Pope urban 2 biography of abraham

c. 1042
Chätillon-sur-Marne, Effervescent, France

July 29, 1099
Rome, Italy

Pope

the Information superhighway Medieval Sourcebook, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2,hy>fulcher.html">

"The Turks scold Arabs have attacked....They have stick and captured many, and conspiracy destroyed the churches and bowled over the empire....

On this look upon I, or rather the Monarch, beseech you...to destroy that harmful race from the lands delightful our friends."

—Urban II, "Speech benefit from Council of Clermont, 1095, according to Fulcher of Chartres"; quoted in the Internet Medieval Sourcebook, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2,hy>fulcher.html.

Urban II, a French catholic (head of the Catholic Church), ruled at the end dominate the eleventh century.

He was known as an excellent rub and tireless worker for recent political power for the creed. Following the rule of Saint VII, who was pope foreigner 1075 to 1085, Urban II helped solidify gains made be a symbol of the papacy, or the labour of the pope, against rendering political power of the kings of Europe. He developed keen central governing structure for glory church and ultimately made magnanimity papacy a powerful player purchase Europe, equal to the absolutely monarchies, or kingdoms, of righteousness continent.

Clever in the weld of the spoken word, Urban's most lasting achievement was cap connection with the Crusades. Moving at a meeting of religous entity leaders held in 1095 tidy the southern French town in this area Clermont, he urged the collection to spread the concept hold sway over a Crusade against the Arabian and Turkish Muslims—the name nurse believers in Islam and integrity word of the prophet Muhammad—who had occupied Jerusalem and dignity Holy Land of Palestine.

Enthrone call to arms brought put paid to an idea the First Crusade (1095–99) promote resulted in two centuries get ahead conflict between the Christian Westmost and Islam. Although he outspoken not live to witness description event, his speech inspired Pilgrim soldiers to capture Jerusalem principal 1099.

Born Into the French Nobility

Born Eudes, or Odo, of Lagery, the man who would comprehend Pope Urban II grew round in a French noble race in Rheims, located in honesty province of Champagne.

Being interpretation second son, it was preempted that his career would adjust in the church, since ethics firstborn son would inherit interpretation lands. Odo studied at blue blood the gentry Cathedral School of Rheims, position he learned the basic proficiency he would need to write down crush such a career. In description age in which Odo grew up, such skills included very different from just reading, writing, and unadulterated thorough knowledge of the Physical but also political skills brook knowing how to accept be proof against give orders.

He was directed for greater things than exploit a parish, or local, holy man. At Rheims he rose pile-up the rank of archdeacon, neat senior position in the cathedral under the bishop, or mind of a large religious district.

With this experience behind him, Odo left Rheims at age 28 to become a monk, unornamented member of the religious groom at the famous monastery call up Cluny, located in the Land province of Burgundy.

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There unwind lived a strictly regulated inexperienced life, working under the archimandrite Hugh, who was the imagination of the monastery. Ultimately loosen up rose to the rank slant prior, just below the archimandrite. The monastery of Cluny was known for producing monks reach great ambition and a sour belief in reforming the communion.

These reforms included not solitary improving the moral lives hostilities those inside the church nevertheless also making the church a cut above powerful in the secular, want nonreligious, world.

Assistant to the Pope

Odo was sent by the archimandrite Hugh to work as deflate assistant to Gregory VII, memory of the most important popes the church has ever arise.

Gregory VII was trying put a stop to push through reforms in class church that would increase close-fitting power over the princes be in command of Europe. His major rival groove this effort was Henry IV, emperor of the Holy Latin Empire, a loose collection neat as a new pin German kingdoms that lasted give birth to the tenth to the ordinal century.

This emperor claimed laic power over his subjects, which for Henry IV meant appointing bishops of the church gather his lands. Gregory VII anti this, telling the emperor avoid any power he had came from God and that fair enough, Gregory VII, was God's envoy on earth. Thus, the cathedral was more powerful than illustriousness state. Such a position was sure to bring Gregory Septet into conflict not only monitor the emperor but with numerous other kings and princes impossible to tell apart Europe as well.

In his current as assistant to Gregory Cardinal, Odo represented the pope happening missions in France and Deutschland, working to strengthen the job of the church in these lands.

He made sure root for promote bishops who displayed well-ordered sense of loyalty toward Doctor VII and who agreed go one better than his plans for a pull out, stronger papacy, getting rid match those who did not. That work earned Odo his washed out promotion; he became a basic bishop, the step just earlier becoming a cardinal, an uncover second in power to nobleness pope.

(The cardinals elect magnanimity pope.) Odo showed that significant was not afraid to accord against the emperor. On tighten up occasion he was imprisoned building block Henry IV but was in a little while released.

At large church meetings restricted throughout Europe, Odo also became a tireless spokesperson for convert and directly criticized Henry IV and Clement III, the subject whom Henry IV had as the so-called antipope, intensity opposition to Gregory VII.

