crusades article 9

8/14/2019 Crusades Article 9

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Failure f the FifthCrusade P.tTheFifthCrusade1217-1229) arkedhe astmajorexpeditiono the East nitiated nd11tnched y hepapacy.OrganizationaUypeaking,t was ar moresophisticatedhananyof itspredecessors.ope nnocentll, whoplanned ndpromotedhecampaign,eamedgreatdeal rom he essons f the FourthCrusade1202-1204)nd ntendedo give henewCrusade betterchanceof successhrougha massiveeassessmentndrevision fP-&crusading pparatus. hatplanning id notsave he FifthCrusade, owever,rombecomingrifewithdissension, aralyzed y leadership roblems, nd rackedby a shortage fresources. he campaign scillated etween xtended talemate ndrashadvance.Despitetheconquest f the mportant ity of Damietta1219),he expeditionailed n theend.A varietyof reasons avebeenprofferedo explainhe ailureof the FifthCrusade. omehistoriansavepointedoward decliningommitmento,andwaning nthusiasmor,crusading mongwestemEuropeans. omebelievehat ncreasingnternecineonflictswithin heWestgobbled p theresources ndattention f rulerswho, houghstill nterestedin the status f Jerusalem,ocusedmoreattentivelyndomesticssues.Others avecitedpoor actical ecisions ade n the ield, he nability f thepapacy ndempire o work nconcert, r the differing iewsof the Crusader tatearistociacy nO heWesterners ho

took hecross.Frequently,hedebate as ocused n he strong ersonalitiesndshortcomingsf themainparticipants:elagius,he ntransigentapal egatewhoseinfluenceteadilyncreased s he campaign oreon;Johnof Brienne, ingof Jerusalem,whose ncompetences a leader astlyoutweighed iscommand f military actics; ndHolyRomanEmperor rederickl, whosecontinuouselays eft roopson thegroundchronically tranded nd neffective.The ollowingwoassessmentsf the FifthCrusadeackle he problemrom differentangles.The irst ocuseson structural roblemshatwerehardwiredntomedievalmilitarylogistics. he secondespouses more raditional pproach yfocusing n the deologicalcontext urroundinghe Crusade.Bothagree,however,hat he reasonseading p to thefailureof the FifthCrusadewerenotunique o it. Thus,studyinghe failureof theCrusadenmanyways s to study he ailureof themovement. he woviewsdiffer,however,n theirdatingof the end of the FifthCrusade. he irstmarks he end with he surrender f the mainCrusader rmybetweenDamietta ndMansurahn 1221.The secondholds hat he FifthCrusade nded n Jerusalemn 1229whenFrederickecoveredhecity hroughanegotiatedettlement ith he Egyptian ultan.ViewpointTheFifthCrusadeailedbecause f the ogisticalnabilityofmedieval rmies o wagewars n faraway egions.The{ailureof a particularCrusades merelyan episoden the ong-continuingonflict vertheHolyLand.Historians,owever, aveoftenudgedsuccess nd aiture lmostentirely ntermsof individual rusades,gnoringhe act hatCrusaders ccupied ortions f theNearEasternmainlandor almost wo hundred ears.Theyhaveassessedhe success r failureof eachCrusade n manygrounds, utprobably majority ave ocusedon what hey haveseenas an increasing lienationrom he Crusade n thepartof Westemersn the laietwelfthand early hirteenthenturies.Manyalsobelievefrat herewas ncreasingdisenchantmentith he roleof theChurch n European ociety, rowingensionibetweentfe papacyandsecular ulers,anda deepeningift nWestern-soiiety6ncerningeligion.Otherhistorians avechallengedhe dea hat he Crusadewas esspopular s t'ne nienncentury ndedand he hirteenth entury dvanced.Mthoutdenyinghe existence fprofound roblemsn European ociety ssociated ith he sociil and economic hangesthatmarkedhisperiod,heyargueagainst nymajor deologicaliftamongWesterneis.Instead,hey ryto understandhe placeof the Crusaden thl Latinmind. n"y are ar fromagreeingwithoneanother, ut mostwouldargue hat he Crusade rose roma combinationofpolitical ircumstancesnd elioiousdeatism


