Crusades in the Latin East-Joint session
Colette Firestone
Grief, Loss and Glory: Martyrdom in Early Crusading Ideology
Martyrdom and spiritual salvation are not unexpected components in crusading ideology. In fact, they are to be expected in an ideology that justifies armed combat as holy war. Notions of remission of sin, martyrdom and even sanctification are so commonplace that we have long associated these concepts with the crusades. But the ideology of the crusaders was not constant, and with the repeated defeat of the crusader armies, the emphasis placed on martyrdom fluctuated. This paper examines the role of defeat in the crusader rhetoric around martyrdom, and in particular the conditions required to be considered a martyr in the early crusades.
Leo Carter
Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos and England: The Role of Learning in the Quest for a More Universal Christendom
In c.1400 the plight of Byzantium under Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos was of significant concern to the Latin West, including the Kingdom of England. Manuel’s efforts to secure aid for his Empire were often contextualised by interest on both sides in a more universal Christendom. At this time progress towards the union of the Greek and Latin Churches was made possible thanks to the high standard of education, learning and academic ability exhibited by those championing each side of the debate.
All welcome
- this seminar is free to attend, but booking in advance is required.
This page was last updated on 2 May 2025
