It is surprising how much political and military supremacy the papacy's position gained when the Crusades began. The First Crusade (1096-1099) was a military expedition launched by Pope Urban II to reconquer the Holy Land in Jerusalem from Muslim conquest. The Pope gave a speech calling for military action against the Muslim seizure of power from the French people of Clermont. The talk eventually spread to other nations for further recruitment. Urban's political and military involvement helped reconquer the Holy Land and save the souls of Christian crusaders. His famous speech changed the course of history in part because its broadcast was enormously successful and brought together over 40,000 crusaders to do God's will. Why Pope Urban II was so victorious in recruiting people for the First Crusade, and why his influence was that important? Pope Urban II was sought out by Alexius Komnenos, a Byzantine emperor who wanted the papacy to help his army hold off the advance of the Seljuk Turks into Asia Minor. The reason Alexius Komnenos contacted the pope rather than another emperor or monarch was not just that they were secular, but because the pope would have more power to persuade the people. The Gregorian movement in 1050-80 was ultimately responsible for the new power instilled by the papacy's position on non-religious rulers. The Pope agreed to help the Byzantine Emperor, but he also had his own plans regarding the military advance and the new power of his position. The papacy intended not only to help the Byzantine Empire but also to save all of Christendom from invasion. Urban's decision to begin the crusade was based on more than just the idea of doing the Lord's will. Christian idealism was very present... at the center of the card... as the power actually resided in religion and in the figures who claimed leadership over the children of God. The First Crusade was a success and demonstrates how the Pope had powers which not even emperors or monarchs could have over the nations. “The First Crusade allowed the papacy to place itself at the forefront of an immensely powerful movement and to acquire the moral leadership of Europe” (Bennett). Works Cited Bennett, Judith M., C. Warren Hollister, and C. Warren Hollister. Medieval Europe: a brief history. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.Crusades." CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Web. 17 March 2012. .Rist, Rebecca. The Papacy and Crusading in Europe, 1198-1245. London: Continuum, 2009. Print."The First Crusade ." Conquest Anglo-Norman Society www.angevin.org. Web. 16 March. 2012. .
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