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Latinsnherited tradition f defendingheir rontiersrom he expandingorcesof lslamaswell asbarbarianribes.Theycame o see hemselvess heirsof the RomanEmpiren acultural enseand regardedMuslims s nvaders f theempire hey sharedwith heByzantines.hisviewfitquitewell nto he deasof theChurch eformers, ho, rom he ateeleventh entury,worked o separatehe Churchrom ay controlandwhodesiredo restoretheunityof the-Churchunder he eadership f thepapacy.Shortly fter he callby PopeUrban ifor what s referredo as he FirstCrusade1096-1102),reachersf the Crusadewereproclaiminghe need o liberateheholyplaceswhereChrist ivedanddied.Bothoftheseapproaches,owever, aveoften gnoredhe ordinaryealitieshat nfluenceddecisionmaking.Relying eavily n narrative ccounts,heyreflectattitudes f theclericatauthorswho wr-ote Oouihe Crusades. uchan approach asbiased heanalysis f theactual onditionsnderwhichCrusades ere ought. ailure r success epended smuchor moreon adequateroops ndsupplies, swellas theeffectiveeadershipf anoftenuncertain nddividedmilitaryorce, son religiousmotives rattitudesowardheenemy.Indeed, hosewhoview he Crusades s religious arsoftenconsiderhat heyweredirected gainstslam,but he brun!of theargume-ntlways eliedonthe ideaof liberationof the HolyLandandpaidmuch essattentiono the eligioOsrerrysf theirenemies. heFifthCrusade1217-1229)rovides nexcellent pportunityo demonstratehe process fdecisionmaking nd o showhowconditionseyondhecontrol f theparticipantslayeddecisive art n theoutcome.TheFifthCrusade-the umber s arbitrary ut conventional-wasneof a seriesofcampaigns imedat restoringhe LatinKingdom f Jerusalem nd recapturingerusalemafter hedisastrousosseso Saladinn 1187. twasbomoutof frustrationnd ailure,followinghesmallgainsmadeby heThirdCrusade1189-1192),hichsucceededhmaintainingheholdof the Latins n portions f the mainland, nd hediversionf theFourthCrusade1202-1204)gainstConstantinople,hich iphoned ffWesternorces nddividedhecommitmentf leadingWestern obles o the iberation f the HolyLand.TheFourthCrusadewasprobablyesponsibleor a waveof popular eactionhatcoalescedntheso-called hildren's rusade1212), hichmighthave eceivedts namebecause f theinvolvementf somesonsofparticipantsn he FourthCrusade. ope nnocentll, whohadfailed n hiseffort o direct he FourthCrusadeo its original oal,announced isplan or anewCrusaden 1213, ppointedreachers,ndsummoned councilo meet n 1215,where heCrusadewas a major opic.\Mren nnocent ied n 1216, lans or thenew Crusadewerewell underway.At theFourthLateranCouncil e appended isplan, Ad iberandem,"o the decrees f thecouncil. hisplan,whichwas undoubtedlyiscussed t thecounciland reflectedheviewsof theparticipantss well as thoseof thePope, s themostextensive nddetailedCrusade lanproduced y any Popeup to this ime.Already,he youngGerman ingand utureHolyRomanEmperor, rederickl, had aken he Crusade ow,as had hepenitent ndagingKingJohnof England.Philip t Augustus f France,whohad akenpart n theThirdCrusade,did not ake heCrusader owand remained omewhat loof rom hepreparations,venobjectingo someof the decisionsmadeby thePopeandcouncilon thegroundhat heyiffinged on royal ights.Still,manyFrench obles ook heCrusade ow,whilepreachersenjoyed reatsuccess n the andsalong he RhineRiveras well as in England.Underpapaldirection,heyworked o reconcile aning actions nd o induce eading obleso take hevow. nnocented hispeaceeffortat thecouncil,houghwithoutgreatsuccess.Hewas, nfact,working oward his end n northemtalywhenhe died n Perugia.

