Sicily, Constantinople, and Jerusalem: A Geographical Pattern in Crusading Expectations along the Centuries
Marco Giardini
Among the aims of Charles VIII’s Italian expedition, reappropriation kingdoms Naples and Jerusalem served as main purpose for preparing decisive crusade that would regain to Christianity. However, connection established by several early modern sources between claims kingdom expedition Levant had already been expressed in previous centuries very similar terms. Also, case I Anjou thirteenth century, acquisition Sicily was perceived a necessary precondition setting military campaigns aiming at recovering Constantinople Jerusalem. The same pattern appears also Benzo Alba’s Ad Heinricum imperatorem (eleventh century), where pacification Southern Italy is presented first step towards reunification Constantinopolitan empire conquest under rule Henry IV. paper intends shed light on geographical periodically emerges various iterations crusading (and pre-crusading) propaganda (very often intertwined with prophetic expectations) which implied tight interconnection recovery Holy Land unification orbis christianus one universal ruler.
Religions