Kill 'Em All—Let God Sort 'Em Out

ChurchChurch HistoryHistory ChurchChurch HistoryHistory

IntroductionIntroduction toto ChurchChurch HistoryHistory st rd TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch AD 11st-3-3rd centuriescenturies th th TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom AD 44th-5-5th centuriescenturies th th TheThe EarlyEarly MiddleMiddle AgesAges AD 66th-10-10th centuriescenturies th th TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades AD 1111th-13-13th centuriescenturies West vs. East The First Crusade(s) The Crusades Become a Fad Kill 'em All—Let God Sort 'em Out... TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound andand PhilipPhilip immediatelyimmediately turnedturned onon hishis once-once- ally,ally, thethe newlynewly crownedcrowned KingKing JohnJohn Between Philip reconquering his former territories (and thus declaring independence from the Holy Roman Empire), the growth of a new, stronger kingdom in Hungary, etc., the face of Europe was changing again And everybody was happily slaughtering everyone, seeing this a time for payback... TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan PopePope InnocentInnocent IIIIII tooktook thethe thronethrone inin 1198,1198, andand quicklyquickly assertedasserted himselfhimself asas aa powerfulpowerful rulerruler Having tried to preach a new crusade and failed, Innocent insinuated himself into the power struggle to decide who would be the next king of Sicily—who would then be in line to become the next Holy Roman Emperor TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan PopePope InnocentInnocent IIIIII tooktook thethe thronethrone inin 1198,1198, andand quicklyquickly assertedasserted himselfhimself asas aa powerfulpowerful rulerruler Having tried to preach a new crusade and failed, Innocent insinuated himself into the power struggle to decide who would be the next king of Sicily—who would then be in line to become the next Holy Roman Emperor Richard and Philip had backed different contenders, naturally Innocent backed Richard's nephew, Otto, since Otto's family had traditionally opposed the Holy Roman Emperor's dominant Hohenstaufen clan (this served to further intertwine Rome and England quite dramatically) TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan PopePope InnocentInnocent IIIIII tooktook thethe thronethrone inin 1198,1198, andand quicklyquickly assertedasserted himselfhimself asas aa powerfulpowerful rulerruler As part of a means of settlement, Innocent ruled that the German princes could decide the King of Sicily, but that the Pope must be allowed to decide if a king is worthy of his crown (otherwise, how could the Church ever make sure that a Pope wouldn't be forced to bless the coronation of a heretic or a pagan?) TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan PopePope InnocentInnocent IIIIII tooktook thethe thronethrone inin 1198,1198, andand quicklyquickly assertedasserted himselfhimself asas aa powerfulpowerful rulerruler As part of a means of settlement, Innocent ruled that the German princes could decide the King of Sicily, but that the Pope must be allowed to decide if a king is worthy of his crown If a Pope decides that a king is un-worthy, the princes would then be forced to pick another one (until they finally find one that the Pope liked enough to allow to become king) Thus, Innocent controlled not only who gets to be installed as the Emperor, but also who gets to be in the pool of people who might get to be installed as the Emperor... TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan PopePope InnocentInnocent IIIIII tooktook thethe thronethrone inin 11981198 InnocentInnocent calledcalled FrenchFrench priestpriest FulkFulk ofof NeuillyNeuilly toto preachpreach aa newnew CrusadeCrusade Among those converted to the cause was the powerful Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester and the Venetian Boniface of Montferrat, who was elected to be the leader of the Crusade TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— IfIf you'llyou'll remember,remember, backback inin 1180,1180, thethe VenetiansVenetians inin ConstantinopleConstantinople becamebecame veryvery powerful,powerful, thanksthanks toto theirtheir royalroyal patronagepatronage byby thethe EmpressEmpress MariaMaria TheyThey werewere soso powerfulpowerful thatthat whenwhen MariaMaria waswas deposeddeposed andand replacedreplaced withwith thethe newnew EmperorEmperor AndronikosAndronikos II inin 1182,1182, thethe peoplepeople ofof thethe citycity riotedrioted andand slaughteredslaughtered LatinLatin ChristiansChristians byby thethe hundredshundreds —including—including childrenchildren andand thethe sicksick The remaining Venetians had been expelled from the city, and from all other Byzantine ports and cities TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— IfIf you'llyou'll remember,remember, backback inin 1180,1180, thethe VenetiansVenetians inin ConstantinopleConstantinople becamebecame veryvery powerful,powerful, thanksthanks toto theirtheir royalroyal patronagepatronage byby thethe EmpressEmpress MariaMaria SinceSince thisthis CrusadeCrusade wouldwould bebe aa navalnaval exercise,exercise, focusedfocused onon attackingattacking thethe AyyubidsAyyubids inin Egypt,Egypt, VeniceVenice happilyhappily offeredoffered toto convoyconvoy thethe CrusadersCrusaders toto thethe East,East, supplyingsupplying themthem withwith oneone thirdthird ofof thethe VenetianVenetian populationpopulation toto traveltravel alongsidealongside ofof themthem ButBut theythey requiredrequired aa hugehuge sumsum asas paymentpayment forfor allall ofof this—allthis—all butbut bankruptingbankrupting thethe CrusadeCrusade atat itsits startstart To help with all of this cost, the Venetian leaders demanded that the Crusaders refinance themselves by raiding Byzantine ports along the way...

