The Council of Clermont

On this day in 1095, Pope Urban II opened the Council of Clermont, which was attended by both clerics and several laymen, who had been invited at Urban’s request. Urban’s speech given on the 27th of November marks the beginning point of the first crusade. In the version written by Fulcher of Chartres, the only recorder of several who is known actually to have been at the council, Urban issues a plea for aid to the Christians in the east being overrun by Islamic armies.

Freshly quickened by the divine correction, you must apply the strength of your righteousness to another matter which concerns you as well as God. For your brethren who live in the east are in urgent need of your help, and you must hasten to give them the aid which has often been promised them. For, as the most of you have heard, the Turks and Arabs have attacked them and have conquered the territory of Romania [the Greek empire] as far west as the shore of the Mediterranean and the Hellespont, which is called the Arm of St. George. They have occupied more and more of the lands of those Christians, and have overcome them in seven battles. They have killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and devastated the empire. If you permit them to continue thus for awhile with impurity, the faithful of God will be much more widely attacked by them. On this account I, or rather the Lord, beseech you as Christ’s heralds to publish this everywhere and to persuade all people of whatever rank, foot-soldiers and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends.