Quantum praedecessores facts for kids

Quantum praedecessores was an important message from Pope Eugenius III. It was like a special letter called a papal bull. This bull was sent out on December 1, 1145. Its main goal was to ask people to join a big journey and fight, known as the Second Crusade. This was the very first time a Pope used a special letter like this to start a crusade.

What Was Quantum Praedecessores?

Why Was This Message Sent?

The Pope sent this message because of some really bad news. In December 1144, a city called Edessa was captured. Edessa was an important Christian city in the Middle East. People who had traveled from the East brought news of Edessa's fall to Europe in 1145. Soon, leaders from places like the Principality of Antioch, the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the Kingdom of Armenia visited the Pope. They came directly to his court in Viterbo. One of these visitors was Bishop Hugh of Jabala, who helped share the news.

What Did the Message Say?

Like most papal bulls, this one didn't have a specific title. It became known by its first few words in Latin. The first sentence started with "Quantum praedecessores nostri Romani pontifices..." This means, "How much our predecessors the Roman popes worked for the freedom of the Eastern Church..." The bull was written in a town called Vetralla. It briefly talked about the First Crusade. It also expressed sadness about the loss of Edessa, which was one of the oldest Christian cities. The message was sent directly to Louis VII of France and his people. It promised that anyone who joined the crusade would have their sins forgiven. It also promised to protect their families and belongings. This was similar to what Pope Urban II had promised before the First Crusade. People who finished the crusade, or died trying, were promised complete forgiveness for their sins.

How Was the Message Received?

King Louis VII was already planning his own crusade. At first, he might have ignored the Pope's message. It's possible that the visitors from the East had also spoken with King Louis. However, Louis later talked with a famous preacher named Bernard of Clairvaux. After this, Louis decided to get the Pope's blessing. So, Louis's crusade received full support from the Pope. The papal bull was sent out again on March 1, 1146. Bernard of Clairvaux then began to preach about the crusade. He traveled throughout France and later to Germany. In Germany, he convinced Conrad III of Germany to join the crusade as well.

What Happened Next?

Even though this was the first papal bull to call for a crusade, the Pope didn't play a big role in the rest of the journey. The First Crusade didn't have a special bull like this. Support for it was gathered at a meeting called the Council of Clermont in 1095. News spread quickly through popular preaching. Pope Urban II was seen as the leader of that crusade. By the mid-12th century, the Pope's power had become a bit weaker. The city of Rome was controlled by a group called the Commune of Rome. Even though some papal representatives, called legates, went with the crusade, King Louis and King Conrad were in charge, not a religious leader. Sadly, most of the crusader army was destroyed as they marched through Anatolia. Louis and Conrad later joined the army from Jerusalem. They tried to capture Damascus in 1148, but they were not successful.