Ch. VII THE COUNCILS OF PIACENZA AND CLERMONT 221 
 
 
has indicated, neither RaymQnd of Aguilers nor the anonymous author of the
Gesta Francorum mentions Clermont. But, although these early chroniclers
were eager to get on with the story of the expedition in which they participated,
others, who attended the council, were careful not to neglect it. Thus Robert
the Monk, when he undertook to rewrite the Gesta soon after the turn of the
century, complained that his source did not have its proper begin ning at
Clermont. The glorious success of the crusade brought fame to the council
where it originated. 
 At first Urban was regarded as the author of the movement that began at
Clermont. Bernold, writing while the crusade was in progress, said "the lord
pope was the chief author of this expe dition." Writing from Antioch in 1098,
the leaders asked the pope to come over and finish the war "which is your
very Own".' But Urban had said that it was "God's work", that "Christ was
the leader" — and so plausible did such propaganda seem that the success
of the movement was regarded as divinely assured. If 
Series, 2 vOIS. London, 1887—1889), wrote about the council some thirty
years after. As he was not there, he depends chiefly on Fuicher, but adds
information gained from others who attended. 
 The beginnings of the crusade have interested recent historians. C. Erdmann,
Die Entssehung des Kreuzzugsgedanken (Stuttgart, 1935), traces the ideas
which contributed to crusading from patristic times, and is a rich source
of information for all antecedents. He has been criticized for not distinguishing
between holy war and crusade. M. Villey, La Croisade Essai sur la formation
d'une théorie juridique (Paris, 1942), indicates that Urban was the
originator of the crusade as an institution. P. Rousset, Les Origines et
les caracte'res de la premie're croisade (Neuchatel, 1945), reveals ideas
and attitudes in contemporary literature. B. Leib, Rome, Kiev, et Byzance
a la fin du XIme siicle (Paris, 1924), emphasizes church union. Two articles
by W. Holtzmann, "Studien zur Orientpolitik des Reforms papsttums und zur
Entstehung des ersten Kreuzzuges," Historische rierteljahrschrift, XXII (1924),
167—199, and "Die Unionsverhandlungen zwischen Kaiser Alexios I und
Papst Urban II im Jahre 1089," Byzantinische Zeitschrift, XXVIII (1928),
39—67, give other views of the significance of church union. F. Chalandon,
Histoire de la premiire croisade (Paris, 1925), suggests that the importance
of the Council of Clermont has been overemphasized. M. W. Baldwin, "Some
Recent Interpretations of Pope Urban's Eastern Policy," The Catholic Historical
Review, XXV (1940), 459—466, and A. C. Krey, "Urban's Crusade, Success
or Failure ?" AHR, LIII (1948), 235—250, hold union of the churches
to have been Urban's guiding motive. D. C. Munro, "The Speech of Pope Urban
II at Clermont," AHR, XI (1906), 23 1—242, analyzes the versions of
the pope's speech as reported by chroniclers who were present. R. Crozet,
"Le Voyage d'Urbain II et ses negotiations avec le clerge de France," RH,
CLXXIX (i), 271—3 10, and "Le Voyage d'Urbain II en France," Annales
duMidi, XLIX (1937), 42—69, has traced the pope's itinerary, and A.
Fliche, "Urbain II et la croisade," Revue de l'histoire de l'iglise de France,
XIII (1927), 289-306, suggests the possible effect of the journey in France
on Urban's decision to preach the crusade. 
 Among other recent discussions of origins may be noted: E. Joranson, "The
Spurious 
Letter of Emperor Alexius to the Count of Flanders," AHR,, LV (' 950), 3—43;
S. Runciman, 
A History of the Crusades, vol. I, The First Crusade (Cambridge, 1951); F.
Duncaif, "The 
Pope's Plan for the First Crusade," The Crusades and Other Historical Essays
Presented to 
D. C. Munro (New York, 1928), pp. 44—56; U. Schwerin, Die Aufrufe der
Papste zur Befreiung 
des Heiligen Landes von den Anfangen bis zunz Ausgang Innocenz VI (Ebering,
Historischc 
Studien, 301. Berlin, 1937). 
 
 1 Bernold, Chronicon (MGH, SS., V), p. 464; H. Hagenmeyer, Epistulae, p.
164: "...bel lum, quod tuum proprium est."