Introduction The Crusade of the Poor was an unauthorised military expedition – one of the so-called ‘popular crusades‘ – undertaken in the spring and summer of 1309 by members of the lower classes from England, Brabant, northern France and the German Rhineland. Responding to an appeal for support for a crusade to the Holy Land,… Read More
Introduction The popular crusades were several movements “animated by crusading enthusiasm” but unsanctioned by the Church. Background They contrast with the “official crusades” authorised by the Papacy. While the latter consisted of professional armies led by apostolic legates, the popular crusades were generally disorganised and consisted of peasants, artisans and only the occasional knight. The… Read More
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