The War to End All Wars
Faith
Just War Theory
The Catholic Just War Theory is a set of ethical principles and criteria that helps guide the evaluation of whether a war can be morally justified. The Just War Theory has its roots in both classical philosophy and Christian theology, particularly in the writings of Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas. This Theory has been refined and developed by various theologians and scholars. The Just War Theory has two main parts: jus ad bellum (the justice of war) and jus ad bello (justice in war).
The Crusades
History
During the 11th century, the Seljuk Turks had conquered a large portion of the Byzantine Empire and had advanced into Anatolia, threatening the Byzantine capital, Constantinople. In 1095, Emperor Alexios I sent a plea for assistance to Pope Urban II, seeking military aid to repel the Seljuk Turks and reclaim territories lost in Asia Minor. In November 1095, Pope Urban II delivered a sermon at the Council of Clermont in France, urging Christians to embark on a holy war to defend their brethren in the East and to recapture Jerusalem from the Muslims. He promised those who participated in the crusade that their sins would be forgiven, and they would attain salvation. The response to Pope Urban II's call was overwhelming, and tens of thousands of people from various backgrounds, including knights, nobles, commoners, and clerics, took the cross and formed several independent armies.
“True religion looks upon as peaceful those wars that are waged not for motives of aggrandizement or cruelty, but with the object of securing peace or punishing evil-doers, and of uplifting the good.” (Saint Augustine).
The Crusades were an act of Just War because they met the requirements for a Just War. St. Augustine, quoted by St. Thomas, said, “A just war is apt to be described as one that avenges wrongs, when a nation or state has to be punished, for refusing to make amends for the wrongs inflicted by its subjects or to return what it has seized unjustly.” The first crusade’s intentions were just and pure, as the Turks oppressed any non-Muslim pilgrim who traveled to Jerusalem. However, after capturing Jerusalem, the Crusaders did not follow jus ad bello, justice in war, as they slaughtered all the inhabitants of the Holy City.