Crusade, Settlement and Historical Writing in the Latin East and Latin West, c. 1100-c.1300

This collection explores the impact of crusading and settlement on the literary cultures of Latin Christendom, highlighting the artificial boundary between the two and bringing to light neglected sources, methodologies, events, and regions of textual production.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 02 January 2024
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

The period between the First Crusade and the collapse of the crusader states in the eastern Mediterranean was a pivotal one for medieval historical writing. From the departure of the earliest crusading armies in 1096 to the Mamlūk conquest of the Latin states in the late thirteenth century, crusading activity, and the settlements it established and aimed to protect, generated a vast textual output, offering rich insights into the historiographical cultures of the Latin West and Latin East. However, modern scholarship on the crusades and the crusader states has tended to draw an artificial boundary between the two, even though medieval writers treated their histories as virtually indistinguishable.

This volume places these spheres into dialogue with each other, looking at how individual crusading campaigns and the Frankish settlements in the eastern Mediterranean were depicted and remembered in the central Middle Ages. Its essays cover a geographical range that incorporates England, France, Germany, southern Italy, and the Holy Land, and address such topics as gender, emotion, the natural world, crusading as an institution, origin myths, textual reception, forms of storytelling, and historical genre. Bringing to the foreground neglected sources, methodologies, events, and regions of textual production, the collection offers a holistic understanding of the impact of both crusading and settlement on the literary cultures of Latin Christendom.

The First Crusade, which began in 1096, marked a significant turning point in European history. It was initiated by Pope Urban II, who sought to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control and establish Christian states in the region. The crusade was a response to the growing threat of Islamic expansion, which had threatened the stability of the Byzantine Empire and other Christian states in the Middle East.

The crusade was a massive military effort, involving thousands of soldiers from Europe, including France, England, Germany, and Italy. The armies were organized into several factions, each with its own goals and objectives. The most prominent faction was the French-led Kingdom of Jerusalem, which aimed to establish a Christian state in Jerusalem and recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims.

The crusade was not without its challenges. The armies faced fierce resistance from the Muslims, who were well-prepared and well-trained. The crusaders also faced logistical difficulties, including supply shortages and disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, the crusade was ultimately successful, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem was established in 1099.

The establishment of the Kingdom of Jerusalem had a profound impact on the literary cultures of Latin Christendom. The crusade was a major event in medieval history, and it was commemorated and celebrated in a variety of ways in literature. Crusading literature included works such as the De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, written by William of Tyre, which chronicled the events of the First Crusade.

Crusading literature also included works of religious devotion, such as the Psalms of David, which were used by the crusaders as a source of inspiration and courage during their battles. Crusading literature also included works of historical fiction, such as the novel The Song of Roland, which depicted the heroic deeds of the French knight Roland during the Battle of Roncesvalles.

In addition to the literary impact of the First Crusade, the crusade also had a significant impact on the political and social structures of Latin Christendom. The crusade led to the establishment of new trade routes, which facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas between Europe and the Middle East. The crusade also led to the development of new political alliances, which helped to strengthen the power of the Catholic Church and other Christian states in the region.

The crusade also had a significant impact on the cultural and religious practices of the Muslims in the Middle East. The crusade led to the destruction of many Muslim cities and the displacement of millions of Muslims. The crusade also led to the spread of Christianity in the Middle East, which had a profound impact on the cultural and religious practices of the region.

The collapse of the crusader states in the eastern Mediterranean, which occurred in the late thirteenth century, marked the end of the First Crusade. The collapse of the crusader states was a result of a variety of factors, including economic difficulties, political instability, and the growing power of the Muslims in the region.

The collapse of the crusader states had a profound impact on the literary cultures of Latin Christendom. The collapse of the crusader states led to a decline in the importance of crusading literature and a shift in the focus of literary production towards other topics. Crusading literature was no longer seen as a means of promoting Christian values and ideals, but rather as a tool for political and economic gain.

The collapse of the crusader states also led to a decline in the power of the Catholic Church in the Middle East. The Catholic Church had been a major player in the crusade, and its collapse led to a loss of influence and power in the region. The collapse of the crusader states also led to the rise of new religious and political movements, such as the Islamic Golden Age and the Ottoman Empire.

In conclusion, the period between the First Crusade and the collapse of the crusader states in the eastern Mediterranean was a crucial one for medieval historical writing. The crusade generated a vast textual output, offering rich insights into the historiographical cultures of the Latin West and Latin East. The collection offers a holistic understanding of the impact of both crusading and settlement on the literary cultures of Latin Christendom, bringing to the foreground neglected sources, methodologies, events, and regions of textual production. The First Crusade, which began in 1096, marked a significant turning point in European history. It was initiated by Pope Urban II, who sought to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control and establish Christian states in the region. The crusade was a massive military effort, involving thousands of soldiers from Europe, including France, England, Germany, and Italy. The crusade was not without its challenges, but it was ultimately successful, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem was established in 1099. The establishment of the Kingdom of Jerusalem had a profound impact on the literary cultures of Latin Christendom. Crusading literature included works such as the De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, written by William of Tyre, which chronicled the events of the First Crusade. Crusading literature also included works of religious devotion, such as the Psalms of David, which were used by the crusaders as a source of inspiration and courage during their battles. Crusading literature also included works of historical fiction, such as the novel The Song of Roland, which depicted the heroic deeds of the French knight Roland during the Battle of Roncesvalles. In addition to the literary impact of the First Crusade, the crusade also had a significant impact on the political and social structures of Latin Christendom. The crusade led to the establishment of new trade routes, which facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas between Europe and the Middle East. The crusade also led to the development of new political alliances, which helped to strengthen the power of the Catholic Church and other Christian states in the region. The crusade also had a significant impact on the cultural and religious practices of the Muslims in the Middle East. The crusade led to the destruction of many Muslim cities and the displacement of millions of Muslims. The crusade also led to the spread of Christianity in the Middle East, which had a profound impact on the cultural and religious practices of the region. The collapse of the crusader states in the eastern Mediterranean, which occurred in the late thirteenth century, marked the end of the First Crusade. The collapse of the crusader states was a result of a variety of factors, including economic difficulties, political instability, and the growing power of the Muslims in the region. The collapse of the crusader states had a profound impact on the literary cultures of Latin Christendom. The collapse of the crusader states led to a decline in the importance of crusading literature and a shift in the focus of literary production towards other topics. Crusading literature was no longer seen as a means of promoting Christian values and ideals, but rather as a tool for political and economic gain. The collapse of the crusader states also led to a decline in the power of the Catholic Church in the Middle East. The Catholic Church had been a major player in the crusade, and its collapse led to a loss of influence and power in the region. The collapse of the crusader states also led to the rise of new religious and political movements, such as the Islamic Golden Age and the Ottoman Empire.

Weight: 1g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783277339