Part 8/14:
The Byzantine request for military aid transformed utterly upon reaching Urban II. Instead of a small contingent of soldiers, Urban envisioned a pan-European crusade that could galvanize the faithful, heal the rift between Latin and Greek Christians, and elevate papal authority. At Claremont, Urban's rhetoric fused Medieval ideas of pilgrimage, penance, and warfare into a compelling narrative that appealed to a wide audience.