Christianity's Violent Past

Christianity’s violent past in Europe is marked by a series of conflicts, violence, and societal upheavals. Across centuries, pivotal episodes such as the Sack of Jerusalem in 1099, the Albigensian Crusade from 1209 to 1229, the Reconquista spanning the 8th to the 15th centuries, and the Baltic Crusades extending from the 12th to the 16th centuries exemplify the intricate interplay between religious fervor, geopolitical ambitions, and cultural transformations.

Join us in exploring the four key events that resulted in the loss of millions of lives due to wars, battles, massacres, forced conversions, and other violent actions associated with the Christianization of Europe.

Christianity’s Violent Past I: The Sack of Jerusalem (1099)

The Sack of Jerusalem in 1099 is one of the most notable events of the First Crusade. The purpose of the Sack of Jerusalem was primarily to capture the holy city of Jerusalem from Muslim control and to establish Christian rule over the sacred sites. The Crusaders were motivated by religious fervor and the promise of indulgences, which were granted by the Pope to those who participated in the Crusade. The capture of Jerusalem was seen as a pivotal religious victory that would allow Christians to reclaim the Holy Land and provide safe passage for pilgrims.

The aftermath of the city’s capture was marked by the massacre of its Muslim and Jewish inhabitants. Historical accounts suggest that the number of those killed ranged from 3,000 to 70,000, although the exact figures are debated among historians. The Crusaders’ actions had a lasting impact on the religious and ethnic composition of the region.

The siege and subsequent sack of Jerusalem were driven by a combination of religious fervor and the geopolitical ambitions of the Crusaders. The event was a pivotal moment in the history of the Crusades and a turning point that shaped the medieval Near East. The Crusaders’ establishment of the Kingdom of Jerusalem introduced a new Christian state in a predominantly Muslim region, setting the stage for further conflicts and subsequent Crusades.

Christianity’s Violent Past: The Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229)

The Albigensian Crusade, also known as the Cathar Crusade, was initiated by Pope Innocent III in 1209 to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc, modern-day southern France. The Cathars were a Christian sect whose beliefs diverged significantly from the Catholic Church, particularly with their dualist view that the material world was evil, conflicting with the Catholic doctrine of the Incarnation of Christ and the sacraments, leading to their condemnation as heretics.

The Crusade quickly took on a political dimension, prosecuted primarily by the French crown. It aimed not only to suppress the Cathar heresy but also to extend the influence of the French monarchy over the region of Languedoc, which had a distinct culture and language. The conflict resulted in the massacre of at least 200,000 to possibly 1 million Cathars, leading some scholars to consider it to be an act of genocide.

The Albigensian Crusade significantly reduced practicing Cathars and realignment of the County of Toulouse with the French crown. The distinct regional culture of Languedoc vanished as a result of the Crusade. The Cathars, who originated from an anti-materialist reform movement within the Bogomil churches of the Balkans, called for a return to the Christian message of perfection, poverty, and preaching.

The Crusade set a precedent for the persecution of heretic Christians, setting a clear demonstration of the lengths to which the Catholic Church and its secular allies would go to maintain religious and political authority in medieval Europe.

Christianity’s Violent Past: The Reconquista (8th-15th centuries)

The Reconquista was a complex, centuries-long process that saw Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula striving to reclaim territories from Muslim rule. It began in the 8th century and culminated in the 15th century, significantly transforming the region’s religious, political, and social landscape.

The Christianization of the peninsula was not only a religious mission to restore Christian rule over previously Visigothic lands but also a strategic move by the Christian monarchs to consolidate their power and extend their kingdoms. This period was characterized by a series of military campaigns and conquests, including the notable Battle of Covadonga, the fall of Toledo, the decisive Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, and the conquest of Seville, which marked the end of Muslim rule in the heartland of al-Andalus. The Reconquista reached its conclusion with the fall of Granada in 1492, which led to Christian rulers’ complete control of the Iberian Peninsula.

Throughout this era, the demographic composition of the region underwent significant changes. The Muslim population decreased through conversions, expulsions, and emigration, transforming the once-diverse religious landscape into a predominantly Catholic society. Historians estimate that up to 7 million Muslims died at the hands of Crusaders, setting the stage for the Spanish Inquisition and the eventual emergence of Spain as a unified nation under Catholic monarchs. The Reconquista remains a defining period in Spain and Portugal’s history, shaping the peninsula’s cultural and religious identity.

Christianity’s Violent Past: The Baltic Crusades (12th-16th centuries)

The Baltic Crusades, also known as the Northern Crusades, were a series of military campaigns conducted by Christian military orders and kingdoms primarily against the pagan peoples around the southern and eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. These crusades aimed to convert these populations to Christianity and establish regional dominance.

The Teutonic Knights, a military order, played a significant role in these campaigns, particularly from the mid-13th century onwards. They established a militarized state in Prussia and sought to convert the local pagan population. However, the religious motive was often a pretext for acquiring land and wealth, as the crusades provided opportunities for territorial expansion and material gain, such as land, furs, amber, and slaves.

The campaigns began with the Wendish Crusade in 1147 and continued with various efforts to subjugate and convert the indigenous populations of the Baltic region, including the Prussians, Livonians, Estonians, and Lithuanians. These efforts often involved violent confrontations, forced baptisms, and the establishment of Christian institutions. Over time, the indigenous pagan practices were replaced by Christianity, leading to significant cultural and religious changes in the region.

The Baltic Crusades also had economic and political dimensions, as German merchants and nobles sought to expand their influence along trading routes in the Baltic frontier. The crusades continued this pattern of conflict, now inspired and prescribed by the Pope and undertaken by Papal knights and armed monks. The result was a profound transformation of the Baltic region regarding its religious landscape and political alignments.

In a Nutshell

Looking back at the history of Christianity spreading in Europe, it’s clear that calling it a peaceful religion is far from accurate. The four key events discussed — the Sack of Jerusalem, the Albigensian Crusade, the Reconquista, and the Baltic Crusades — offer stark reminders of the violence, bloodshed, and societal upheaval that accompanied the spread of Christianity.

From the massacre of Muslim and Jewish inhabitants in Jerusalem to the suppression and annihilation of Cathar communities in southern France, and from the centuries-long military campaigns to reclaim territories in the Iberian Peninsula to the violent subjugation of pagan peoples in the Baltic region, Christianity’s historical footprint is stained with the blood of millions.

These stories tell us that history hasn’t always been quite peaceful, and Christianity has been methodically used to justify violence and force people to change their beliefs. Looking at these stories, we need to face the fact that Christianity has a past of hurting others and is not any better than other Abrahamic religions.