I know nothing supporting this theory, but considering history and modern affairs, could the Crusades have been a Jewish led larp? Replace all rhetoric in favor of "the holy land" with Israel, then consider how the Iraq war was in the name of freedom and democracy (the new secular religion of the west), but was obviously done partially on behalf of the Jews. I wouldn't be surpised at all if Jews in Constantinople or otherwise in the middle east convinced the Emperor to call for help from the Pope. Just a theory, a sort of shower thought, but does anyone know if there is a possibility that this hypothesis may be true?
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It’s a bit more complex than that based on my readings. Everyone saw it as an opportunity to get some action. Kings gained riches and new lands, peasants gained plunder in various ways by joining their king’s army, the church gained land, clout, and converts, etc etc
The modern Iraq war analogy is closer than it seems at first glance. Yes “prophecy” might be a part of it (could even be the hidden driving force for all I know), but that didn’t stop Halliburton and dyncorp and Boeing from whetting their whistles