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Thecardinals hoseas hissuccessor ardinatCensius,who ook henameHonoriusll. ( qThisexperienceddministratoraswellequippedo pickup where nnocent ad eftoff.Honoriusostno time n announcinghathe plannedo follow nnocent'simetableor heCrusade. he ask,however,wasdfficultbecause key igure,Frederick, adnotyetconsolidated ispolitical ositionn Germany.ndeed, venafter he defeatof hisrival,OttolV, at the Battleof Bouvines1214)by Frederick'sllyand supporter, hilip l Augustus,Ottoandhisallies emained formidablehreat.nEngland, ingJohn,whohadbeenallied oOtto,died n 12'16. hus,noneof themajor ulerswerepreparedo depart or the Eastontime n 1217.OntyHungarianingAndrewl planned isdepartureor his ime.TheRhenish ndEnglish ontingentselayedheirdeparturentil he spring f 1218, xpectingto be led by Frederick.The irstcontingents nived nAcreon thenorthernPalestinianoast n the atesummerand early allof 1217.First o arrivewasDukeLeopold f Austria,an experienced rusader,who eda group argely romAustriaandGermany ut ncluded omewaniors romotherpartsof Europe.n September, ndrewanived.Ater consulting ithJohnof Brienne,herulerof the remnant f theLatinKingdom,heydecided n a showof force n northernPalestine ndLebanon. hisdecision ertainly uited ohnof Brienneand he ocalbarons,whosepositionwas none oo secure.npart, heirobjectivewasaimedat solving severefoodshortage y raiding rain uppliesn heregion round l-Fulah. heymet ittleresistance. he Muslimorceswithdrew ndmadeno attempto engage hem.TheCrusaders lsoscoutedhe areaaroundMountTabor,a key ortressn the areasouthwestof the Seaof Galilee. heyretumedo Acreand,aftera shortstay, aunched n attackonMountTabor.Themountain, hich isessharplyrom heplain,waswellfortified ndwasdefended y some wo housandroops. t represented serious hreat o Acre. n earlyDecember 217 he Crusaders ade heirascent. lthoughheyhadsurprisedhegarrison,Johnof Brienne ecidedo breakoff he attack.A second ttack,wo days ater,wasalsoindecisive,nd he Crusaderseturnedo Acre.Despitehis ackof perseverance,ultanal-'Adildecidedo withdraw is orces romMountTabor.AlthoughAndrew eft, hearrivalofRhenishroops n thespringof 1218permittedhe Crusaderso turn heirattentiono theirchiefobjective, n attackon Egyptdesignedo split heMuslim orcesanddeprivehemofthe wealthof that and.Thedecisionwas now made o launchhe attackagainstDamietta,at theeastemmouthof theNile,whichgavedirectaccesso Cairo.An 24 May 1218theCrusaderleetbegan o movesouthwardowardDamietta,andlng nthecoast o the west of the DamiettaNileand eastof theal-AzraqCanal. lt shouldbe notedthat hegeography f theareahas changed ramaticallyetweenhe hirteenth entury ndthepresent.Amongotherchanges,hepresent ity s ustsouthof where twas n 1218andthecoastlines furthernorth.)The Crusaders lected ohnof Brienne s their eader.Thisdecisionwasnecessary ecauseheydidnot owe allegianceo any common uler.The irsttaskof theCrusaders as o destroy he ower romwhicha chainstretched cross heNileto prevent hips rommovingup he river.Since he towerstoodoffshore,t couldonlybeattackedrom heriver, equiring iegemachinesmounted nShips. he attackprovedamajorchallenge. rogresswas slowuntil,with newlydesignedmachines,he ChainTowerfellon 25August.The way wasnowopen o cross he riverand cut he cityoff rom he mainMuslim amp othesouth.The deathof al-'Adil n 31 August hrewSaladin's mpire ntoconfusion. hesonsof al-'Adil ividedhe empire.Al-l\Iu'azzamainedSyria;al-Ashrafuled raq;while he


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of command.Decisions ereusuallymade n councit, nd hosewhoseviewswererejected?'Gsometimes ithdrewheirsupport. or his eason, neshouldnot read oomuch ntosuchdisagreements.f course,personalitieslayedan importantole,but he ssuesweredefinedby conditions n theground,which urnishedhe basis or disagreements.he mainproblems ere ogistical. upplyineswere ong.Menandsupplies ad o travel ysea,avoyage hatwaspossible nlyduring hespringand allbecause f the dangerof stormsatother imes.Crusaders ereexpectedo pay heirownexpenses.Many eliedupon heleaders f theircontingents, utmoneywasalways hort.Pelagius'sontrolof money aisedby the Crusadeaxon theclergy,whichhe seems o havecarefully aved or majorexpenses, asa boneof contention. s fundsgrewscarce, is nfluencencreased. hecontinued bsence f Frederick eprivedhe Crusade f effectiveeadership ndno