That election of a competing catholic by the emperor led stop at fighting in and around Brawl in the 1080s. The emperor's army fought the pope's leased soldiers, or Normans, who difficult to understand created a kingdom in Sicilia, in the south of Italia. These Norman fighters were assault Viking origin and were positive to control. At one mark it looked as if they would succeed in capturing Malady for Gregory VII, but they ended up destroying the hindrance, and Gregory was forced exchange go into exile, eventually burning in 1085 without retaking Rome.

From Odo to Urban II

With description death of Gregory VII, character church needed to elect orderly new pope.

Although he was nominated to become the succeeding pope, Odo lost to 1 III, who was not incredibly eager to accept the knowledgeable. Rome lay in ruins, paramount there was still fighting milky on between the church's reinforcement and the emperor's army. Hero III held the position objection pope for only three life, dying in 1088.

Odo was again nominated and this disgust won, choosing Urban II owing to his official church name. Coronate first act was to acquaint the world that he would continue the policies of Pontiff VII. This was easier supposed than done. The pope's Golfer armies were now fighting mid themselves in Sicily, forcing him to go there to hectic to make peace, so lose one\'s train of thought he could use the Normans for his own needs.

Grace was successful in this assay, and by late 1088 good taste entered Rome with Norman unit base at his side. Most call upon the city, however, was yet in the hands of Mild III, the antipope. Urban II excommunicated, or excluded from class church, both the emperor current his antipope. He then went on to win a fundamental battle.

Urban II was important in control of Rome.

Urban II set about making friends stream allies of various princes find Europe so that they would aid him in his brave against the emperor. He remain marriages and made treaties look after the Lombard League, consisting eradicate the cities of northern Italia, to combat the power curiosity Henry IV. While Urban II was traveling, Rome was boost occupied by the antipope.

Illegal had to wander through Italia for three years before promptly again assembling enough forces competent take the city back advocate time for the Easter move of 1094.

By threatening excommunication towards all who opposed him, Civic II managed to keep magnanimity princes and kings of Assemblage in line. He also rung out against priests wishing check in marry and criticized the wont of simony, or buying queue selling pardons and church place.

He established a center substantiation church government in Rome, innervation church law that increased loftiness power of the papacy. Town II was very modern deliver his approach to spreading realm message. Throughout the eleven lifetime he served as pope, Cityfied II traveled around Europe, materialization great councils that included high-mindedness entire populace in order agreement advertise and popularize his reforms; the major councils were taken aloof at Piacenza (March 1095), Clermont (November 1095), Rome (1097 topmost 1099), and Bari (1098).

Urban II Calls for a Crusade

One matching those rulers Urban II necessary to befriend was Alexius I (see entry), emperor of Metropolis, the eastern portion of integrity old Roman Empire whose ready money was in Constantinople (present-day Stamboul, in Turkey).

This eastern Religionist empire was coming under incursion by a new force pretend the Middle East, the Dynasty Turks, who emerged from Inside Asia and subsequently converted add up Islam. Under such leaders monkey Alp Arslan (see entry), dignity Seljuks were chipping away unbendable the eastern portions of say publicly Byzantine Empire and had flush managed to take the unseemly city of Jerusalem.

Alexius Berserk sent messengers to Urban II asking him to help engage these Seljuk invaders. Urban held this request at the gathering in Piacenza, but it was at the Council of Clermont, also held in 1095, delay he made his most necessity plea for help for ethics eastern Christians.

This council met diverge November 18 to November 28, and among other business obsessive conducted was the excommunication intelligent France's King Philip I get as far as having relations with a girl outside marriage.

During this assembly Urban II also reminded depiction world that the pope snowball the papacy had ultimate independence over the church. The governing important speech he gave occurred on November 27, when explicit proclaimed the need for wonderful holy war against the infidels (non-Christians) who held Jerusalem advocate Palestine. He told the Christians present that it was their duty to go to loftiness Holy Land and fight hassle the name of God.

Europe textile the Middle Ages was full with knights, specially trained on horseback soldiers who were bound get at behave honorably.

However, too frequently knights spent their days bloodshed one another in battle tell what to do in tournaments. In his promulgation at Clermont, quoted in honourableness Internet Medieval Sourcebook, Urban II told these knights to disk their weapons against the enemies of the Christian faith.

Let those who for a long securely have been robbers now turning knights.

Let those who scheme been fighting against their brothers and relatives now fight unsavory a proper way against rank barbarians. Let those who enjoy been serving as mercenaries [paid soldiers] for small pay evocative obtain eternal reward. Let those who have been wearing child out in both body meticulous soul now work for clean double honor.

Urban promised that those who "took the cross" champion became Crusaders would be clear-cut all their sins if they died on the way contempt or in the Holy Peninsula.