X X X X TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— IfIf you'llyou'll remember,remember, backback inin 1180,1180, thethe VenetiansVenetians inin ConstantinopleConstantinople becamebecame veryvery powerful,powerful, thanksthanks toto theirtheir royalroyal patronagepatronage byby thethe EmpressEmpress MariaMaria SinceSince thisthis CrusadeCrusade wouldwould bebe aa navalnaval exercise,exercise, focusedfocused onon attackingattacking thethe AyyubidsAyyubids inin Egypt,Egypt, VeniceVenice happilyhappily offeredoffered toto convoyconvoy thethe CrusadersCrusaders toto thethe East,East, supplyingsupplying themthem withwith oneone thirdthird ofof thethe VenetianVenetian populationpopulation toto traveltravel alongsidealongside ofof themthem ButBut theythey requiredrequired aa hugehuge sumsum asas paymentpayment forfor allall ofof this—allthis—all butbut bankruptingbankrupting thethe CrusadeCrusade atat itsits startstart To help with all of this cost, the Venetian leaders demanded that the Crusaders refinance themselves by raiding Byzantine ports along the way... Simon de Montfort refused to participate on ethical grounds, but Boniface of Montferrat supported Venice's demands But the first port they attacked was actually the Catholic port of Zara, in Dalmatia (a longtime Venetian rival) TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— IfIf you'llyou'll remember,remember, backback inin 1180,1180, thethe VenetiansVenetians inin ConstantinopleConstantinople becamebecame veryvery powerful,powerful, thanksthanks toto theirtheir royalroyal patronagepatronage byby thethe EmpressEmpress MariaMaria SinceSince thisthis CrusadeCrusade wouldwould bebe aa navalnaval exercise,exercise, focusedfocused onon attackingattacking thethe AyyubidsAyyubids inin Egypt,Egypt, VeniceVenice happilyhappily offeredoffered toto convoyconvoy thethe CrusadersCrusaders toto thethe EastEast TheThe peoplepeople ofof ZaraZara loudlyloudly proclaimedproclaimed thatthat they,they, too,too, werewere orthodoxorthodox Catholics,Catholics, butbut thethe VenetianVenetian CrusadersCrusaders didn'tdidn't care,care, andand lootedlooted thethe citycity anywayanyway TheThe PopePope excommunicatedexcommunicated allall ofof thethe Venetians,Venetians, butbut theirtheir leadersleaders nevernever toldtold anyany ofof thethe soldiers,soldiers, sincesince theythey didn'tdidn't wantwant toto undermineundermine thethe successsuccess ofof thethe CrusadeCrusade itselfitself BonifaceBoniface himselfhimself wasn'twasn't therethere atat thethe time,time, becausebecause hehe waswas meetingmeeting inin secretsecret withwith exiledexiled ByzantineByzantine prince,prince, AlexiosAlexios IVIV TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment2—— AlexiosAlexios really,really, reallyreally wantedwanted toto getget backback homehome toto ConstantinopleConstantinople andand bebe EmperorEmperor SoSo hehe offeredoffered toto paypay thethe entireentire debtdebt owedowed toto thethe Venetians,Venetians, givegive 200,000200,000 silversilver marksmarks toto thethe CrusadersCrusaders personally,personally, supplysupply 10,00010,000 ByzantineByzantine professionalprofessional troopstroops forfor thethe CrusadeCrusade (as(as wellwell asas 500500 knights)knights) andand thethe serviceservice ofof thethe ByzantineByzantine navynavy toto transporttransport thethe entireentire CrusaderCrusader ArmyArmy toto EgyptEgypt andand hehe promisedpromised toto placeplace thethe EasternEastern OrthodoxOrthodox ChurchChurch underunder thethe authorityauthority ofof thethe PopePope AllAll thatthat thethe CrusadersCrusaders hadhad toto dodo waswas toto makemake aa quickquick pitpit stopstop atat ConstantinopleConstantinople andand conquerconquer it,it, placingplacing himhim onon thethe throne...throne...

X TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan InIn 1203,1203, thethe CrusaderCrusader armyarmy laidlaid siegesiege toto ConstantinopleConstantinople andand strangledstrangled itit untiluntil thethe populacepopulace agreedagreed toto atat leastleast declaredeclare AlexiosAlexios asas coco-emperor-emperor withwith hishis reinstatedreinstated father,father, IsaacIsaac IIII In the process, a chunk of Constantinople was destroyed by fire, and 20,000 were left homeless But Alexios realized that he couldn't make good on all of his promises, so he asked the Crusaders to hang on for another six months, until he could solidify his power base To help cover the Crusaders' costs, he melted down priceless religious icons,icons, butbut therethere waswas still not enough In desperation, he took half the troops and sought out the deposed X Emperor to get the money that his predecessor had stolen from the city treasury While he was gone, the city rioted against the Crusaders, who set another fire that left 100,000 more people homeless TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan InIn 1203,1203, thethe CrusaderCrusader armyarmy laidlaid siegesiege toto ConstantinopleConstantinople andand strangledstrangled itit untiluntil thethe populacepopulace agreedagreed toto atat leastleast declaredeclare AlexiosAlexios asas coco-emperor-emperor withwith hishis reinstatedreinstated father,father, IsaacIsaac IIII TheThe PopePope declareddeclared thatthat allall ofof thisthis hashas apparentlyapparently ultimatelyultimately beenbeen partpart ofof God'sGod's design,design, andand thatthat thethe CrusadersCrusaders werewere doingdoing God'sGod's workwork byby bringingbringing thethe EasternEastern ChurchChurch underunder itsits properproper RomanRoman rulerule The Crusaders broke through the city walls and set fire to it again, leavingleaving anotheranother 15,00015,000 homelesshomeless (NOTE: The famed Varangian Guard—descendants of Vikings— held them off for a while, but then X the Varangians tried to negotiate for more pay from the city leaders, only to back off from fighting when the leaders balked) (NOTE2: Always pay your troops well...) TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan InIn 1203,1203, thethe CrusaderCrusader armyarmy laidlaid siegesiege toto ConstantinopleConstantinople andand strangledstrangled itit untiluntil thethe populacepopulace agreedagreed toto atat leastleast declaredeclare AlexiosAlexios asas coco-emperor-emperor withwith hishis reinstatedreinstated father,father, IsaacIsaac IIII TheThe PopePope declareddeclared thatthat allall ofof thisthis hashas apparentlyapparently ultimatelyultimately beenbeen partpart ofof God'sGod's design,design, andand thatthat thethe CrusadersCrusaders werewere doingdoing God'sGod's workwork byby bringingbringing thethe EasternEastern ChurchChurch underunder itsits properproper RomanRoman rulerule The Crusaders broke through the city walls and set fire to it again, leavingleaving anotheranother 15,00015,000 homelesshomeless The Crusaders then completely sacked the Christian city of Constantinople, slaughtering X thousands... TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— WhatWhat beganbegan asas aa simplesimple (though(though massive)massive) raidraid onon thethe citycity soonsoon escalatedescalated intointo anan all-outall-out frenzyfrenzy ofof paybackpayback forfor thethe LatinLatin MassacreMassacre ofof 11821182 TheThe CrusadersCrusaders burnedburned librarieslibraries (even(even thethe ImperialImperial Library)Library) containingcontaining precious,precious, irreplaceableirreplaceable books;books; theythey burnedburned paintingspaintings andand meltedmelted downdown icons;icons; theythey rapedraped nunsnuns (and(and priests),priests), lootedlooted homeshomes andand hospitals,hospitals, andand otherwiseotherwise laidlaid wastewaste toto thethe last,last, great,great, EuropeanEuropean bastionbastion ofof ancientancient RomanRoman civilizationcivilization TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— WhatWhat beganbegan asas aa simplesimple (though(though massive)massive) raidraid onon thethe citycity soonsoon escalatedescalated intointo anan all-outall-out frenzyfrenzy ofof paybackpayback forfor thethe LatinLatin MassacreMassacre ofof 11821182 AsAs oneone modernmodern historianhistorian hashas