One of the more noxious characters from the Middle Ages was the fanatical Frankish Cistercian monk (Saint) Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). Here is a letter calling for a Crusade against Niklot and the Suavic Wends. It was written sometime in March, 1147. The idea was that the same privileges would apply to the actions of these northern crusaders as those accorded to the crusaders of the Second Crusade. Interestingly, the Wends rebelled at the time of that crusade was taking place and it is likely that they did so with the knowledge that Frankish armies would be otherwise occupied in their pillaging of Canaan giving the Wends a chance to free themselves.
The brutal language of the letter is particularly striking given that just the year before Bernard spoke against the persecution of Jews in the Mainz area (“Is it not a far better triumph of the Chiurch to convince and convert the Jews than to put them all to the sword?…Who is this man that he should make out the Prophet to be a liar and render void the treasures of Christ’s love and pity?”)
Interestingly, the Cistercians later made similar haughty statements about Polish Suavs.
Miriam squirting breast milk into Bernard’s mouth (not kidding – some weird shit)
The translation is from Bruno Scott James.
“To his lords and reverend fathers, the archbishops, bishops, and princes, and to all the faithful of God, the spirit of strength and deliverance, from Bernard, styled Abbot of Clairvaux.”
“Without doubt it has been heard in your land, without doubt the news has gone forth in oft repeated words that God has stirred up the spirit of kings and princes to take vengeance on the pagans and to wipe out from Christian lands… [MS. defective]. How good and great is the bounty of God’s mercy! But the evil one sees this and resents it, he gnashes his teeth and withers away in fury, for he is losing many of those whom he held bound by various crimes and enormities. Abandoned men are now being converted, turning aside from evil and making ready to do good. But the evil one feared far more the damage he would incur from the conversion of the pagans, when he heard that their tale was to be completed, and that the whole of Israel was to find salvation. This is what he believes to be threatening him now at this very time, and with all his evil cunning he is endeavoring to see how he can best oppose such a great good. He has raised up evil seed, wicked pagan sons, whom, if I may say so, the might of Christendom has endured too long, shutting its eyes to those who with evil intent lie in wait, without crushing their poisoned heads under its heel. But the Scriptures say: ‘Presumption comes first, and ruin close behind it.’ And so God grant that the pride of these peoples may be speedily humbled and the road to Jerusalem not closed on their account. Because the Lord has committed to our insignificance the preaching of this crusade, we make known to you that at the council of the king, bishops, and princes who had come together at Frankfort, the might of Christians was armed against them, and that for the complete wiping out or, at any rate, the conversion of these peoples, they have put on the Cross, the sign of our salvation; and we, by virtue of our authority, promised them the same spiritual privileges as those enjoy who set out towards Jerusalem. Many took the Cross on the spot, the rest we encouraged to do so, so that all Christians who have not yet taken the Cross for Jerusalem may know that they will obtain the same spiritual privileges by undertaking this expedition, if they do so according to the advice of the bishops and princes. We utterly forbid that for any reason whatsoever a truce should be made with these peoples, either for the sake of money or for the sake of tribute, until such a time as, by God’s help, they shall be either converted or wiped out. We speak to you, archbishops and bishops, and urge you to oppose any such plan for a truce with all your strength, and to watch with the greatest care this matter, and to apply all the zeal of which you are capable to seeing that it is carried through manfully. You are the ministers of Christ, and therefore it is demanded of you with all the more confidence that you should watch faithfully over God’s work, which, because it is his work, should be especially your concern. And this is what we too pray for from God with our whole heart. The uniform of this army, in clothes, in arms, and in all else, will be the same as the uniform of the other, for it is fortified with the same privileges. It has pleased gathered together at Frankfort to decree that a copy of this letter should be carried everywhere and that the bishops and priests should proclaim it to the people of God, and arm them with the holy Cross against the enemies of the Cross of Christ, and that they should all meet at Magdeburg on the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul.”
Genschow’s Niklot – Schwerin Castle
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