influence over the crusades?

Question: How did the catholic church have power/influence over the crusades!?
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In the Middle Ages, all nations in Europe were devoted to Christianity, actively embracing God!. The Pope headed the Roman Catholic Church, holding enormous influence over political decisions and military movements!. There were several techniques used by the clergy to convince Europeans to fight in the Crusades!.

1!. Who ever joined the holy march to Jerusalem would have their sins forgiven, obtaining a definite place in heaven!. This was extremely important to the people, because Christian faith was common, but also a strong part of their culture and identity!. As Pope Urban the II said in the First Crusade - "Undertake this journey for the remission of your sins, with the assurance of the imperishable glory of the Kingdom of Heaven"!.

2!. The Church assured the population that they would receive many aspects of personal protection and special benefits in exchange for participation!. General support grew amongst the pious monarchs who convinced others willingly!.

3!. Priests and Bishops preached widely across the provinces, persuading people about the rewards and opportunities available once the East was conquered!. They explained about the influx of trade, the wealth gained, rich farm lands and how this sacred city was a centre of spiritual, religious and historical value!.

The combination of these 3 events caused mass 'migrations' to the Palestine area, where Christendom would oppose their enemies!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Crusades were a series of religion driven military campaigns waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents!. Crusades were fought mainly against Muslims, though campaigns were also directed against pagan Slavs, Jews, Russian and Greek Orthodox Christians, Mongols, Cathars, Hussites, Waldensians, Old Prussians and political enemies of the popes!. Crusaders took vows and were granted an indulgence for past sins!.

The Crusades originally had the goal of recapturing Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule and were launched in response to a call from the Eastern Orthodox Byzantine Empire for help against the expansion of the Muslim Seljuk Turks into Anatolia!. The term is also used to describe contemporaneous and subsequent campaigns conducted through to the 16th century in territories outside the Levant usually against pagans, heretics, and peoples under the ban of excommunication for a mixture of religious, economic, and political reasons!. Rivalries among both Christian and Muslim powers led also to alliances between religious factions against their opponents, such as the Christian alliance with the Sultanate of Rum during the Fifth Crusade!.

The Crusades had far-reaching political, economic, and social impacts, some of which have lasted into contemporary times!. Because of internal conflicts among Christian kingdoms and political powers, some of the crusade expeditions were diverted from their original aim, such as the Fourth Crusade, which resulted in the sack of Christian Constantinople and the partition of the Byzantine Empire between Venice and the Crusaders!. The Sixth Crusade was the first crusade to set sail without the official blessing of the Pope!. The Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Crusades resulted in Mamluk and Hafsid victories, as the Ninth Crusade marked the end of the Crusades in the Middle East!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

only as a general common point!. Most of the crusaders came from nations which were traditional enemies- Normans, French, Britons, Germans, etc- and the religion was just about the only common thing they had between them!. The Byzantines had their own branch of the church and their own culture and political aims - so they were completely alien and distrusted!.

Of course another common point was the enemy- just about all the crusaders had the experience of muslim slave raids and invasions (who raided as far as Iceland in search for slaves)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Muslim armies had conquered much of northern Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Spain, which had been some of the most heavily Christian areas in the world!.

Thousands, and possibly millions, of Christians died during this drive to eventually bring the entire world under Islam!.

The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to check the advance of the Muslims and regain control of the city of Jerusalem and the Holy Land!.

I am sure that some atrocities were committed by both sides during this war but by most people's judgment this was a just war!.

http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/First_Crusa!.!.!.

With love in Christ!.Www@QuestionHome@Com