describeddescribed it,it, ““TheThe CrusadersCrusaders ventedvented theirtheir hatredhatred forfor thethe GreeksGreeks mostmost spectacularlyspectacularly inin thethe desecrationdesecration ofof thethe greatestgreatest ChurchChurch inin Christendom—theyChristendom—they smashedsmashed thethe silversilver iconostasis,iconostasis, thethe iconsicons andand thethe holyholy booksbooks ofof thethe HagiaHagia Sophia,Sophia, andand seatedseated uponupon thethe patriarchalpatriarchal thronethrone aa whorewhore whowho sangsang coarsecoarse songssongs asas theythey drankdrank winewine fromfrom thethe Church'sChurch's holyholy vessels...vessels... TheThe GreeksGreeks werewere convincedconvinced thatthat eveneven thethe Turks,Turks, hadhad theythey takentaken thethe city,city, wouldwould notnot havehave beenbeen asas cruelcruel asas thethe LatinLatin Christians...”Christians...” TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan AA fewfew CrusadersCrusaders actuallyactually diddid continuecontinue onon toto thethe HolyHoly Land,Land, butbut mostmost returnedreturned toto VeniceVenice andand RomeRome withwith thethe spoilsspoils ofof ConstantinopleConstantinople inin handhand Pope Innocent welcomed them back with open (and receiving) arms And the world map changed again dramatically: The charred corpse of the great Byzantine Empire became the Latin Empire of the East and the remnants of the Byzantine leadership created the weak Nicene Empire further East Soon, one of Boniface's vassals— Michael I Komnenos Doukas— broke away and formed the new Despotate of Epirus, providing a safe haven for thousands of suddenly dispossessed Greeks But the glories of a continuous Greek civilization from the classical period were forever lostlost toto history...history... TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan 12061206 TemüjinTemüjin tooktook powerpower inin thethe EastEast InIn 1204,1204, thethe PersianPersian GhuridsGhurids invadedinvaded northernnorthern India,India, killingkilling thousandsthousands andand forciblyforcibly convertingconverting thethe restrest toto IslamIslam ThisThis eastwardeastward growthgrowth ofof IslamIslam broughtbrought manymany ofof thethe existingexisting MongolMongol tribestribes intointo aa closercloser unionunion withwith oneone anotheranother asas aa formform ofof self-protectionself-protection But that also made several of the tribes become jealousjealous ofof oneone anotheranother In 1171, the Tatars murdered Yesügei, the chieftain of the powerful Khamag tribe, leavingleaving hishis familyfamily destitutedestitute whenwhen theirtheir tribetribe subsequently abandoned them Young Temüjin—Yesügei's third son— rose to become the Alpha male of the family when he was willing to kill one of his own brothers over their meager rations of food (NOTE: He had red hair and green eyes, which is not uncommon among the Mongols—even today) TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan 12061206 TemüjinTemüjin tooktook powerpower inin thethe EastEast InIn 1204,1204, thethe PersianPersian GhuridsGhurids invadedinvaded northernnorthern India,India, killingkilling thousandsthousands andand forciblyforcibly convertingconverting thethe restrest toto IslamIslam ThisThis eastwardeastward growthgrowth ofof IslamIslam broughtbrought manymany ofof thethe existingexisting MongolMongol tribestribes intointo aa closercloser unionunion withwith oneone anotheranother asas aa formform ofof self-protectionself-protection But that also made several of the tribes become jealousjealous ofof oneone anotheranother In 1171, the Tatars murdered Yesügei, the chieftain of the powerful Khamag tribe, leavingleaving hishis familyfamily destitutedestitute whenwhen theirtheir tribetribe subsequently abandoned them In 1177, Temüjin was captured by the rival Tayichi'ud tribe, but soon escaped with the help of a sympathetic guard and a new friend named Jamukha, with whom he became a blood brother TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan 12061206 TemüjinTemüjin tooktook powerpower inin thethe EastEast InIn 1204,1204, thethe PersianPersian GhuridsGhurids invadedinvaded northernnorthern India,India, killingkilling thousandsthousands andand forciblyforcibly convertingconverting thethe restrest toto IslamIslam ThisThis eastwardeastward growthgrowth ofof IslamIslam broughtbrought