The Crusade Indulgence

Spiritual Rewards and the Theology of the Crusades, C. 1095-1216
Erscheinungsjahr 2014
ISBN: 978-90-04-28043-4
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 103, 320 Seiten, Format (B × H): 159 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 645 g

Reihe: History of Warfare

What defined the crusades in contrast to other wars was the opportunity for warriors to win a spiritual reward, the indulgence. In The Crusade Indulgence. Spiritual Rewards and the Theology of the Crusades, c. 1095-1216 Ane L. Bysted examines the theological and institutional development of the indulgence from the proclamation of the First Crusade to Pope Innocent III.
This first comprehensive study of crusade indulgences in more than a hundred years challenges some earlier interpretations and demonstrates how theologians, popes, and crusade preachers in the 12th century formed the concept of indulgences and argued that fighting for Christ and the Church was meritorious in the sight of God and thus worthy of a spiritual reward proclaimed by the Church.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bysted, Ane

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Kirchengeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Systematische Theologie Geschichte der Theologie, Einzelne Theologen
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religionssoziologie und -psychologie, Spiritualität, Mystik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface

Abbreviations

1. Introduction
1.1. Definition of indulgences
1.1.1. Problems related to confessional disputes
1.2. Historiography of the crusade indulgences
1.2.1. The historiography within the history of theology and doctrine
1.2.2. The ‘Gottlob-thesis’ and the transcendental effect
1.2.3. The historiography within histories of the crusades
1.2.4. Conclusions

2. Origins
2.1.1. The reward granted at Clermont 1095
2.1.2. Spiritual rewards for warriors before the First Crusade
2.1.3. Pope Urban II and the spiritual merit for the First Crusade

3. Theological Development
3.1. The indulgences in the eleventh century
3.1.1. The emergence of indulgences
3.1.2. The penitential discipline
3.1.3. The meaning of penances in the late eleventh century
3.1.4. Conclusions
3.2. The theology of indulgences
3.2.1. Twelfth-century theology on penances
3.2.2. The discussion begins: Peter Abelard
3.2.3. The theology of indulgences until c. 1230
3.2.4. The Fourth Lateran Council 1215
3.2.5. The treasury of merit
3.2.6. The theologians on the crusade indulgences
3.2.7. The theologian crusaders
3.2.8. Conclusions

4. Institutional Development
4.1. The crusade indulgence as a privilege
4.2. The development of the spiritual privilege
4.2.1. The formation of the formula
4.2.2. The significance of the various formulas
4.2.2.1. Remissions of sins
4.2.2.2. Remissions of penances
4.2.3. Summary of the significance of the various formulas
4.2.4. The warrant of the effect
4.2.5. Conclusions

5. Earning Merit
5.1. Defence of Christ and Christendom
5.1.2. Theories of just war
5.1.3. The fifth commandment
5.2. Service of Christ and imitation of Christ
5.3. From sacrificium acceptabile to tempus acceptabile
5.4. Conclusions

6. Proclaiming The Message
6.1. Preachers and sermons

7. Conclusions

Appendix A: Decrees of spiritual rewards for crusades, 1095-1215
Appendix B: Tables

Bibliography

Über Autor(innen)

Ane L. Bysted, Ph.D. (2004), University of Southern Denmark, is teaching medieval history at Aarhus University. She has written on crusade theology and the Baltic crusades, and is co-author of Jerusalem in the North. Denmark and the Baltic Crusades 1100-1522 (Brepols, 2012)