Third Crusade
Reaction of the West:
Pope’s reaction:
Oct 1187 Pope Gregory VIII issued Crusader bull ‘audita tremendi’ → repeat
Urban II on penitential war, promised indulgences and protection for Crusader
lands + families and preachers followed up message with lurid propaganda =
tales of Muslim atrocities
But Jews were victims of massacres in Stamford, Kings Lynn + in York
hundred committed suicide to avoid slaughter = blamed for being descendants
of killers of Christ and envied for having cash which the Crusade needed →
This is similar to Urban II’s call for First Crusade = clear papal bull and
leadership and Jews were killed
Reasons for delay:
Perennial differences between England and France dominated even the fall of
Jerusalem
Third Crusade 1
, Philip II determined to hound Henry II to his death aided by his sons John and
Richard I
Henry died alone at Chinon in July 1189, deserted by family and Richard I
became King and the considerable wealth of the Angevin Empire could be
channelled into the Crusade
Richard I had to consolidate and secure his power
Fleet of 100 ships hired and purchased
💡 Was preparation the most important reason for the delay?
NO!!
Henry II was reluctant to go on a Crusade and the factions between
France and England were detrimental in attempting to go on a
Crusade as to secure their thrones.
Once Richard I ascended the throne in 1189 the Crusade began in
1190, so less than a year was spent planning and Richard I would
have spent it securing and expanding his power in England to ensure
his throne would not be usurped while on Crusade
Leadership:
In the period 1190-3 the greatest ever Crusade in Europe was launched against
Muslims with combined might of France, Germany, Austria, Italy and for the
first time Britain
SINGLE UNIFYING GOAL: RETAKE JERUSALEM
Planning and finances were meticulously organised over several years and the
greatest names in Western Europe led the Crusade. Crusade had transformed
from the armed pilgrimage of 1095 into a highly sophisticated military mission.
They were trained soldiers, rather than a spontaneous mass movement
⇒Saladin would have been establishing his power in the Holy Lands
Third Crusade 2