gone to Constantinople with fifty thousand men, and would
have annexed the Eastern empire to the domain of St. Peter.
Perhaps he would have ultimately swept the Turks away.
The Napoleon of the eleventh century was capable of any-
thing. Urban had not the warlike genius of Gregory. He
was not the man to lead an army. But he knew how to
find magic expressions, "Jerusalem," "the tomb of Christ,"
"remission of sins." ¹ For a long time, particularly after the
opening of the eleventh century, many were the faithful
who made the journey to Jerusalem. And these pilgrimages,
the vogue of which was increasing, created, and then developed,
a general sentiment of devotion to the holy places. So Urban
informed Christian Europe that these regions, so much vene-
rated, were in the power of pagans who subjected them to
odious profanations. He implored the friends of Christ the
Saviour to go to avenge His honour. As a reward he
promised them the remission of their sins. Such was the
powerful lever which permitted him and his successors to
arouse Christian Europe against the Mussulmans.

Ordinarily eight crusades are counted--a conventional
number which is arrived at only by leaving in the shade
certain expeditions of secondary importance.

First Crusade. ² --In the month of November 1095,
Urban II. went to Clermont, and before an immense multitude
preached the Holy War. The assembly responded to his
appeal by crying with a great clamour, "God wills it." The
Pope caused crosses of red stuff to be delivered to all those
who took an engagement to go to Palestine. Several
thousand men at once received the cross, whence the name
"crusaders," whence also the name "crusades" was given
to the expeditions against the Mussulmans. August 15,
1096, was fixed as the date of departure, and Adhémar de
Monteil, bishop of Puy, was appointed to direct the crusade
as legate of the Holy See.

Enthusiasm was great; proof will presently be given that

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