I Like to Read
Just finished a book about the Crusades by British-French writer Hilaire Belloc.
Belloc was a fervent Catholic. Someone who did not hesitate to write 'Europe is the Faith, and the Faith is Europe'. His vision of history is, of course, Catholic. So is his vision of the Crusades. He is honest from the beginning declaring that he is writing from one side of the trenchline (which happens to be mine too). If you see this a flaw, which is understandable, better go somewhere else. There are hundreds of books about this matter written from perspectives very different from his.
His Catholic view does not mean than he is complacent on the leaders of the Crusade (Belloc considers the First Crusade the only true one, so don't expect tales about Richard Lionheart here). He criticises bitterly the personal ambitions of some chiefs, more interested in gaining lands and building their own feuds than in the conquer of the Holy Places of Christianity. He is also very critical on the lack of decision of the Byzantine Emperors of the time to support more openly the Christian army with larger troops.
But the issue that interests Belloc the most is the fact that more than 100.000 people were moved by an ideal and by the Faith. Many of them were not even armed. Few of them were knights, others were soldiers, many were just pilgrims. Despite the weaknesses of human spirit, too often fooled by material wealth, a common faith joined them.
Belloc was a fervent Catholic. Someone who did not hesitate to write 'Europe is the Faith, and the Faith is Europe'. His vision of history is, of course, Catholic. So is his vision of the Crusades. He is honest from the beginning declaring that he is writing from one side of the trenchline (which happens to be mine too). If you see this a flaw, which is understandable, better go somewhere else. There are hundreds of books about this matter written from perspectives very different from his.
His Catholic view does not mean than he is complacent on the leaders of the Crusade (Belloc considers the First Crusade the only true one, so don't expect tales about Richard Lionheart here). He criticises bitterly the personal ambitions of some chiefs, more interested in gaining lands and building their own feuds than in the conquer of the Holy Places of Christianity. He is also very critical on the lack of decision of the Byzantine Emperors of the time to support more openly the Christian army with larger troops.
But the issue that interests Belloc the most is the fact that more than 100.000 people were moved by an ideal and by the Faith. Many of them were not even armed. Few of them were knights, others were soldiers, many were just pilgrims. Despite the weaknesses of human spirit, too often fooled by material wealth, a common faith joined them.