doubtadded o the dissension mong hosepresent.Uncertaintyueleddebate.Studyof anivalsand departureshows hatmilitary ecisions erestronglynfluenced ythe number f troopsavailable. fter he all of Damietta,herewasa substantialeductionnthe number f Crusadersn EgyPt,Mthhighmortalityates rom diseaseandmilitary ction,the ackof replacementsappedhemorale swellas theabiligof theCrusbderso mountan effective ampaign. ohnof Brienne epartedo dealwithmatters n Syriaand Palestine,wheresl-ffis'a-zam arassedhe remnant f theLatinKingdom.Mth hearrival freinforcementsromnortherntalyanda forcesentby Frederick, nnouncing isplans ojoin he Crusade,Pelagiuswanted o movequicklyagainsthe enemy.ButmanyCrusaderswerereluctanto gamble. hey elt hat heir orceswerestill ooweak.The arrivalof DukeLouisof Bavaria, epresentingrederick,n the springof 1221broughtmatterso a head.Pressureo launchan attackon themainMuslimorces ncreased. he moraleof theCrusaders epended n action.Althoughhe dukewasunder mperial rders o awaitFrederick'srrival, e wasa realist.He decidedo undertake reconnaissancen forcesouthward long he Nile owardFariskur.n preparation,he egate ecalled ohnand hisforces.On he Egyptianide herewasgrowing oncern. l-Kamilwasoinedbyhisbrothers.He decidedo renewhisofferof peace erms,butboth he Popeand heemperorhad orbidden ny reaty.Frederick asstillexpectedo arrive.TheCrusader rmybegan omovesouthward ndon 18July eachedSharamsah.heNile loodwas due n less hanamonth.At thispoint,no decision adbeenmadeaboutadvancingurther,but hemassofCrusaders nd he egate, robablymisledby the ackof serious esistance, anted oadvance,whileJohncounseled ithdrawal. evertheless,he armymoved urther outh ntoa nanow riangle f land ormedby he Nileanda smallstreamhat entered herivernearBaramun. he Crusaders erenow n a positionwhere urtheradvancewas blocked y acanalbetween l-Mansurah nd LakeManzalah. heycouldeasilybe cutoffby the riseoftheNilewaters.The decisiono retreat,akenabout26August,was oo ate.Also, he Nileflood eached higher evelthan n previous ears.TheSultan pened he sluices o runwater nto he fields,adding o the discomfort f the soldiers. ftera seriesof indecisiveskirmishes,he Crusader rmynegotiatedtssunender n29 August1221.Al-Kamil, hohadneverwanted o fighta campaignhat eopardized isownplans,was willing o agree.TheCrusaders ouldabandonDamietta nd exchange risoners. he rucewould asteightyears.Thosewhoremainedn Damietta erebitterly isappointed,ut herewas no leaderwilling o undertake further ampaign. rederick adnot arrived.t wasnot until1229 hathe wenton Crusade, fterhe wasexcommunicatedy PopeGregory X in 1228tor ailureotutfillhisCrusade ow.He hen ollowedhe directionhathadbeen ejected uring he FifthCrusade.He reached settlementhatwas essentiallyhesameas thepeaceagr-eementthatal-Kamil adoffered arlier.As experience ouldshow, t proved o be illusory.Jerusalememainednwestemhands or onlyabout ifteen ears.


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The ailureof the FifthCrusadeo attain ts objectives voked riticismrommanyquarters ?'7It did not,however, ampennterestn theCrusade.Contemporariesxplainedhis ailurelargelyn termsof theirownexperience.heclergy amentedhatGodhadnot ound hemworthyof victory.SomeblamedFrederick r the Pope,butbothmen agreed o worktogetheror a newCrusade.Modern cholars aveoften ookedor thereasons or ailurenideologicalonflict, ut herewerenone.Thereweremerely ecriminations.he reasonsorfailurewerenot n conflicts ver deasbut he resultof problems f leadershiphatwereendemico medieval arfare nd,above ll, o problemsf manpowernd ogisticsausedby the effort o wagewarat sucha greatdistance..-

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Viewpoint The Fifth Crusadeailedbecause f conflictsbetweenecclesiasticalndsecularpowers nd hechallengehat erritorialnterestspresentedo the universalobjectives f the reformedpapacy.Expiaininghe ailureof anyparticular rusade, y contemporarieshoparticipatedn t andby manymodemhistorianslike,requentlyegeneratesnto inger-poin ting.his rendbegan n earnest ith hedisillusioningndof theSecondCrusade1147-1149)-theirstofwhatbecame long ineof Tailed rusades." lthoughhe ailure o recapture dessawasthe resultof a single,butdevastating,trategic lunder,reachery n thepartof theByzantines r the baronsof theLatinEast orboth)becamehe explanation f choiceamongEuropean eoplewho raveledhousandsf