'Not Cruelty But Piety': Circumscribing European Crusading Violence

Susanna A. Throop

OAI: oai:digitalcommons.ursinus.edu:history_fac-1007

Was there such a thing as "crusading violence"? Traditionally the crusading movement has been sharply distinguished from other forms of Christian violence motivated, or at least justified, by religion. However, we have increasingly come to recognize the difficulties of drawing clear-cut boundaries between crusading and other aspects of western European culture in the Middle Ages. This chapter assesses the ways in which crusader violence was like and unlike other forms of medieval Christian violence.

crusading violence christian violence crusades Papacy papal authorization imitatio Christi penitential warfare Arts and Humanities Christianity Ethics in Religion European History History History of Christianity History of Religion Islamic Studies Islamic World and Near East History Medieval History Medieval Studies