Criticism of Crusading, 1095-1274

Unlike most historical works on criticism of crusading, which focus on the 13th century, this detailed study traces the subject from the time of the First Crusade to the Second Council of Lyons. Drawing on a wide range of Latin and vernacular sources, Siberry argues that most critics were actually more concerned with abuses of crusading ideals and practices than with their justification, and even made suggestions for improvement. Each chapter covers a different type of criticism–from bitter criticism of those who were capable of fighting but failed to fulfill their vows to complaints about the behavior of the crusading armies–and assesses its significance. Siberry refutes many scholarly misconceptions about the nature and extent of the critics’ protests, and concludes that there was still much popular enthusiasm for crusading in 1274.