manymany ofof thethe existingexisting MongolMongol tribestribes intointo aa closercloser unionunion withwith oneone anotheranother asas aa formform ofof self-protectionself-protection But that also made several of the tribes become jealousjealous ofof oneone anotheranother In 1178, 16-year-old Temüjin claimed Börte— the bride that his father had arranged for him back when the family had been important But soon after their wedding, Börte was captured by the rival Merkit tribe But Temüjin found her and, with the help of Jamukha and Temüjin's mentor, Toghrul, they were able to ride in to her rescue and save her TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan 12061206 TemüjinTemüjin tooktook powerpower inin thethe EastEast InIn 1204,1204, thethe PersianPersian GhuridsGhurids invadedinvaded northernnorthern India,India, killingkilling thousandsthousands andand forciblyforcibly convertingconverting thethe restrest toto IslamIslam ThisThis eastwardeastward growthgrowth ofof IslamIslam broughtbrought manymany ofof thethe existingexisting MongolMongol tribestribes intointo aa closercloser unionunion withwith oneone anotheranother asas aa formform ofof self-protectionself-protection EveryEvery setbacksetback seemedseemed toto givegive TemüjinTemüjin thethe chancechance toto bouncebounce backback strongerstronger thanthan beforebefore With Toghrul's army of 20,000 horsemen behind him, brilliant strategist Temüjin began a series of campaigns that brought him not only fame, but political power among the Mongols NOTE: He never lost aa battle—but he also made allies out of the armies that he beat— rather than killing the losing soldiers and then destroying their villages (as was the custom of the Mongols), he would integrate them into his growing army and take their children as protected members of his own tribe Soon, his army was absolutely huge... TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan 12061206 TemüjinTemüjin tooktook powerpower inin thethe EastEast InIn 1204,1204, thethe PersianPersian GhuridsGhurids invadedinvaded northernnorthern India,India, killingkilling thousandsthousands andand forciblyforcibly convertingconverting thethe restrest toto IslamIslam ThisThis eastwardeastward growthgrowth ofof IslamIslam broughtbrought manymany ofof thethe existingexisting MongolMongol tribestribes intointo aa closercloser unionunion withwith oneone anotheranother asas aa formform ofof self-protectionself-protection EveryEvery setbacksetback seemedseemed toto givegive TemüjinTemüjin thethe chancechance toto bouncebounce backback strongerstronger thanthan beforebefore With Toghrul's army of 20,000 horsemen behind him, brilliant strategist Temüjin began a series of campaigns that brought him not only fame, but political power among the Mongols NOTE: He never lost aa battle—but he also made allies out of the armies that he beat 2 NOTE2: But that was for the tribes he beat— Temüjin had little respect for the cities (which he tended to loot and then burn to the ground) 3 NOTE3: Many of the cities of Central Asia were Christian cities—the civilized outposts of Eastern Orthodoxy TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan 12061206 TemüjinTemüjin tooktook powerpower inin thethe EastEast InIn 1204,1204, thethe PersianPersian GhuridsGhurids invadedinvaded northernnorthern India,India, killingkilling thousandsthousands andand forciblyforcibly convertingconverting thethe restrest toto IslamIslam ThisThis eastwardeastward growthgrowth ofof IslamIslam broughtbrought manymany ofof thethe existingexisting MongolMongol tribestribes intointo aa closercloser unionunion withwith oneone anotheranother asas aa formform ofof self-protectionself-protection EveryEvery setbacksetback seemedseemed toto givegive TemüjinTemüjin thethe chancechance toto bouncebounce backback strongerstronger thanthan beforebefore With Toghrul's army of 20,000 horsemen behind him, brilliant strategist Temüjin began a series of campaigns that brought him not only fame, but political power among the Mongols But again, his successes brought rivalry Toghrul's son resented Temüjin, and schemed to remove him from power Toghrul refused to take sides, so Temüjin attacked and conquered the Kerait tribe and killed everyone loyal to Toghrul's bloodline Jamukha escaped the bloodshed by joiningjoining thethe neighboringneighboring NaimanNaiman tribetribe TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan 12061206 TemüjinTemüjin tooktook powerpower inin thethe EastEast InIn 1204,1204, thethe PersianPersian GhuridsGhurids invadedinvaded northernnorthern India,India, killingkilling thousandsthousands andand forciblyforcibly convertingconverting thethe restrest toto IslamIslam ThisThis eastwardeastward growthgrowth ofof IslamIslam broughtbrought manymany ofof thethe existingexisting MongolMongol tribestribes intointo aa closercloser unionunion withwith oneone anotheranother asas aa formform ofof self-protectionself-protection EveryEvery setbacksetback seemedseemed toto givegive TemüjinTemüjin thethe chancechance toto bouncebounce backback strongerstronger thanthan beforebefore The Naimans then elected Jamukha to be their khan, overseeing multiple Mongol tribes... so that's when Temüjin killed him, too... As Jamukha put it before his death, “There was room for only one sun in the sky, there was room only for one Mongol lord...” TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan 12061206 TemüjinTemüjin tooktook powerpower inin thethe EastEast InIn 1204,1204, thethe PersianPersian GhuridsGhurids invadedinvaded northernnorthern India,India, killingkilling thousandsthousands andand forciblyforcibly convertingconverting thethe restrest toto IslamIslam ThisThis eastwardeastward growthgrowth ofof IslamIslam broughtbrought manymany ofof thethe existingexisting MongolMongol tribestribes intointo aa closercloser unionunion withwith oneone anotheranother asas aa formform ofof self-protectionself-protection EveryEvery setbacksetback seemedseemed toto givegive TemüjinTemüjin thethe chancechance toto bouncebounce backback strongerstronger thanthan beforebefore In 1206, the united Mongol tribes elected Temüjin as their “strong khan” (AKA, “Genghis Khan”), and he began a bloody swath through the known world By the time of his death in 1227, not only was almost all of Asia under Genghis Khan's direct power, but he had also levelled almost every city in Central Asia, killing 40 million people in his campaigns That was 11% of the world's population TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 11991199 RichardRichard dieddied fromfrom thatthat crossbowcrossbow woundwound 12021202 TheThe FourthFourth CrusadeCrusade beganbegan 12061206 TemüjinTemüjin tooktook powerpower inin thethe EastEast InIn 1204,1204, thethe PersianPersian GhuridsGhurids invadedinvaded northernnorthern India,India, killingkilling thousandsthousands andand forciblyforcibly convertingconverting thethe restrest toto IslamIslam ThisThis eastwardeastward growthgrowth ofof IslamIslam broughtbrought manymany ofof thethe existingexisting MongolMongol tribestribes intointo aa closercloser unionunion withwith oneone anotheranother asas aa formform ofof self-protectionself-protection EveryEvery setbacksetback seemedseemed toto givegive TemüjinTemüjin thethe chancechance toto bouncebounce backback strongerstronger thanthan beforebefore In 1206, the united Mongol tribes elected Temüjin as their “great khan” (AKA, “Genghis Khan”), and he began a bloody swath through the known world By the time of his death in 1227, not only was almost all of Asia under Genghis Khan's direct power, but he had also levelled almost every city in Central Asia, killing 40 million people in his campaigns It was also much of what was left of Eastern Orthodoxy's educated leadership, leavingleaving thethe churchchurch inin disarraydisarray TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— TheThe commoncommon MongolMongol religiousreligious practicepractice waswas toto allowallow eacheach individualindividual toto havehave hishis ownown beliefs,beliefs, andand notnot toto judgejudge oror trytry toto convinceconvince oneone anotheranother (since(since theythey believedbelieved thatthat allall religionsreligions were,were, really,really, justjust humanhuman constructsconstructs anyway)anyway) HowHow mightmight historyhistory havehave runrun aa differentdifferent coursecourse if—if— insteadinstead ofof followingfollowing thethe MongolMongol practicepractice ofof blitheblithe tolerancetolerance (or(or thethe moremore murderousmurderous practicespractices ofof thethe MuslimMuslim jihadsjihads,, oror thethe EuropeanEuropean Crusades)—Crusades)— HowHow mightmight