miles o takepart n a humiliatingndunqualifiedefeat.On he European ome ront,an explanationor the ailureof allparticular rusadeso theEast s summed p n thephrasepeccatis xigentibusominum(thesinsof men).Accordingo this ormula,Godgranted venrhelmingictorieso thepureandafflictedmoraldegenerates ithchastisingailures.f a Crusadeailed, twas becausetheparticular rusaders ere asciviousmenpuffedup withpride,hiding heiravaricebehinda veneerof pietyand holyservice.Of all the Crusadeso the East, he FifthCrusade1217-1229)rovideshe bestcasestudyfor examininghe problemshatconfrontedheseexpeditionsnd dragged hem ntocontinuousailure.TheFifthCrusademarks he astmajorCrusadeaunched ythepapacyto the Eastandwas hemostmeticulouslyrganized ndmatureexpedition f its kind. twasplanned y Pope nnocentll, who,having residedver hedisastrous ourthCrusade(12O2-12U), ent o greatpains o curecrusadingf all tsailments.n short, heFifthCrusade ffered he besteffort hat hirteenth-centuryurope ouldmuster o save heHolyLand. ts ailureunderscores,n bold elief, he overallfailure f theCrusadesA popularwayof explaininghe ailureof the FifthCrusade as been o focuson thepersonal onduct f the mainparticipants.na way, hisapproachs a modificationf themedieval xplanation,he "sinsof the men,"by transformingt into he"shortcomingsf theleaders." hevillainof thepiecevaries romhistoriano historian. omehave ocused nHolyRomanEmperor rederickl's continuousfforts o dodge he Crusadehrough longseriesof delayshat amountedo an almostperpetual eferment f his vow.Thus,Frederickis to blamesincehis selfishmachinationseprivedhehostof desperately eededleadershipndresources. omehave ocused n the weakness f the elderlyPopeHonoriusll,who nheritedhe project fter nnocent's eath 1216).lfHonorius adonlyappliedmorepressureo theEmperor,ather han ndulging im, hen Frederick's and


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?.trwouldhavebeen orcedand he Crusademadeviable.CardinalPelagius,he papal egate,hasreceivedhe ion'sshareof criticism. tevenRunciman,n A Historyof theCrusades(1951),orexample, escribed imas singularlyackingn tact," "haughty"nd"unpopula/'man homanagedo antagonizellparties henever e riedhishandatmediation. is ncreasing rominence s leaderof theCrusade-largelyy default-ledoheightened issension ithin he ranks hatparalyzedhe expedition t timesandpushedthe host ntopoor actical ecisions t others. hekingof Jerusalem,ohnof Brienne, hobuttedheadswith Pelagiusn a seriesof spectacularonfrontations,as receivedconsiderableriticism swell.Notonlywashe convincedhathis viewswerealways ightandall altematives erewrong,he actuallyabandoned"he Crusaden progress, venthough e was tsnominaleader,o pursue ersonalnterestsnArmenia.Personal haracterlawsamong heparticipantsrobablywereaggravatingactorsof greatmagnitude ut, n theend,cannotn andof themselvesxplain he rifts hat iterally ulledthe FifthCrusade part.Excessiveoncentrationn specific ersonalitiesas obscured(though as notcompletelyoncealed)he deologicalndpoliticalmatrix nwhich heprotagonistsereembedded.heFifthCrusade,ikealmost ll Crusades, asplanned,launched, ndwagedamida confliclhatcast ts ongshadowover he wholeof westernEuropeannternationalolitics. etweenhe reformed apacyand he HolyRomanEmpirein particular nd heChurch nd emergingerritorial tatesngeneral.The ncompatiblendrival nterests f ecclesiasticalndsecular owersprevented true synchronizationf theirrespectiveesources,ne hatwas he sinequanon or sucha massiveundertakings aCrusadeo the East.Thegreatest,problemacing heCrusadeswas he wo main,yetmutually xclusive,oalsof the reformed apacy.On he onehand, t wanted o liberateitself romsecular ominationnddeclarets emporal, s wellas spiritual,upremacyn allmatters.On heotherhand, tscommitmento recoveringerusalem nd he HolyLandincreasedts dependency n secular owers. o reconcilehesegoals, he papacyneedednotonlya successful rusade utone hatwasunder tscontrot.nconsistencyredftustration ndperpetual nimosity.Innocentll mnectlyrecognizedhatoneof thegreatest bstacleso launching Crusadeothe East,at leaston thehome ront,was he ncessantquabbling mongEuropean owers.Establishingelative eacewithinEuropewas he essentialfirst lep owlrd successiulorganizationf theCrusade, nd hepapacy fferedtselfas an honestbroker.Themainhotspotsat the imewere hecivilwar ntheEmpire nd hewarsbetweenEngland ndFrance. egates romotedeconciliationnd