The Crusades were Western Christianity's first tactical mission to reconquer the Holy Lands conquered by the Muslims. Several people were credited with launching the Crusades, including Peter the Hermit, however it is now clear that this responsibility rested primarily with Pope Urban II. The main objective of the Crusades was the result of an appeal by Alexios II, who had asked for help from Western volunteers to prevent further invasions. The Pope's actions are seen as his response to the requests for help of another in need, fulfilling his Christian right. However, from reading the documents it is clear that Pope Urban had ulterior motives for encouraging involvement in the war against the Turks. The documents and supporting arguments now highlight that the Pope not only sought to recruit soldiers to help, but also to challenge those who had harmed the Christian community and annihilated Muslims. He put forward the idea that failure to reconquer these lands would anger God, and that by participating, God would redeem them from their previous sins. In a time of deep devotion, it is clear that this would have been a huge incentive for men to engage in battle. Whether or not his motives were clear to his people, Pope Urban's speeches declaring that “Deus vult!” (God Willing) encouraged many Christians to participate and take up the cross. Pope Urban II naturally had religious control over his people and when he gave his speech at the Council of Clermont in November 1905, he consistently referred to it as the will of God. His speech reminded them that the Crusades were “their concern as well as that of God." Throughout his speech, the Pope constantly tries to align men's need to fight with the...... middle of paper......The Pope creates many aspects of his argument, conveying the need not only to to redeem but also to repay their debts to God for making them the chosen race. He provokes the ire of many by talking about the horrific crimes Muslims are apparently committing, using starkly graphic images to engage his followers. Bibliography: Primary sources: Guibert of Nogent. Week Six, Document Four. Fulcher of Chartres. Week six, document one. Robert the monk. Week Six, Document Two.Baldric of Dol. Week Six, Document Three. Secondary Sources: Carleton-Munro, Dana. The speech of Pope Urban II. In Clermont, 1095. The American Historical Review. 11. n. 2 (1906): 231.Madden, John F. The Crusades: The Essential Readings. Willey-Blackwell, 2002.Riley-Smith, Jonathan. The Crusades: A History. Continuum international publishing group, 2005.