1. * The Crusades, Military Orders and The Inquisition
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Chapter 9
The Crusades, Military Orders and The Inquisition *

2. *
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“In no way is the Church to be confused with the political community ... But, this said, we should not conclude that the message of salvation entrusted to the Church has nothing to say to the body politic in order to enlighten it with the Gospel.”
~ John Paul II *

3. *
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Part I
The Crusades *

4. *
07/16/96
The Crusades *

5. A. The Fall of the Holy Land*
07/16/96
A. The Fall of the Holy Land
Rise of Fatimite Muslims in Egypt led to renewed Christian persecutions in first decades of 11th century
Seljuk Turks in 2nd half of 11th century, create new militant Islamic nation
Seljuks attack Christians in Palestine and Syria *

6. The Fall of the Holy Land
In 1071, Turks annihilate Byzantine army at Battle of Manzikert & on verge to take Constantinople
With two-thirds of Christian world now taken by Muslim forces, Pope Blessed Urban II addresses council of Clermont to help Eastern Christians in 1095

7. The Fall of the Holy Land
Pope believed Christianity had to defend itself or be taken over by Islam
Christian pilgrims to Holy Land were often robbed, beaten or killed
Pope St. Gregory VII was even ready to send 50,000 crusaders into the Holy Land but lay investiture controversy made it impossible
Objective: fend off Turkish expansion into Byzantium & free the Holy Land for safe pilgrimage

8. B. Motivation for the Crusaders
Religion was a major motivation for soldiers
Concept that God would reward those who fought for the cause of defending Christendom

9. Motivation for the Crusaders
Religious indulgences – remission before God of temporal punishment due to sins
Other church incentives – reduction of taxes, dissolving of debts, protection of crusaders’ families

10. C. Preaching the Crusades
Appeal to sinners to join crusade as means of reconciliation with God
Peter the Hermit of Amiens spoke of the poor treatment of Christians in Palestine

11. D. Byzantium’s Response
Many westerners optimistic about Crusades & relations between western and eastern churches
Crusades allowed positive exchange of ideas & culture
The Eastern Empire feared the Crusades as a threat against own territory
After sack of Constantinople in 4th Crusade, relations were ruined creating a rift between Eastern and Western Churches

12. E. Criticism
St. Bernard of Clairvaux said many soldiers were far from pious after 1st crusade
Muslims and Jews in Europe subject to violence

13. Criticism
St. Francis of Assisi tried to convert Sultan Malik-al-Kamil; two became friends suggesting peaceful dialogue in Holy Land

14. F. Outcome of Crusades
Failed in delivering Holy Lands back to Christians
Success in holding Turkish expansion for 400 years
Success in creating Christian unity transcending nationality & race

15. Outcome of Crusades
Success in having pilgrimages to Holy Land easier with Franciscans holding key holy places
Success in military technology – castles, siege engines, catapults, etc.

16. Outcome of Crusades
Crusades encouraged travel & fostered drive to Asia – reach China by 13th century
Technological & academic achievements due to contact with Arabic world & Greek medicine & math

17. Part III
The Inquisition

18. A. Origins of the Inquisition
Early Christian emperors use their political & military power to protect orthodoxy of the Church – saw themselves divinely appointed agents of Heaven

19. Origins of the Inquisition
During Middle Ages, Church became tied politically and economically to European life
King Peter of Aragon: “The enemies of the Cross of Christ ... are likewise our enemies.”

20. Origins of the Inquisition
Inquisition began in reaction to Albigensian heresy; they saw the soul as good and the body as evil.

21. Origins of the Inquisition
Albigensian fidelity to the Gospel was expressed in poverty and fasting.
They believed 2 gods governed the universe – one spiritual and good god; the other was physical and evil.

22. Origins of the Inquisition
They were hostile to Christianity – rejected the Mass, the sacraments and ecclesiastical hierarchy; forbade marriage & propagation of human race (preached suicide as a way to obtain spiritual purity)
1208, an Albigensian killed the Papal Legate & so Pope Innocent III called a crusade against them – went on for more than 20 years & 1000s died, some by kings burning the heretics at the stake

23. Origins of the Inquisition
Pope Gregory IX didn’t like civil authority meddling in matters of Faith so he established the Inquisition as a means of detecting & purging heresy

24. B. Process for Inquisition
Special judges (mostly Dominicans & Franciscans) known as Inquisitors decided between life and death for the heretic.

25. Process for Inquisition
A month long “term of grace” allowed heretics to confess on their own for lighter sentences
Once trial began,
needed minimum of 2 witnesses to convict someone of heresy (often more was used)
the names of these accusers were not revealed to the accused individual, though the accused could make a list of his enemies to help the judge determine the fairness of the charges

26. Process for Inquisition
Boni viri (good men) were called upon (between men) to decide culpability and punishment to be imparted
Most final rulings of the inquisitor usually in accord with boni viri views

27. C. Final Verdict in the Inquisition
Solemn ceremony where offenses & punishments were announced
If guilty of heresy, heretic turned over to civil power who carried out the punishments

28. Final Verdict in the Inquisition
Most punishments were humane – build a church, a pilgrimage, participate on a crusade
Some fines were charged, whippings happened
Hardest penalties – imprisonment, exclusion from communion

29. Final Verdict in the Inquisition
Incarceration was for a definite time or for life (recants only from fear of death or had once before abjured heresy)
At height of Inquisition, 3 people were burned for heresy per year
Civil authorities dealt much more severely with heretics than papal inquisitors

30. D. Inquisition in Spain Started in 1480 and lasted until 1834
Spanish Inquisition coincided with the Reconquista, reconquering of Spain by Christians against Muslims and Jews – during reign of Ferdinand & Isabella

31. Inquisition in Spain
When Pope Sixtus IV received reports of torture, unjustifiable punishment & seizure of executed prisoners’ property, he censured the inquisitors & would have deposed them but Ferdinand and Isabella intervened

32. Inquisition in Spain
1487, Fray Tomas Torquemada made Grand Inquisitor & sets up centralized system for the courts of the Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition was mostly a civil tribunal & significantly crueler than papal inquisition; methods frequently violated dignity of the person
Even still, less than 2% of those accused of heresy were condemned to death, far less that of the European civil courts of that time