Inspiring the Tenth Crusade
Launching the Tenth Crusade could become a perfect means for an imaginary ambitious European aristocrat to strengthen his position in the hierarchy. However, to trigger the new warfare, he would have to consider the reasons for failure in the previous Crusades, as well as the current situation, including the condition of the resources and the public mood.
Reasons of Crusades’ Failure
The most obvious reason for the failure in the Crusades was feudal division and disunity in actions while the military operations. To succeed in the struggle against the Muslims, it was necessary to provide concerted actions. However, the vassalage of the crusaders’ lands was rather weak and did not give the Jerusalem king all the necessary power. This led to the next reason, which consists of the egoistic interests of the governors of the crusaders’ territories (Nicolle, 81-86).
Besides, the confrontation with the Byzantium Empire was becoming persistent, which led to the exhaustion of both sides. At the same time, Popes and emperors were also in permanent confrontation, which caused disunity in actions and contradiction of interests.
It is important to mention, that the crusaders’ territories were rather small: they occupied only a narrow coastal zone. The main “power source” for the crusades was Western Europe; besides, the crusaders were unwilling to move to new places and often returned home after the warfare. Moreover, the neighboring of the crusaders and the natives also was not so allied, as they had different denominations.
Motivating the Top
To motivate the top and provide concerted effort, it would be necessary to analyze their interests, considering the after-Crusade condition.
The motivation for the monarchs would have several aspects. Firstly, the strengthening of the Muslim world’s position was a long-term threat for the whole of Europe in every way. Thus, it was necessary to go on struggling against the contender. Secondly, the territories and resources of the Byzantine Empire also remained a tasty morsel for Europe. If not to squander energy and to plan the attack properly, both the Holy Land and the Byzantine territory could be conquered.
Besides, it would be necessary to take into account the difference between the monarchies’ current condition and interests. For example, the French monarchical system was at the edge of failure after the Crusades. The spirit of rising consciousness and liberation was in the air, and the monarch could use the new Crusade for his aims. At the same time, Italy was considered to have an economic interest in the Crusade. It provided food and ammunition, earning substantial capital (Riley-Smith, 175). This could be a good motivator for launching a new Crusade.
In general, the state of feudalism in Europe was the following: having visited the Eastern territories, the feudal lords got used to luxury and became exacting, which led to fierce exploitation of people and activation of the class struggle. The new Crusade could draw people’s attention away from the issues of self-liberation.
As for the governors of the Crusaders’ territories, it would be reasonable to promise a strong hierarchical position, awards et al to reconcile their interests to that general.
All these arguments would be used by an imaginative aristocrat while initiating a new Crusade.
Involving People
As the Crusades ended with failure, it would be difficult to expect the willingness of the Crusaders to go East with the new attack. Moral and physical resources were exhausted, and people tended to find a job closer to their native place. Thus, for an imaginary initiator of the Tenth Crusade, it would be necessary to develop a system of measures that will both motivate and coerce people to participate in the new warfare.
In 1315 a 3-year catastrophic famine began, bringing misery, epidemics, and death (Jordan 7). This situation could be perfect for the needs of the imaginary aristocrat. It is necessary to remember that people in Europe stayed rather religious, and the famine could be interpreted to people as God’s punishment for failure in the previous Crusades. Through active propaganda on different levels, including the Pope, the idea of the necessity for the further struggle in the name of the Cross could impact people’s mood rather strongly, as no one wanted to suffer from God’s punishment further.
At the same time, the misery of starving Europe could be also a good motivator. People would receive the opportunity to leave the devastated motherland and move to the East.
Thus, a strategy for a Crusader initiator would be based on considering the interests of all the sides taking part in it.
Bibliography
Jordan, William C. The Great Famine: Northern Europe In the Early Fourteenth Century. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1996. Print.
Nicolle, David. The Crusades. Oxford: Osprey, 2001. Print.
Riley-Smith, Jonathan S. The Crusades: A History. London: Continuum, 2005. Print.