Blog Tour: Crusader's Path, By Mary Ann Bernal
From the sweeping hills of Argences to the port city of Cologne overlooking the River Rhine, Etienne and Avielle find themselves drawn by the need for redemption against the backdrop of the First Crusade
Understanding the Mindset of the Times
Religion played a pivotal role in daily life. There would be
no salvation without the Church. To avoid eternal damnation in Hell, one must
confess one’s sins, satisfy a given penance, and receive absolution by a
priest. Many a penitent embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, seeking the
Lord’s forgiveness.
Until the arrival of the Seljuk Turks in the region, the
Islamic State had no problems with Christians and Jews living among their
people, nor did they interfere with the pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem. The
revenue boosted the Islamic economy, after all.
The Class System
Affluent people have a better standard of living than their
inferior counterparts. The nobility craved power and wealth at the expense of
the common people. Famine, contagion, and violence, affected everyone, but it
was the peasant class who suffered the most. However, their unshakeable belief
in salvation promised a better life in God’s kingdom.
One must not forget the Eleventh Century was a violent era,
without an organized governing body. Members of the nobility argued among
themselves, brother fighting against brother to sit on a throne. Conquerors
subjected the conquered to tyrannical rule. Mercenaries wreaked havoc upon the
countryside. Something needed to be done, and the Lord’s people looked towards
the Church for assistance.
The Latin West
Pope Urban II succeeded Pope Gregory VII, whose clashes with
the mighty Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV, created the installation of the
Antipope, Clement III. Pope Urban, unable to sit on the Chair of St. Peter in
Rome, traveled the countryside, fulfilling papal duties while in exile, taking
it upon himself to implement his predecessor’s changes. Pope Urban convened a
synod at Clermont in the Duchy of Aquitaine to discuss Cluniac reforms.
The Greek East
Byzantine Emperor Alexios I had been fighting the Seljuk
Turks for several years. He sent envoys to Pope Urban, requesting his aid to
push back the Seljuk invaders and reclaim the city of Nicaea.
The Great Announcement
The charismatic Pope Urban, an astute politician and skilled
orator, piqued curiosity when foretelling of a “great announcement,” given on
the very last day of the synod before everyone returned home. Notices were
nailed to church doors, and priests spoke of the upcoming speech from the
pulpit. No one knew what the man of God would say. Expectations were high. The
Pope spoke for God, and soon they would hear the Lord’s words.
While standing on an elevated platform, Pope Urban’s
spellbinding sermon called for a Holy War to free the Holy Land from the
infidel. Such wickedness must not prevail. His cunning words vilified the
Seljuk Turks, repeating exaggerated tales of Muslim barbarism against the
Christian Pilgrims in the Holy Land.
Pope Urban appealed to the crowd to take up the Cross as
Soldiers of Christ. Christ’s warriors were to regain control of the Holy
Sepulcher and return Christian rule over Jerusalem. The Vicar of Christ offered
the atonement for their sins, whether they died on the journey or in battle.
Salvation was guaranteed. They would spend eternity in Paradise.
The frenzied multitude, caught up in the emotional hype with
adrenalin pumping, rose to the occasion. Someone shouted Deus Vult (God wills
it), immortalizing a rallying cry that has transcended the ages.
Expectations
Pope Urban sought to reunite the Latin West and Greek East,
whose division stemmed during the ebbing days of the Roman Empire. By
channeling the aggressive thirst for fighting against a common enemy, Pope
Urban curbed the pillaging of the European countryside. However, a successful
campaign would strengthen the Papacy, heightening dominance over the rule of
kings.
Alexios I, the Byzantine Emperor, never expected such a vast
Army to invade his lands. Alexios wanted an elite force of knights, a few
hundred men, to fight with his warriors against the Seljuk Turks. Alexios
demanded fealty from the Princes, which was honored after the fall of Nicaea.
But the Princes retained control of the remaining cities, including Antioch,
refuting their sworn oaths of allegiance.
The nobility took up the Cross for the honor and prestige of
fighting for Christ, elevating their influence, commanding awe and respect. The
promise of great riches beckoned the second and third sons of wealthy nobles
who would not receive an inheritance under the current laws. These knights had
no reason to remain in Europe, intent on plunder and glory. Aside from material
gains, they needed salvation and what better way to satisfy bloodlust without
fearing eternal damnation. The Sixth Commandment was ignored, killing the
infidel because they believed “God wills it.”
Thousands of men, women, families, and entire villages took
vows to join the campaign to save their souls. If one did not have the
financial means, Pope Urban declared Divine Mercy would provide. The earthly
journey was their ticket to Heaven. Unfortunately, Peter the Hermit led the
Peasants’ Army. He was a spiritual leader, not a military one. Constant
bickering, lack of provisions, and little leadership had the pilgrims pillaging
the land, committing atrocities along the way, blackening a cause the Soldiers
of Christ believed to be just.
Mary Ann Bernal
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About the Author
Mary Ann Bernal attended Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she received a degree in Business Administration. Her literary aspirations were ultimately realized when the first book of The Briton and the Dane novels was published in 2009. In addition to writing historical fiction, Mary Ann has also authored a collection of contemporary short stories in the Scribbler Tales series and a science fiction/fantasy novel entitled Planetary Wars Rise of an Empire. Mary Ann is a passionate supporter of the United States military, having been involved with letter-writing campaigns and other support programs since Operation Desert Storm. She has appeared on The Morning Blend television show hosted by KMTV, the CBS television affiliate in Omaha, and was interviewed by the Omaha World-Herald for her volunteer work. She has been a featured author on various reader blogs and promotional sites. Mary Ann currently resides in Elkhorn, Nebraska. Find out more at her website http://www.maryannbernal.com/ and find her on Twitter @BritonandDane
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