONARCHY
3.
SAW HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE RIGHT ORDER IN THE WORLD
4.
MEANT WAR AGAINST NON-CHRISTIANS WHEREVER THEY MAY BE
5.
WHILE INITIAL CRUSADES AGAINST MUSLIMS
6.
IN LATER 12TH & 13TH CENTURIES CRUSADES ALSO CALLED BY POPES AGAINST
HERETICS IN EUROPE
7.
ENORMOUS POPULAR RESPONSE TO PAPAL CALLS FOR CRUSADING REVEALS
STRONG INFLUENCE OF PAPACY
8.
BUT NO COINCIDENCE 1ST CRUSADE CALLED WHEN GERMAN EMPERORS &
POPES IN POWER STRUGGLE
FIRST CRUSADE 1095
1.
WITHIN SEVERAL YEARS SYRIA & PALESTINE CAPTURED
2.
THEN JERUSALEM SEIZED FROM MUSLIMS
a.
PRIMARY GOAL OF CRUSADERS
3.
FIRST CRUSADE SUCCESS FOR CHRISTIANS
SECOND CRUSADE - 1147
1.
ABOUT 50 YRS LATER AFTER 1ST CRUSADE
2.
KING LOUIS VII OF FRANCE & HIS WIFE ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE AS GERMAN
EMPEROR CONRAD
3.
BUT NOT ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING
THIRD CRUSADE - 1187
1.
ABOUT 100 YRS AFTER 1ST CRUSADE
2.
CAPTURE OF JERUSALEM BY TURKISH LEADER, SALADIN IN 1187 LED TO 3RD
CRUSADE
3.
OFTEN KNOWN AS CRUSADE OF THREE KINGS
4.
KINGS OF ENGLAND, FRANCE & GERMANY ALL WENT 1189
a.
RICHARD LIONHEARTED, FREDERICK BARBAROSSA, PHILIP AUGUSTUS
5.
RICHARD THE LIONHEARTED MOST FAMOUS MEMBER
6.
RICHARD PUT UP FOR SALE EVERYTHING HE HAD
7.
HE IS PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PEOPLE'S ROMANTIC CONCEPT OF CRUSADES
8.
CAPTURED ACRE AFTER 2 YRS
9.
BUT FAILED TO TAKE RETAKE JERUSALEM
10.
300,000 LIVES LOST THIS CRUSADE
11.
LAST GREAT EFFORT TO DESTROY MUSLIMS OR SARACENS
12.
ON WAY HOME RICHARD CAPTURED BY VASSAL OF GERMAN EMPEROR &
THROWN INTO PRISON
a.
£100,000 RANSOM
b.
ROUGHLY TWICE ENGLAND'S GROSS INCOME
c.
RAISED DUE TO LEADERSHIP OF HIS MOTHER ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE
13.
WHEN RICHARD DIED 1199
a.
HIS BODY & VARIOUS ORGANS SENT 3 DIFFERENT PLACES
b.
HIS BODY TO FONTEVRAULT ABBEY
(1)
WHERE PARENTS BURIED
c.
HEART TO ROUEN CATHEDRAL
d.
ENTRAILS TO CHARROUX IN POITOU
FOURTH CRUSADE
1.
CALLED BY INNOCENT III TO WIN BACK JERUSALEM
2.
TURNED OUT TO BE UNPRECEDENTED DISASTER
3.
CRUSADERS ENDED UP SACKING CONSTANTINOPLE IN 1204,
a.
WHO WERE THEIR CHRISTIAN ALLY
5
H.
I.
J.
4.
CRUSADERS HAD BEEN URGED TO DO SO BY VENETIANS
5.
WHEN COULD NOT PAY VENETIANS FOR THEIR TRANSPORTATION COSTS
6.
THIS HELPED TO DESTROY BYZANTINE EMPIRE
7.
& OPEN UP EASTERN EUROPE TO OTTOMAN TURKS
8.
EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH HAS NEVER FORGIVEN WEST
9.
MEMORY OF 1204 STILL MAIN BARRIER AGAINST UNION OF CHURCHES
MILITARY ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD
1.
FORMED 12 TH C TO PROTECT CHRISTIAN PILGRIMS IN JERUSALEM & OTHER
PLACES
2.
GARRISONED CASTLES BUILT BY CRUSADERS
3.
EVENTUALLY BECAME MOST EFFECTIVE FIGHTING FORCE IN HOLY LAND
4.
KNIGHTS OF THE HOSPITAL (HOSPITALLERS
5.
KNIGHTS OF THE TEMPLE (TEMPLARS
6.
TEUTONIC KNIGHTS
CONCLUDING REMARKS CRUSADES
1.
AFTER 4TH CRUSADE HEART WENT OUT OF CRUSADING MOVEMENT EVEN
THOUGH OTHER CRUSADES CALLED
2.
EVEN 2 CHILDREN'S CRUSADES
a.
FELT IF GOOD & INNOCENT PEOPLE (CHILDREN) TOOK CROSS
b.
THEN GOD WOULD DELIVERY MUSLIMS INTO CHRISTIAN HANDS
c.
MANY CHILDREN DIED OR LOST THEIR FREEDOM WHEN SOLD INTO
MUSLIM SLAVERY
3.
CRUSADES CONTINUED TO BE PREACHED & EXPEDITIONS LAUNCHED DURING 1314TH CENTURIES
a.
CONTINUED UNTIL 17TH C. TO BE CALLED
4.
BUT NO CRUSADES HAD ANY SUCCESS EXCEPT FOR 1ST
5.
GREAT MANY MEN DIED ON CRUSADE
a.
ESTIMATE 2 MILLION LIVES LOST
b.
MAJORITY NEVER CAME BACK FROM CRUSADING VENTURE
c.
DROWNED IN SHIPWRECKS, KILLED BY SARACENS, (MOSLEMS), DIED OF
DISEASE
6.
DEEP BITTERNESS & HATRED BETWEEN MUSLIMS & CHRISTIANS WOULD
CONTINUE FOR CENTURIES
POSITIVE LEGACIES OF CRUSADES
1.
RISING MIDDLE CLASS BENEFITTED BY LENDING MONEY TO CRUSADERS &
SELLING THEM SUPPLIES
2.
MANY PEASANT & SERF BOUGHT HIS FREEDOM FROM HIS MASTER WHO NEEDED
CASH FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES
3.
EASTERN PRODUCTS BECAME COMMON IN WEST
a.
RICE, SUGAR, LEMONS, MELONS,
4.
SPICE TRADE BOOMED
a.
WEST LEARNED TO APPRECIATE CLOVES, GINGER
b.
TO DELIGHT IN EXOTIC PERFUMES
5.
EASTERN MATERIALS CAME INTO VOGUE
a.
MUSLIN, COTTON, SATIN, DAMASK,
6.
RUGS, TAPESTRIES NOW USED BY UPPER CLASSES
7.
WEST ADOPTED ARABIC NUMERALS IN PLACE OF CUMBERSOME ROMAN
NUMERALS
8.
STIMULATED EUROPE'S ECONOMY
a.
TRADE, BANKING