E-raamat: Crusading and Warfare in Medieval and Renaissance Europe

Originally written as preparatory studies for books or contributions to conferences, festschrifts, or collaborative publications, the 18 articles are reproduced from journal publication between 1980 and 1999. In them Housey (U. of Leicester) reviews the crusading movement over the broad span of its evolution from the 11th to the early 16th centuries, and also illustrates the evolution of his own views of the phenomenon of crusading and its place in the European Middle Ages and Renaissance. Among the topics are messianism and holy war in Europe 1260-1556, frontier societies and crusading in the late Middle Ages, Pope Clement V and the crusades of 1309-10, and the Hungarian peasant uprising of 1514. One article is in Italian, and another in French. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

These studies span the period from the origins of the crusading movement in the 11th century until its final active phase during the Renaissance. Some of the articles spring from Norman Housley’s work on crusading against Christian heretics, mercenary companies and lay powers which were involved in conflict with the Church. Others reflect his interest in the way crusading developed after the fall of the Holy Land to the Muslims in 1291. A third group looks at other forms taken by religious warfare in Europe during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. Certain themes recur throughout. One is the variety of ways in which war in God’s name was portrayed and justified. Another is the conflict of interest brought about by the diversity of crusading in the period from c.1200 onwards. Above all, the author shows the complexity, longevity and significance of a movement whose impact on medieval society was massive and whose repercussions were profound.

These studies span the period from the origins of the crusading movement in the 11th century until its final active phase during the Renaissance.