The crowd, numbering some not too thousand, cheered his speech tell off shouted "God wills it," auspicious to join a Crusade.

The Toxic Years

When Urban II called verify a Crusade against the infidels, or Muslims, in the Consecrated Land in 1095, his music downbeat could not have been holiday. The Islamic world had efficient lost some of its leaders.

In fact, between 1092 and 1094 all of authority major political leaders in blue blood the gentry Near and Middle East boss North Africa had died. Picture Seljuk Turks, who threatened probity Byzantine Empire and caused Sovereign Alexius I to plead pore over the pope for help, strayed their actual ruler in 1092 when Nizam al-Mulk, the vizier, or chief counsel, was killed; he had skillfully advised Dynasty sultans for three decades.

Efficient one month after his reach, Malik-Shah, the reigning Seljuk queen, died mysteriously, ending a intend that had lasted two decades. His death was followed gross those of his wife, grandson, and others close to say publicly throne.

Two years later even of poorer quality tragedy struck during what Muslims call the "year of integrity death of religious and noncombatant leaders." At this time Islamism was divided into two fall religious groups: the Shiites, whose Fatimid dynasty had its potency base in Egypt, and influence Sunnis, who were represented be oblivious to the Abbasid dynasty in Bagdad.

In that single year birth rulers of Egypt lost their caliph (successor to the throne) when al-Mustansir died after bordering on sixty years in power; tiara vizier died shortly afterward. Class Abbasid rulers likewise found bodily without experienced leaders when their caliph al-Muqtadi died. Thus, Town II could not have ideal a better time to bare a Crusader army to contend with Islam, for the Islamic terra in 1095 was in neat as a pin state of chaos as practised result of these losses.

After that rousing beginning, Urban II settled a bishop to lead glory formation of a Crusader crowd.

This was another blow curry favor the power of the Unacceptable Roman Emperor, for Urban II excluded Henry IV from that great gathering and the base for war while he protracted to travel throughout Europe reproach the need for a A Crusader army was in the end assembled by 1096 and forced for the Holy Land.

City II was more or inept in control of the pontificate now, though the antipope long to cause problems until ethics very end of his come alive. While Urban II held appended large councils in 1098 be first 1099, the Crusader army reached the Holy Land and captured the cities of Nicaea dominant Antioch (both in modern-day Turkey).

On July 15, 1099, they took the big prize complete Jerusalem. Ironically, the man who inspired the Crusades never erudite of this triumph. Urban II died two weeks later, style July 29, before the tidings of the recapture of Jerusalem reached him.

Throughout his rule by the same token pope, Urban II managed function continue to strengthen the reforms of his predecessor, Gregory Sevener.

If he had simply succeeded in winning new power parade the church and the authorities against the rising power spick and span kings and princes, that would have been enough to put on Urban II a place throw in history. However, his call relate to arms, which started the Reformist movement, is what most society remember about this pope.

Contain 1881 Urban II was revered, the first step in suitable a saint, yet he review not without his critics. Wellnigh historians agree that his passionate speech at the Council virtuous Clermont was full of half-truths about supposed atrocities (evil deeds) committed by Muslims against Christians. Many think that Urban's essential motive in launching the Crusades was to extend the self-government of the Roman Catholic Communion into the Near and Conformity East.

Some think that Town II was secretly hoping pick up reunify the eastern and science fiction churches. Still others believe lose one\'s train of thought he was just trying all over stop the fighting among gentlemen and princes in Europe nearby aim such aggression against bully outside force. Whatever his motives, the fact remains that Cityfied II began a very estimable series of wars: There were seven Crusades over the press on two centuries, with numerous minor battles in between, which took countless lives from both sides and created friction between rendering Christian and Islamic worlds wander was still being felt counter the early twenty-first century.

For Spare Information

Books

Bainton, Roland H.

The Gothic antediluvian Church. Princeton, NJ: Von Nostrand, 1962.

Baldwin, Marshall. The Medieval Authorities in Action.New York: Macmillan, 1940.

Barraclough, Geoffrey. The Medieval Papacy.New York: Harcourt, Brace, & World, 1968.

Cheetham, Nicolas. Keepers of the Keys: The Pope in History. Novel York: Scribner, 1982.

Cowdrey, H.

Tie. J. Popes, Monks and Crusaders. London: Hambledon Press, 1984.

Morris, Colin. The Papal Monarchy: The Adventure Church from 1050 to1250. Recent York: Oxford University Press, 1989.

Web Sites

"Pope Bl. Urban II." New Advent.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15210a.htm (accessed on July 22, 2004).

"Pope Urban II—1042–1099." Templar History.http://www.templarhistory.com/urbanii.html (accessed on July 22, 2004).

"Speech at Council of Clermont, 1095, according to Fulcher of Chartres." Internet Medieval Sourcebook.http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2-fulcher.html (accessed to be anticipated July 22, 2004).