Support structures in Crusading armies, 1095-1241
This thesis will examine the support structures in crusading armies from the First Crusade, launched in 1095, to the end of the Baronsâ Crusade, in 1241. Support structures were the networks through which resources were channelled in order to support crusaders during the expeditions to the Holy Land and the eastern Mediterranean. These structures developed in response to the growing costs and challenges of crusading, with increased efforts by the authorities in the West to raise money to support crusaders. The study of crusader logistics has only taken off in the last twenty years, and the study of how crusading armies were supported is a relatively unexplored field. Recent scholarship has made headway in the logistics of individual crusades, the efforts to raise funds in the West and support structures in western medieval armies. To date, little work has explored the long-term development of support structures in crusading armies or how developments in the West influenced these structures. This thesis will attempt to bridge this gap by examining how the resources raised in the West and those gathered on Crusade were employed to support crusaders, and how these structures developed throughout this period.
Benjamin, David John
Support structures in Crusading armies, 1095-1241. This thesis will examine the support structures in crusading armies from the First Crusade, launched in 1095, to the end of the Baronsâ Crusade, in 1241. Support structures were the networks through which resources were channelled in order to support crusaders during the expeditions to the Holy Land and the eastern Mediterranean. These structures developed in response to the growing costs and challenges of crusading, with increased efforts by the authorities in the West to raise money to support crusaders. The study of crusader logistics has only taken off in the last twenty years, and the study of how crusading armies were supported is a relatively unexplored field. Recent scholarship has made headway in the logistics of individual crusades, the efforts to raise funds in the West and support structures in western medieval armies. To date, little work has explored the long-term development of support structures in crusading armies or how developments in the West influenced these structures. This thesis will attempt to bridge this gap by examining how the resources raised in the West and those gathered on Crusade were employed to support crusaders, and how these structures developed throughout this period.
support structure crusading army examine support structure crusade army first_crusade launch end crusade support structure network resource channel order support crusader expedition holy_land eastern_mediterranean structure develop response grow cost challenge crusade increase effort authority west raise money support crusader study crusader logistics take study crusade army support relatively_unexplored field recent_scholarship make headway logistics individual crusade effort raise fund west support structure western medieval army date little_work explore long_term development support structure crusade army development west influence structure attempt_bridge gap_examine resource raise west gather crusade employ support crusader structure develop throughout_period