Innocent III

• The call for a Crusade 1198

  • Lothar of Sengi became Pope Innocent III in January 8th 1198
  • His first immediate actions were to intervene in the succession of the Holy Roman Empire
  • However, his main goal was to personally lead a crusade
  • In August 1198, Innocent III issued Post Miserable - a papal bull which outlined the organisation of the Fourth Crusade
• How did Innocent III attract crusaders

  • In Post Miserable, he offered the crusaders a plenary indulgence in 3 forms
  • 1 = A self funding crusader
  • 2 = A non-crusader whose journey was funded by someone else
  • 3 = A non-crusader who paid for someone else to go
  • Innocent III also wiped out old church doctrine with the permission of a crusader's wife no longer needed
• How did Innocent III maximise recruitment

  • He created the business of the cross in 1198, which ensured a named individual was responsible for different areas under the control of Rome
  • He also used preachers like Fulk of Neuilly and Abbot Martin of Pairis
  • He sent Papal Legates, Peter of Capuano to establish a truce between Richard I and Philip II so they could lead the crusade. He had Soffredo contact Venice for the practical arrangements to Outremer
• How did Innocent III ensure success

  • He made crusaders commit themselves to 2 years of service to fulfil their vow
  • He dispatched Papal Legates to Outremer in advance for the 4th crusade
  • He built upon the system of the Saladin Tithe, while also:
  • Council of Dijon 1198 - Encouraged bishops to give 1/30th
  • 31st December 1199 - Graves orientalis terrae, 1/40th tax on church
  • Chests ordered in churches and donators would recieve indulgences
• Leadership problems with the Crusade

  • Peter of Capuano failed to impress Richard I, as he made him sign a 5 year treaty with Philip II and release Bishop Philip of Beauvais, who Richard hated. However, Richard's full support was weakened when he died in April 1199
  • Philip II had lots of political measures in front of him, and when demanded by Peter of Capuano to install his lawful wife, Ingeborg of Denmark back, he refused
  • The only other candidate was Philip of Swabia, the German Holy Roman Empire, but Innocent III had disputed his claim
• Recruitment problems in the crusade

  • The preachers that he appointed failed to stir up sufficient recruits. Eg - Fulk of Neuilly's reputation was tarnished when he was rumoured to be involved in embezzling funds
  • Innocent failed to recognise the modern chivalric values - knights would now only follow their overlord, not fight as a chance to show off
  • He was worried in November 1199 when Markwald threatend the papal state while Innocent was regent of the Holy Roman Empire - he offered plenary indulgences to those who fought against him, diverting recruits away from the crusade
• Logistical issues in the crusade

  • Innocent's tax in 1199 of 1/40th of the church began the topic of conversation that crusaders should fund their own crusade
  • Innocent only gave the crusaders 6 months, March 1199, not enough time to sort the recruitment, leadership decision making and transportation arrangement
• What were the 3 key issues Innocent could not prevent

  • November 1202 = Crusader's attack Christian city of Zara on behalf of the Venetians
  • Summer 1203 = Crusaders diverted to Constantinople to reclaim the city for Prince Alexius
  • April & May 1204 = Crusaders attacked Constantinople and established Romania
• Failure to influence Zara campaign

  • Innocent III threatened the crusaders with excommunication
  • His Papal Legate, Peter of Capuano agreed instead of disprove, out of fear the crusaders would disintegrate
  • The Papal Letter reached leadership in November 1202, but they supressed it, showing Innocent's lack of impotence