historyhistory havehave runrun aa differentdifferent coursecourse ifif thethe ChristianChristian ToghrulToghrul KhanKhan hadhad discipleddiscipled aa lostlost andand starvingstarving youngyoung TemüjinTemüjin andand hishis destitutedestitute family,family, bringingbringing themthem toto Christ?Christ? TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 12081208 TheThe AlbigensianAlbigensian CrusadeCrusade beganbegan YouYou shouldshould rememberremember thethe Cathars,Cathars, whowho werewere GnosticsGnostics whowho taughttaught thatthat moralmoral puritypurity asas aa ChristianChristian couldcould onlyonly bebe attainedattained byby removingremoving yourselfyourself fromfrom everythingeverything impureimpure inin thisthis Satan-Satan- createdcreated worldworld andand embracingembracing totaltotal spiritualityspirituality soso thatthat youyou couldcould bebe reincarnatedreincarnated timetime andand againagain asas betterbetter andand betterbetter people,people, untiluntil youyou attainattain one-one- nessness withwith GodGod TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 12081208 TheThe AlbigensianAlbigensian CrusadeCrusade beganbegan YouYou shouldshould rememberremember thethe CatharsCathars AndAnd allall ofof usus reallyreally shouldshould rememberremember thethe Waldensians,Waldensians, whowho werewere proto-Reformersproto-Reformers whowho taughttaught suchsuch doctrinesdoctrines asas salvationsalvation byby faith,faith, thethe priesthoodpriesthood ofof allall believers,believers, thethe authorityauthority ofof Scripture,Scripture, thethe needneed toto presentpresent thethe GospelGospel inin thethe languagelanguage ofof thethe people,people, thatthat PurgatoryPurgatory andand transubstantiationtransubstantiation areare falsefalse andand harmfulharmful superstitions,superstitions, etc.etc. TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 12081208 TheThe AlbigensianAlbigensian CrusadeCrusade beganbegan YouYou shouldshould rememberremember thethe CatharsCathars AndAnd allall ofof usus reallyreally shouldshould rememberremember thethe WaldensiansWaldensians PopePope InnocentInnocent IIIIII reallyreally wantedwanted toto putput aa stopstop toto allall ofof thisthis nonsensenonsense goinggoing onon inin FranceFrance It didn't help that Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse, openly supported the Cathars The Papal legate, Pierre de Castelnau, excommunicated Raymond when the Count refused to help the church persecute the Cathars so Raymond, in turn, had Pierre quietly murdered King Philip decided to do nothing about any of it so Pope Innocent called for a new Crusade... in France To lead the Crusade, Innocent called on someone whom he knew that he could trust— Simon de Montfort TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades TheThe bloodshedbloodshed continues...continues... 12081208 TheThe AlbigensianAlbigensian CrusadeCrusade beganbegan YouYou shouldshould rememberremember thethe CatharsCathars AndAnd allall ofof usus reallyreally shouldshould rememberremember thethe WaldensiansWaldensians PopePope InnocentInnocent IIIIII reallyreally wantedwanted toto putput aa stopstop toto allall ofof thisthis nonsensenonsense goinggoing onon inin FranceFrance ForFor thethe nextnext nearlynearly fiftyfifty years,years, FranceFrance waswas aa constantconstant battleground,battleground, withwith CatharsCathars andand WaldensiansWaldensians andand anyoneanyone elseelse seenseen asas aa possiblepossible hereticheretic slaughteredslaughtered withoutwithout trialtrial For instance, when the Crusaders came to the city of Béziers, they asked the Pope how they were to sort the heretics from the true Catholics “Kill them all!” Innocent told them. “Surely the Lord discerns which ones are his...” More than 20,000 people were killed on that single day—many of whom were devout, orthodox Roman Catholics TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades ButBut therethere werewere goodgood thingsthings goinggoing on,on, tootoo 12091209 FrancisFrancis ofof AssisiAssisi beganbegan aa newnew orderorder AA noblemannobleman fromfrom Italy,Italy, FrancisFrancis hadhad enjoyedenjoyed beingbeing youngyoung andand richrich (as(as hadhad soso manymany ofof thethe “great“great monks”monks” thatthat we'vewe've talkedtalked aboutabout inin thisthis classclass soso far)far)