Byzantium’s Take on the Second Crusade: A Comparative Study between Byzantine and Crusader Sources 539-542 AH/ 1145-1148 AD
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v50i6.1081Keywords:
Byzantine, Crusaders, Normans, Second Crusade, WestAbstract
Objectives: This study aims to analyze Byzantium’s take on the Second Crusade, which could be traced back to the empire’s political tension with the Normans prior to the campaign and its effect on the Byzantines’ attitude towards the campaign’s preaching. It also examines the Byzantines’ reaction to the French and German forces upon crossing their borders and the repercussions of this act for both parties (other than the campaign’s failure).
Methods: This study is based on analyzing and comparing the Byzantine and Crusader sources. It also discusses modern scholars’ perspective on the Byzantium’s position on the Second Crusade and the reasons behind the campaign’s failure.
Results: The development of the Byzantine-Western relations during the Second Crusade proved that the Crusader’s project which coincided with the First Crusade was not an exceptional event but rather a recurring phenomenon that used to appear whenever the Crusaders’ existence was threatened. From the Crusaders’ viewpoint, Byzantium, as a Christian empire, had to put all its resources unconditionally at the service of this project. This posed a direct threat to Byzantium which took precautionary measures to ensure its security, irritating the Crusaders.
Conclusion: The Second Crusade, led by Europe's prominent monarchs, posed challenges for Byzantium in securing pledges for its national security. Tensions heightened after the campaign's failure, leading to accusations against Byzantium and the promotion of a new crusade against it.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Dirasat: Human and Social Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Accepted 2023-02-19
Published 2023-11-30
