The Knights and Crusades

• Chivalric values before their development

  • A focus on winning wars
  • Behave courageously in battle
  • Development of personal strength
• Chivalric values new development

  • Manners and courtesy
  • Sense of loyalty and commitment to overlord
  • Development of skill such as couched lance technique
• Chivalric values and crusade recruitment

  • Knights were indoctrinated through court poetry, frequently sung by troubadours
  • They expressed ideals, obligations and expectations for knightly behaviour
  • One song in 1146 portrayed how crusading was a duty to God
  • At the end of the 12th century, crusading east was a fundamental part of chivalric culture
• Why were knights needed in 12th century Outremer

  • Knights went in order to protect and support pilgrims
  • Pilgrims faced danger, eg Daniel of Kiev stated that between 1106-1107, he described how Muslims used Ascalon as a base to attack pilgrims
  • A crescendo was reached in 1120 when Muslim raids in Tyre and Ascalon killed 300 and captured 60 of the 700 pilgrims
• The Templar Movement

  • In 1120, Hugh of Payns and Goeffrey of St Omer founded the Templar movement
  • They received formal approval by the church at the Council of Troyes in 1129, which provided motivation for knights to go East
  • At its height, there were only around 500 knights, who were seen as role models for other knights
• The Hospitaller Movement

  • Their stated aim was the provision of support for pilgrim, becoming an independent order in 1113, housing 300-500 members at its height
  • Their main responsibility was to run the Order of St John's Hospital in Jerusalem
  • In 1185, they housed 2000 sick or poor pilgrims
  • They were militarised in the 1130s, evident by the acquisition of the Castle of Beit Jibrin from King Fulk in 1136