****of***** Entree
The Fourth Crusade was a fascinating look at the Crusade initiated
by Pope Innocent III, told from the perspective of Ruggerio, a young priest who
was deployed to join the Crusade to liberate the Holy Land from the control of
Muslims. I was particularly struck by the parallels between the past and
current problems waged between two of the largest religions in the world. I
didn’t exactly like some of the depictions of battle and violence but appreciated
their necessity and purpose. Ruggerio is the oldest of three children born to
an unemployed soldier. Unlike his passionate and violent younger brother,
Ruggerio’s gentle nature makes him unsuitable for training as a soldier or even
for protecting his sister, so he is given to the church. Reunited with his
father and brother, Ruggerio trains and becomes a successful warrior priest as
the fourth crusade makes it way to the Holy Land. As Ruggerio witnesses the
Crusaders killing, raping, and looting Christian towns to provision themselves
and raise funds for the Crusade, Ruggerio fights disillusionment more than
infidels. After a major conflict, he heads home to Barcelona believing that if
he can only tell the rulers the true story of the Fourth Crusade, future wars
may be averted. This was a really good read.
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