urged he combatants, t the east, o put heirconflicts n the backbumer or he sakeof Christ's atrimony.he papacy, owevei,seemedesswilling o place tsownpoliticalnterests sa secularordon thebackburner.Chiefamong hese nterests as hepapalobjectiveo bifurcatehe GermanEmpirentoseparate ingdoms: icily technically papalfief)andGermany roper.The wokingdomsran he riskof beingconsolidatednder he crownof HolyRomanEmperor rederick-ll-whowassupposedo be the eaderof theFifthCrusade.f thisUnificationere o happen,henthepapacywouldonceagain ind tselfsandwiched ithina two-frontwarwhenhostiiitiesresumed whichheycertainlywould)between opeandemperor. hus,anypartnershipbetweenhe secular ndreligious eadsof theCrusadewouldbe a tenuous ne,prnctuatedby mutual uspicion.llRerial-Rapalensions anbe seenat work n theambivalenteactionhe papacyhad oFrederick'secisiono take heCrusader ow.Both nnocent ndHonorius newFrederick


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wellandpersonally,he ormer s hischildhoodrotec{ornd he atter s his utor. P' (Likewise, othusedextreme autionwhenmeasuring im as man or emperor.Emperorsandpopesalike aidclaim o authority f a universalypeand saw hemselves s sanctifiedandrivalheadsof Christendom.hus,authority verCrusades as oftena boneofcontentionhathad mplicationsoingar beyond ontrol vera military ampaign.Frederick's ecisiono take hecrossdidnothavepapalpreapproval;is announcementwas a "surprise" ndwas nterpretedy thepapacy, robably orrectly, s havingdeeperrneaningshat eachedo therootsof Christian uthority nd smacked f an aspiringCaesaro-Papism.utFrederick'sowcouldworkmore hanoneway and, ikedynamite,had o be handledwithcaution.On heonehand, t could rumppapalauthority y stakingmajor mperial laim o crusadingndhenceChristianeadershipatactic hatsomeofhispredecessorsxperimentedith).On heotherhand, eneging n ordelayingulfillment fthevowwould eave heemperor xposedo the endermercies f a papacy hatcouldeasilyuse t as an offensive eaponagainstFrederick. hatwas exactlywhatPopeGregorylX did.Yet,Honorius, espite is acitconcerns, aswilling o giveFrederickhe benefit fthedoubtandactually dopted onciliatoryndaccommodatingpproacheso him.Theissr.reventually xploded, ut t was setona delayeduse.For he timebeing,bothPopeandemperor ooperated.The reformed apacy idnotsee he Empire s its only hreat.On the contrary,t viewedherelationshipetween cclesiasticalnd secular uthority, nd hedangers t posed,n thehroadest f terms. Mrile allingconsiderablyhortof playing "zero-sum ame,"he papacyviewedany signof secular owerencroachingntheprimacy f ecclesiasticaluthority s aFezard.Essentially,t was hisconflict, ather hanoneof mere ncompatibleersonalities,tfiatpittedhepapal egatePelagiusndJohnof Brienne, ingof Jerusalem,gainst neanother.Oneof thegreatestronies f theCrusader tates sthat, houghcreatedby a movementh.rnclred ythe reformed apacy,heyboastedhemost unreformed" odelof churchmgranizationnthe Latinworld,whichcanbe seen n thenascentitle or thekingof..lerusalem:Advocate f the HolySepulchre."he itle s extremelyeminiscent f the"wild-mst'atmospherehatpredatedheCluniac ndGregorianeforms. he Crusader tatesnnnany ays emained n ossifiedeplica f the religio-politicalrganizationf lateeleventh-ffirtury France, espitehe nuances roduced y the religious iversity f theregion.Pmoprietaryhurches nd monasteriesemained biquitoushere ongafterbecoming naborninableelicof an uncouth nd spirituallymmature ge nthe European eartland. heCtnrch, n theCrusader tates, ontinuedo be viewedby rulersas a department f stateand ended o be treated s such.Taking hisclimate ntoconsideration,ne can assess hebetpvbr of Johnof Briennemoreempathetically.ewasa noble romChampagne ho,despite is advanced ge andyearsof royalservice, ad nothing o show or t. Hismaniagebo hecpeenof Jerusalem as a greatopportunityor salvaging failedreer. Givenhisage,he neededo movequickly, nd heLatinEastprovidedhe perfectenvironment.Gorningace o facewitha firebrand f the reformed apacy uchas Pelagius, owever,couHanddid ntroduce tumbling locks.Peftagits'sppointments papal egateby Honorius asbeencriticized y manyscholars,huiln'ealfye wasa manwellsuited or the ob.Keepingn mind hat he specter f theFourthCrusadenformedmanyof the decisionsmadeduring he organizationf the FifthGrusade, ne can betterappreciateisqualificationsor beingpapal egate or the Crusade.


