Sand underneath my feet, the sun shinning in my eyes, wind blowing, it was a beautiful day. A day I will never forget, the day I found it. .
My name is Eric Diaz and I have just come across a magnificent finding. I hold in my hands a journal belonging to Glen Lewis of Clermont. He was a Crusader, who took part in, what Pope Urban II called a "Holy War," a Crusade, to gain control of Jerusalem, the Holy Land, of which the Muslims controlled in 1093. Over the next 200 years Crusades were launched. The goal being to recover Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslim Turks. .
I had always herd about the Crusades. I being a Christian was always fascinated by them. I never thought I would be reading the journal of a participant. These few passages take me through the life, motives and thoughts of a Crusader - a knight. .
I have always known, since I was little that the only way I would acquire land was to become a knight. I am the youngest son of my father, so I would not inherit his property. I looked for a position in society. I, only being a French peasant, had to become a squire. I became Knight John Adams" apprentice. My duties were to take care of his horses and equipment all while going through intense training. At last I finally became a full fledge knight.
In 1096, I was one of the 60,000 nights that became a Crusader; there was so much excitement and anticipation. We all suited up in our armor with red crosses sewn on tunics. All were shouting "God wills it!" .
While we marched eastward I heard men talk about why they wanted to become a Crusader. Some said for the riches, others for the land and the journey, but most said for religious motives. Pope Urban said that if a Night died on a Crusade, there would be a place for them in heaven, and that was good enough for me. .
. Believe it or not, Merchants were a big part of the Crusades. They profited by making cash loans to financing the Crusades.