The Second Crusade: Extending the Frontiers of Christendom by Jonathan Phillips provides a detailed overview of the events of the Second Crusade. He supports his subtitle throughout the book, and emphasizes that those who participated in this crusade did so in an attempt defend Christian lands from further invasions and in order to launch an attack to spread Christianity’s influence. He has chapters on all three theaters of war, and while he spends the most time on the French and German crusaders in the Levant, the shorter sections on Spain and the Baltic are no less interesting or detailed. The successes in Spain were nice to read about after the resounding defeats in the other theaters.
The Second Crusade was launched after the fall of Edessa, initially only to defend the Levant. Pope Eugenius and Bernard of Clairvaux were the strong ecclesiastical supporters behind the new crusade. The pope issued bulls, at different times, to advance crusades on all three fronts. Even when Bernard went ahead and proclaimed the crusade in the Baltic without official backing Eugenius was quick to support the move. The first bull Quantum Praedecessores called for a new crusade based on the successes and tradition of the First Crusade, the familial duties of sons to follow their fathers, the need to help the Eastern Church, Divine authority, and it appealed to the Western knight’s honor. The pope promised remission of all past sins as the reward for the faithful. A strong network of religious leaders across Europe helped to spread the word: the pope, legates, abbots and bishops. They came from a combination of Cistercian, Cluniac and Benedictine backgrounds.
The crusading armies under Conrad and Louis set out with high hopes for success. They were following their fathers in a holy war to defend Christ’s homeland. They thought that nothing would be able to stand against them. When they moved beyond Byzantium they were shocked at the difficulties they faced. The Germans were defeated and turned back to safer lands, when the French arrived they pressed on. The crusaders were overconfident and met with defeat after defeat. Finally they gave up and men returned home broken.
In the Baltic the crusaders found that it was easier to follow their old habits and accept tribute from the pagans rather than giving them the choice between conversion or destruction. The situation in the Levant had changed since the First Crusade and the Muslims were a far stronger opponent. They were more united and experienced at fighting Europeans. The Baltic crusading had not brought forth any fruit, only in Spain were any positive advances made.
The crusaders had set out with high hopes and expectations but returned to Europe defeated and destitute. Back in Europe the leaders struggled to understand the defeat and justify why they had been unsuccessful. Pope Eugenius seemed crushed by the seemingly needless loss of life and expense that had been brought upon the Europeans. Bernard tried to call another crusade to rally from the defeat. Perhaps the goal of trying to extend Christendom on three separate fronts was too idealistic and difficult to succeed.
The Second Crusade was launched after the fall of Edessa, initially only to defend the Levant. Pope Eugenius and Bernard of Clairvaux were the strong ecclesiastical supporters behind the new crusade. The pope issued bulls, at different times, to advance crusades on all three fronts. Even when Bernard went ahead and proclaimed the crusade in the Baltic without official backing Eugenius was quick to support the move. The first bull Quantum Praedecessores called for a new crusade based on the successes and tradition of the First Crusade, the familial duties of sons to follow their fathers, the need to help the Eastern Church, Divine authority, and it appealed to the Western knight’s honor. The pope promised remission of all past sins as the reward for the faithful. A strong network of religious leaders across Europe helped to spread the word: the pope, legates, abbots and bishops. They came from a combination of Cistercian, Cluniac and Benedictine backgrounds.
The crusading armies under Conrad and Louis set out with high hopes for success. They were following their fathers in a holy war to defend Christ’s homeland. They thought that nothing would be able to stand against them. When they moved beyond Byzantium they were shocked at the difficulties they faced. The Germans were defeated and turned back to safer lands, when the French arrived they pressed on. The crusaders were overconfident and met with defeat after defeat. Finally they gave up and men returned home broken.
In the Baltic the crusaders found that it was easier to follow their old habits and accept tribute from the pagans rather than giving them the choice between conversion or destruction. The situation in the Levant had changed since the First Crusade and the Muslims were a far stronger opponent. They were more united and experienced at fighting Europeans. The Baltic crusading had not brought forth any fruit, only in Spain were any positive advances made.
The crusaders had set out with high hopes and expectations but returned to Europe defeated and destitute. Back in Europe the leaders struggled to understand the defeat and justify why they had been unsuccessful. Pope Eugenius seemed crushed by the seemingly needless loss of life and expense that had been brought upon the Europeans. Bernard tried to call another crusade to rally from the defeat. Perhaps the goal of trying to extend Christendom on three separate fronts was too idealistic and difficult to succeed.
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