Political Motives

• Threats to the Byzantine Empire:

  • Seljuk Turks had gradually been taking control of Asia Minor
  • 1078 = City of Nicaea, 100km from Constantinople, falls the the Seljuks
  • 1084 = City of Antioch is lost to formal Byzantine general, Philaretus
  • 1090 = The whole of Asia Minor is under the control of Seljuk, Suleyman
• Alexius I's appeal to Urban II

  • Robert I of Flanders had sent 500 knights in 1090, but it wasn't enough
  • He sent envoys to the Italian city of Piacenza to help defend the Muslim threat
  • Urban saw this eastern ally in danger as a trigger to formulate a religious war
• Urban's political struggle in Germany

  • Elected in 1088, Urban II was in a weak position due to the threat of Henry IV of Germany - Investiture Controversy in 1076 led Gregory VII being driven out of Rome and anti-pope Clement III elected
  • Urban gradually regained key cities like Ravenna by 1089 and the Lateran Palace in 1094
  • By 1095, Henry IV had submitted to Urban II at Cremona
  • A religious war was a perfect opportunity to show Henry IV a sign of strength
• Urban's problems in France

  • King Philip had gone against the church by abandoning his queen to marry Bertrada of Montfort - a blatant act of adultery
  • Urban II excommunicated Philp I at Cleremont, meaning 2 rulers now were against Urban
  • A religious war showed that Urban's power could not be easily challenged