IMC 2006: Sessions

Session 517: Problems in the History of the Crusades and the Latin East

Tuesday 11 July 2006, 09.00-10.30

Sponsor:	Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Leeds
Moderator/Chair:	Kurt Villads Jensen, Institute of History & Civilization, University of Southern Denmark, Odense
Paper 517-a	The Problem of Prostitution in the History of Crusades (Language: English) Alan V. Murray, Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Leeds
Paper 517-b	The Visitatio Sepulchri at the Crusader Holy Sepulcher Church in Jerusalem (Language: English) Iris Shagrir, Department of General History, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva Index terms: Crusades, Ecclesiastical History, Liturgy, Performance Arts - Drama
Paper 517-c	The Seven Deadly Passions and 'the Just War' in Song of the Cathar Wars (Language: English) Rebekah Hamilton, Department of English, University of Texas, Pan American Index terms: Crusades, Language and Literature - French or Occitan, Language and Literature - Other, Sermons and Preaching
Abstract	Abstract paper -a: Awaiting Abstract Abstract paper -b: The paper will focus on the morning celebration of Easter Sunday at the Anastasis, and its relation to the liturgical drama of Visitatio Sepulchri. I will discuss four liturgical texts from Jerusalem or related to it, dating to the 12th-15th centuries, containing the famous scene of the women at the empty tomb. The scene impersonated by young clerics was popular in contemporary Europe, obviously having a powerful potential at the historical tomb, was surprisingly discontinued, or even never played, in Jerusalem. The paper will attempt to explore possible reasons for this uncharacteristic liturgical innovation within the religious context of 12th century Frankish Jerusalem. Abstract paper -c: Following the death of papal legate Peter of Castelnau in January, 1208, Innocent III ordered a crusade against Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse, whom he believed to be behind the murder as retaliation for his recent excommunication. This papal authorizing of a crusade against the dualist heresy of the Languedoc led to the bloody series of battles known as the Albigensian Crusade, the first fourteen years of which are retold--from opposing viewpoints--through William of Tudela and his anonymous continuator's laisses in Song of the Cathar Wars. This presentation will explore the rhetorical and other incentives used by Catholic authorities to enlist the participation of French and other forces, with particular attention given to the 'sins' of the heretics as a motivation for the atrocities of this crusade.