To Follow in Their Footsteps : The Crusades and Family Memory in the High Middle Ages

When the First Crusade ended with the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099, jubilant crusaders returned home to Europe bringing with them stories, sacred relics, and other memorabilia, including banners, jewelry, and weapons. In the ensuing decades, the memory of the crusaders' bravery and pious sacrifice was invoked widely among the noble families of western Christendom. Popes preaching future crusades would count on these very same families for financing, leadership, and for the willing warriors who would lay down their lives on the battlefield. Despite the great risks and financial hardships associated with crusading, descendants of those who suffered and died on crusade would continue to take the cross, in some cases over several generations. Indeed, as Nicholas L. Paul reveals in__To Follow in Their Footsteps__, crusading was very much a family affair.Scholars of the crusades have long pointed to the importance of dynastic tradition and ties of kinship in the crusading movement but have failed to address more fundamental questions about the operation of these social processes. What is a "family tradition"? How are such traditions constructed and maintained, and by whom? How did crusading families confront the loss of their kin in distant lands? Making creative use of Latin dynastic narratives as well as vernacular literature, personal possessions and art objects, and architecture from across western Europe, Paul shows how traditions of crusading were established and reinforced in the collective memories of noble families throughout the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Even rulers who never fulfilled crusading vows found their political lives dominated and, in some ways, directed by the memory of their crusading ancestors. Filled with unique insights and careful analysis,__To Follow in Their Footsteps__reveals the lasting impact of the crusades, beyond the expeditions themselves, on the formation of dynastic identity and the culture of the medieval European nobility. When The First Crusade Ended With The Conquest Of Jerusalem In 1099, Jubilant Crusaders Returned Home To Europe Bringing With Them Stories, Sacred Relics, And Other Memorabilia, Including Banners, Jewelry, And Weapons. In The Ensuing Decades, The Memory Of The Crusaders' Bravery And Pious Sacrifice Was Invoked Widely Among The Noble Families Of Western Christendom. Popes Preaching Future Crusades Would Count On These Very Same Families For Financing, Leadership, And For The Willing Warriors Who Would Lay Down Their Lives On The Battlefield. Despite The Great Risks And Financial Hardships Associated With Crusading, Descendants Of Those Who Suffered And Died On Crusade Would Continue To Take The Cross, In Some Cases Over Several Generations. Indeed, As Nicholas L. Paul Reveals In To Follow In Their Footsteps, Crusading Was Very Much A Family Affair. Scholars Of The Crusades Have Long Pointed To The Importance Of Dynastic Tradition And Ties Of Kinship In The Crusading Movement But Have Failed To Address More Fundamental Questions About The Operation Of These Social Processes. What Is A Family Tradition? How Are Such Traditions Constructed And Maintained, And By Whom? How Did Crusading Families Confront The Loss Of Their Kin In Distant Lands? Making Creative Use Of Latin Dynastic Narratives As Well As Vernacular Literature, Personal Possessions And Art Objects, And Architecture From Across Western Europe, Paul Shows How Traditions Of Crusading Were Established And Reinforced In The Collective Memories Of Noble Families Throughout The Twelfth And Thirteenth Centuries-- Part I. Family Memory : Form And Function. Ancestor, Avatar, Crusader ; Relations The Fabric Of Victory ; Missing Men ; Opening The Gates ; Conclusions -- Part Ii. Two Count-kings And The Crusading Past. The Fire At Marmoutier ; Triumph At Ripoll ; Epilogue -- Appendix 1: Dynastic Narratives And Crusading Memory -- Appendix 2: Dynastic Narratives In Local And Monastic Chronicles -- Appendix 3: Description Of Paris, Bnf, Ms Lat. 5132 -- Appendix 4: Letter Of Clement In Paris, Bnf, Ms Lat. 5132, F. 106 Nicholas L. Paul. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 309-336) And Index. When the First Crusade ended with the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099, jubilant crusaders returned home to Europe bringing with them stories, sacred relics, and other memorabilia, including banners, jewelry, and weapons. In the ensuing decades, the memory of the crusaders' bravery and pious sacrifice was invoked widely among the noble families of western Christendom. Popes preaching future crusades would count on these very same families for financing, leadership, and for the willing warriors who would lay down their lives on the battlefield. Despite the great risks and financial hardships associated with crusading, descendants of those who suffered and died on crusade would continue to take the cross, in some cases over several generations. Indeed, as Nicholas L. Paul reveals in To Follow in Their Footsteps , crusading was very much a family affair. Scholars of the crusades have long pointed to the importance of dynastic tradition and ties of kinship in the crusading movement but have failed to address more fundamental questions about the operation of these social processes. What is a "family tradition"? How are such traditions constructed and maintained, and by whom? How did crusading families confront the loss of their kin in distant lands? Making creative use of Latin dynastic narratives as well as vernacular literature, personal possessions and art objects, and architecture from across western Europe, Paul shows how traditions of crusading were established and reinforced in the collective memories of noble families throughout the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Even rulers who never fulfilled crusading vows found their political lives dominated and, in some ways, directed by the memory of their crusading ancestors. Filled with unique insights and careful analysis, To Follow in Their Footsteps reveals the lasting impact of the crusades, beyond the expeditions themselves, on the formation of dynastic identity and the culture of the medieval European nobility. "When the First Crusade ended with the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099, jubilant crusaders returned home to Europe bringing with them stories, sacred relics, and other memorabilia, including banners, jewelry, and weapons. In the ensuing decades, the memory of the crusaders' bravery and pious sacrifice was invoked widely among the noble families of western Christendom. Popes preaching future crusades would count on these very same families for financing, leadership, and for the willing warriors who would lay down their lives on the battlefield. Despite the great risks and financial hardships associated with crusading, descendants of those who suffered and died on crusade would continue to take the cross, in some cases over several generations. Indeed, as Nicholas L. Paul reveals in To Follow in Their Footsteps, crusading was very much a family affair. Scholars of the crusades have long pointed to the importance of dynastic tradition and ties of kinship in the crusading movement but have failed to address more fundamental questions about the operation of these social processes. What is a "family tradition"? How are such traditions constructed and maintained, and by whom? How did crusading families confront the loss of their kin in distant lands? Making creative use of Latin dynastic narratives as well as vernacular literature, personal possessions and art objects, and architecture from across western Europe, Paul shows how traditions of crusading were established and reinforced in the collective memories of noble families throughout the twelfth and thirteenth centuries"--Publisher's Web site. Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Acknowledgments 12 List of Abbreviations 14 Introduction 18 Part I. Family Memory: Form and Function 36 1. Ancestor, Avatar, Crusader 38 2. Relations 72 3. The Fabric of Victory 107 4. Missing Men 151 5. Opening the Gates 188 Conclusions 217 Part II. Two Count-Kings and the Crusading Past 222 6. The Fire at Marmoutier 224 7. Triumph at Ripoll 268 Epilogue 312 Appendix 1: Dynastic Narratives and Crusading Memory 316 Appendix 2: Dynastic Narratives in Local and Monastic Chronicles 320 Appendix 3: Description of Paris, BNF, MS Lat. 5132 321 Appendix 4: Letter of “Clement” in Paris, BNF, MS Lat. 5132, f. 106 325 Bibliography 326 Index 354