The Battle Rhetoric of Crusade and Holy War, c. 1099-c. 1222

This book examines Latin narratives produced in the aftermath of the First Crusade and challenges the narrative of supposed brutality and amorality of warfare in this period - instead focusing on the moral and didactic concerns surrounding warfare and violence with which medieval authors wrestled.

Connor Christopher Wilson is an historian of the early and central Middle Ages, with a particular interest in the Crusades, the Crusader States, monasticism and monastic writing. His PhD thesis was completed in 2018 at Royal Holloway, University of London. He has lectured in History at Lancaster University.

1. The Battle Oration and Classical Rhetoric 2. 'No war of the flesh, but of the spirit': The Battle Rhetoric of Penitential Pilgrimage 3. The Victory of the familia Christi and the Development of Crusade Ideology 4. Justice, Authority and Legitimate Violence in Holy War 5. Vengeance, Martyrdom and Heroic Failure in Military Service to Christ