Pope Urban II's Role In The First Crusade

The significance of Pope Urban II’s role in the First Crusade has been debated amongst historians.

Monks and Clerics dominated literature in Europe during 1095-1120 and therefore their testimony emphasised upon the religious impact of Pope Urban in conceiving the expedition of the crusades often holding him up as a man of great significance. However, this is one perspective of the significance of Pope Urban between 1095-1120 but some Historians have attempted to broaden their research and use different methodology to investigate this perspective and thus have drawn a range of conclusions and created different interpretations of the First Crusade and the significance of Pope Urban II and the Papal response. Thomas Asbridge’s overall interpretation is that the First Crusade was an attempt for Pope Urban II to seek Church reform by expanding their power and to unite all Christians as there has been tension between

On the other hand, historian Peter Frankopan acknowledges the role of Pope Urban but instead takes the stance that Alexus Comnenus was of greater significance during 1095-1120 believing that the call from the east was the main reason for the first Crusade that occurred in 1095 and therefore has significant consequences from 1095 onwards. Frankopan reached this by looking at Latin sources such as Anna Comnenus written work. Whilst Tyerman presents an altogether different view on the significance of Urban II and the Papal response to Alexius Comnenus 1095-1120 and concludes instead that the papal response was a product of the religious tension between Muslims and Christians at the time, this therefore having greater significance during 1095 – 1120 than one individual such as Pope Urban. Tyerman concluded this by developing western perspectives such as Runciman. Therefore, after consulting a range of historians, it can be concluded that Pope