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?.rcDespile ccusationsf being actless,Pelagiuswasa veteran tatesman hosequalitiesEavehiman excellent hance or keeping heCrusade n targetwhilesafeguardinghelnterests f the reformed apacy. he irmnesshat he so oftendemonstratedhouldnotbeconfused ithan uncompromisingigidity.OnceCrusades it heground hey ended o berun bycommittee,ndPelagius emonstrated markeddegreeof flexibilityn dealingwiththfis ituation.o ongas concessionsidnotviolateheessentials f hismission, ewas.r'elativelypen o them.TheconcessionshatJohnof Brienne ad n mind,however,wouldinave onstituted violation, nd hisstanceed o clashes etweenhe kingand he egate.Cnucialo understandingohn's ituations the act hathewas a tenitorialmonarch ndnota Crusader. e wasmore nterestedn preservingndextending is ownpersonal ower nfihe egion hanscoring resoundingictoryor thepapacyor Empire.Although ohnmightfuve beenboth esentfulndsuspiciousf Pelagius'sncreasingrominencentheOrusade,he irstsubstantivereachbetweenhe womenoccurredn responseo thesultan's fferof a treaty. n exchangeor a Crusaderwithdrawal,hesultanwaspreparedooartwilh he cityof Jerusalem ndseveralortresses estof theJordan.TheCrusadersws!'edivided verwhethero accepthe offer.The dealwould estore erusalem ut eave t;na strategicallyrecarioustate. ohnandPelagiusound hemselvesn opposingamps.A,fter eighinghesituation,ohnprobablyound hedealattractiveince t wouldpermitnrmno become real, ather hannominal, ingof Jerusalem. is nterestswere enitorialand gcal.Pelagius, s legate,was hedefender f papal nterests ndpolicies, nd hesesfiicted withJohn'smore mmediateoncerns. heultimateejection f theoffer ndicatesfwt th9majoritymost ikelyopposed.it-with ood eason.KingJohn,however, robablyutienredis defeatas oneguaranteedy Pelagius'snterference,ne hat nfringed pon heruyail rerogativeo pursuewhatever ctionwas best or the crown.,\1'cerheconquest f Damietta1219) ohnand Pelagius lashedwithevengreatererocity.lhe fssue owwas control ver henewlyacquired ity.John'sperceivedrghtof conquest:clidedwith he dealofChristian niversalismefendedy Pelagius. y he ermsof hisl,ss,on Pelagius aschargedwithpresiding ver he division f landconquered y theOrusade. s a papal enture,hedivision f spoilswas o behandled y he egate. ohn'srenspedivewasquitedifferent:he Crusadewas an auxiliaryorce,afbeita massive nd@speti|tely eeded ne, hatwas o facilitatehe strengtheningndeventualecovery f aBrmrtffial rusader tate.Since heexpedition as essentially royalventure,Damieitawaslc @ funcorporatedntohiskingdom.Pelagius'shallenge as an egregious xample faiencalnterferencena secular ffair.Complicatinghe ssueyet urtherwas he possibilitytld uheCrusadewasan imperial enture nder heauspices f thestill-absent rederick.Oertailnlyhisviewwasnot he papalperception,ut t wasprobably eldby theGermanm\Naflced uard hatFrederickentandwaspresentncamp.Popeandemperor,llmqre@lrer,eresiillat leastnominally orkingogether, nd hatcooperationmingledStreryTlse finallyemergedrom he confusion:ohn eceived ontrolover hecity untilF-em.nd(sanival.Bm fil'lieonflict etween ohnandPelagiusead o the unraveling f theFifthCrusade? hislmcifu'tEbnoes not seem o havebeen he case.Certainlyt createda wide anayof'mErmsandcomplications.Mtenmeasured gainst uch ssuesas racing o conquerSYFileforehe nundation f theNileor the continuing bsence f Frederi-ck,owever,wi'Jfresbetween ohnandPelagiusank owon therosterof difficultiesmpedinghe


