Mort et martyre des guerriers vers 1100. L'exemple de la première croisade

Abstract

By preaching the crusade at Clermont (1095), did Urban II inspire hope for the crown of martyrdom in the warriors who were to fell before the "infidels" ? Did the crusaders, at least, have this strong hope when they left ? J. Riley-Smith has recently contested this traditional interpretation and has suggested that the idea of assimilating the warriors killed to martyrs was created along the way, within the Christian army itself. Chroniclers, writing after the victory of 1099 (more important by comparison to the defeat of 1101), are assumed to have generalized this idea and to have outlined its theological expression. Here, the author presents a critical re-examination of this question and a refutation of the arguments put forth by J. R.-S. He rehabilitates the previous view which, after all, is more substantial and more satisfying.