Crusade Indulgence

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)

"[A] thoughtful and well-researched book… for anyone who desires to understand how the concept of the remission of penance became linked to the phenomenon of the crusades, this study provides a valuable analysis… [the author] manages to master a confusing and difficult story that ling has needed this type of patient and painstaking study."Brian Patrick McGuire, Revue d'Histoire Ecclésiastique, Vol. 111, No. 1-2, 2016"Ane Bysted’s meticulously researched book provides an outstanding contribution to the diversification of the study of the Crusades and is a most authoritative case study within the field of medieval theology. It is a challenging, yet essential read for any scholar in either of these disciplines."Jan Vandeburie, The Journal of Religious History, Literature and Culture, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2016

• Preface Abbreviations1. Introduction1.1. Definition of indulgences1.1.1. Problems related to confessional disputes1.2. Historiography of the crusade indulgences1.2.1. The historiography within the history of theology and doctrine1.2.2. The ‘Gottlob-thesis’ and the transcendental effect1.2.3. The historiography within histories of the crusades1.2.4. Conclusions2. Origins2.1.1. The reward granted at Clermont 10952.1.2. Spiritual rewards for warriors before the First Crusade 2.1.3. Pope Urban II and the spiritual merit for the First Crusade3. Theological Development3.1. The indulgences in the eleventh century3.1.1. The emergence of indulgences3.1.2. The penitential discipline3.1.3. The meaning of penances in the late eleventh century3.1.4. Conclusions3.2. The theology of indulgences3.2.1. Twelfth-century theology on penances3.2.2. The discussion begins: Peter Abelard3.2.3. The theology of indulgences until c. 12303.2.4. The Fourth Lateran Council 12153.2.5. The treasury of merit3.2.6. The theologians on the crusade indulgences3.2.7. The theologian crusaders3.2.8. Conclusions4. Institutional Development4.1. The crusade indulgence as a privilege4.2. The development of the spiritual privilege4.2.1. The formation of the formula4.2.2. The significance of the various formulas4.2.2.1. Remissions of sins4.2.2.2. Remissions of penances4.2.3. Summary of the significance of the various formulas4.2.4. The warrant of the effect4.2.5. Conclusions5. Earning Merit5.1. Defence of Christ and Christendom5.1.2. Theories of just war5.1.3. The fifth commandment5.2. Service of Christ and imitation of Christ5.3. From sacrificium acceptabile to tempus acceptabile5.4. Conclusions6. Proclaiming The Message6.1. Preachers and sermons7. ConclusionsAppendix A: Decrees of spiritual rewards for crusades, 1095-1215Appendix B: TablesBibliography