Crusading Peace : Christendom, the Muslim World, and Western Political Order

Tomaz Mastnak's provocative analysis of the roots of peacemaking in the Western world elucidates struggles for peace that took place in the high and late Middle Ages. Mastnak traces the ways that eleventh-century peace movements, seeking to end violence among Christians, shaped not only power structures within Christendom but also the relationship of the Western Christian world to the world outside. The unification of Christian society under the banner of "holy peace" precipitated a fundamental division between the Christian and non-Christian worlds, and the postulated peace among Christians led to holy war against non-Christians. Tomaz Mastnak's Provocative Analysis Of The Roots Of Peacemaking In The Western World Elucidates Struggles For Peace That Took Place In The High And Late Middle Ages And Shows Their Relevance To Our Contemporary Thinking About Peace. Mastnak Traces The Ways That Eleventh-century Peace Movements, Seeking To End Violence Among Christians, Shaped Not Only Power Structures Within Christendom But Also The Relationship Of The Western Christian World To The World Outside.--jacket. From Holy Peace To Holy War. The Peace Of God And The Truce Of God -- The Peacemaking Church: From Prohibiting War To Directing The Use Of Arms -- No More Shedding Of Christian Blood -- The Holy Manner Of Warfare. Just War, Holy War, The Crusade -- Holy Wars Before The Crusades -- Transformation Of The Church's Attitude Toward War -- Christendom And The Crusade. The First Western Union: A Common Front Against The Pagans -- Making The Muslim The Enemy -- The Christian Offensive: Essalcier Sainte Crestiente -- The Papal Monarchy And The Crusade -- Monks, Philosophers, And Warrior Monks. Sanctification Of Crime: St. Bernard Of Clairvaux. The Infidels Are Unreasonable And Therefore Not Human: Peter The Venerable -- Ordeal By Fire: St. Francis Of Assisi -- The Scientific Crusade: Roger Bacon -- The Infidel's Conscience Is Inviolable But Not His Life: St. Thomas Aquinas -- One Language, One Creed, One Faith: Ramon Lull -- The Fall Of The Papal Monarchy And The Rise Of Territorial Power. Pope Boniface Viii And King Philip Iv Of France -- Resacralization Of Kingship And The Law Of Necessity -- The Universalism Of Territorial Power: French Dominion Of The World -- Imperialists, Separatists, And Crusaders. Vindications Of The Empire -- Refutation Of Universal Rule -- The Crusade Spirit : Still The Will Of God. Tomaž Mastnak. Includes Bibliographical References (p.349-387) And Index. "Tomaz Mastnak's provocative analysis of the roots of peacemaking in the Western world elucidates struggles for peace that took place in the high and late Middle Ages and shows their relevance to our contemporary thinking about peace. Mastnak traces the ways that eleventh-century peace movements, seeking to end violence among Christians, shaped not only power structures within Christendom but also the relationship of the Western Christian world to the world outside."--BOOK JACKET. In the beginning there was peace: At the close of the tenth century and the commencement of the eleventh, the pax Dei, the Peace of God-a peace movement carried out in the name of God-emerged in the territories that today make up central France.