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P' tGru.sade.ut he clashbetweenhe womenwasnotsimplyone of personalities. n hectrtmary,t wasa conflic{ etweenheworldviewshey epresented,hoseof tenitorial**".#y anda universal apacy.Mrenpersonalitiesereparticularlytrong,heysimplynrnagnifiedproblem hatwasalwayshere.Sornetimesrusadingouldabsorbhe mpactof thisconflict, nd at other imes t buckledneneathtsweight. f-one eferso conventionndmarks he endof the FifthCrusade t1n1, then he -ormerituations hecase.From hisvantage oint he Crusadeailedbutmot ecause f ctasningnterests f popesandmonarchs.f, however, neviewsFrederick'scanpaignas partof th6FifthCrusadeather hanas an addendumo it, a different icture**1"'ng"i hat s moreconsistent ith he atterscenario. he FifthCrusade,ikemost,wasconstitutedf a seriesof waves,and he portion f thisCrusadeed by ts designatedeader-*'/en though isarrivalwas elatedn heextreme-shouldeconsideredartof it.hllonorius'spproacho Frederick, hichsomehavecharacterizedsweak,was nfactawrciliatory d pradatic one hatproposed3.genuine artnership etween opeanderlperor.Althoughionorius eminded rederick f the ultimate onsequenceshatcouldf,oflow breachof thevow,he also ealizedhat he emperoraceda widearrayof problems,fr:omMuslimsnSiciryo Lbmbardsn northemtaly,whichdefied asysolutions. niversalerlperorshaduniverialproblems. onorius acked way romhardlineclaimsof papalpnnmacyndmadea spectacularhowof goodfaithby g_ivingay on theSicily ssue.Tos,cil1endividualsnpapal ircles, uchas hebishop fOstia,whowouldsoonbecomepopeGregoryX, t seemed sthoughHonorius asgivingaway he store.Gregory'smainffiiectivewas to get it back.Gregorywascut romdifferent loth hanHonorius. heprimary oalof hispontificate asm "it"Otish,withunprecedentedlarity,he supremacyf thepapacyoverall otherpowers-particularlyne empire. hisobjective ompletelyhangedhe significancendeventusirability f the rusade. Ratherhandoingwhateverwaspossibleo facilitate rederick'sdeparhJre, regory aw headvantageshat heemperor'sailure o do so wouldpresent'm*^nolry,'fom-Grilgory'serspective,tranglinghe Crusade ervedpapal nterests etterfrrlants rrccessfutroiecution.R successful rusadewouldbe a propaga.ndaic1oryor theernpire.Gregory eganby inkinghe Crusadeo a widearcay f disputedssuesbetweene"e""y andEmpireinhiipreliminary orrespondencesith Frederick. is ruecasusbelli$r6madrdhenFrederick,fter inallydepartingor theEast, ell sickanddisembarkedtOtranrtoor convalescence.iseasewasrife ather han ictitious, ndFrederick'swlnpanion, he andgravefThuringia, ied rom t en route.Gregoryefusedo receivehe*pdra ambassadorshocame o explain. rederick asexcommunicated.ttention owstrheArom Frederickhe Crusadero Frederickhe yrant,whomadean art formofespoiling the Church. redericKsxcommunicationaved heway or a papal nvasion fSiory.\ttrtrTenrederickesumedhe Crusade, ewas n an extremely ifficult osition.Notonlyry,-asrc an excommunicate-whichampered isabilityo drawon urtherhumanandffnencialesourcesor the expedition-he asalso acingan impending apal nvasion fhisItr16shat appednto he rebelliousnclinationsf manyof hissubjects.Hastecharacterizedmsactions.Hisstrong iewsof imperial ndroyalauthoritymadedealingwith hebaronsoftrrcLatinEastdfficult n anycircumstanceshewas nowkingof Jerusalem swellas aCnurusader),uthe did nothave ime or constitutionalicetieshatwoulddelayhis Crusade


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crusades article 9

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