Spiritual Warriors in Robert the Monk's Historia Iherosolimitana

The perfect crusader to Robert the Monk in Historia Iherosolimitana follows a very simple yet strict set of standards. They must follow the with the usual criteria of a good soldier strong, both physically and mentally, and brave but they also must have a strong spiritual aspect to them. Robert gives several names of men who could fall under these examples, Duke Godfrey, Fulcher of Chartres, and Bohemond.
It is easy to see from the beginning Roberts great love for Duke Godfrey. He mentions him often and always with some words of praise. The first time that Robert brings up Godfrey is in chapter V of book 1. In this chapter Robert describes him as being, “so lenient with his soldiers as to give the impression of being a monk rather than a

soldier” (84). Since the crusades are a holy war then in Roberts mind it must have holy soldiers and holy soldiers must be more than a typical soldier. Here Robert raises Godfrey up to not just a good leader but one that reaches the level of monkhood. When you think about this its rather strange. Here is Godfrey, a Duke who spends most of his time killing others to keep a hold of his land and retain power being compared to a Monk who are considered good, righteous and just. Not things you would apply to a warring Duke. In this instance we see Robert lifting someone from a place of prominence that they would have had in everyday life to a higher place which he then proceeds to keep all throughout the crusade by refusing to plunder and instead focus on victory. (172)
Fulcher of Chartres and Bohemond both fall far behind in comparison to Godfrey in Roberts mind but they both have enough of his good grace to be mentioned. Fulcher is mentioned more for his fearlessness and leadership in battle than for his service to the Lord. He does say though that he will, “go up the ladder first in the name of Jesus Christ, ready to brave whatever God may please to send me, whether martyrdom or whether to gain the prize of victory!”(145) Fulcher embodies the ideals of the crusaders. What they believed was theirs rightful, in this case either martyrdom or victory. Either way the crusader comes out on top. Fulcher shows the belief that they the crusaders were doing God’s holy work and with Fulchers cry before being the first to climb a ladder, which quiet possible could have been the last thing he ever did, he shows the devotion needed to be a crusader.
Bohemond was a well-known leader and crusader.

In the Historia Iberosolimitana he is best known for his speeches. These three speeches all center around the crusade and fulfilling God’s will for the crusaders to succeed in taking back the holy land. In his first speech found in chapter XVI of book II, he speaks to the gathered Franks on how they have now been reborn in a sense as soldiers so that they can go on this crusade. That before they were, “stained with the blood killing; now they are crowned with heavenly laurels.”(98). In his second speech he tries to bolster the moral of his men to keep their faith in the crusade alive. In the third speech he explains the workings of God to a man named Pirrus who saw the heavenly army of God come down and aid the crusaders. Bohemond is a vigorous orator willing to share the will of God with the crusaders and be strong point for moral. Robert portrays him as a good and fearless leader who when injured is loathed to retreat but does so anyway (149). Bohemond may not have been as righteous as Godfrey but he did hold the respect of his men and he did understand the importance of the crusade in a holy sense.
All three of these men fall under Roberts ideal crusader. Were exactly they fall is different for each one. Godfrey of course falls the closest and is probably the actual model of a crusader that Robert would use. So it’s more like where do Fulcher and Bohemond fall on the Godfrey scale of the ideal

crusader.