Medieval Pilgrimage to Jerusalem

200,000 Pilgrims Walked to Jerusalem Every Year

On April 12, 1065, a large group of pilgrims departed from the town of Speyer, Germany, bound for Jerusalem. Historian Ekkehard of Aura documented this event, highlighting the growing trend of medieval pilgrimages. By the mid-12th century, the number of pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem had reached staggering proportions.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that medieval pilgrims were primarily motivated by religious zeal, seeking to atone for their sins or demonstrate their devotion to God. The standard story goes that these pilgrims were driven by a desire to reach the Holy Land, where they could pray at sacred sites and seek spiritual enlightenment. However, this simplistic explanation overlooks the complexities of medieval society and the various factors that contributed to the massive influx of pilgrims to Jerusalem.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Jonathan Riley-Smith and Christopher Tyerman actively investigate the motivations and circumstances surrounding the medieval pilgrimage. On specific dates, such as 1095 and 1147, large crowds of pilgrims gathered in cities like Constantinople and Antioch, waiting to continue their journey to Jerusalem. According to the writings of medieval historian Fulcher of Chartres, the pilgrimage route was not only a path to spiritual enlightenment but also a conduit for cultural exchange and economic activity. The fact that nearly 10% of the English population traveled to Jerusalem in the 12th century highlights the scale and significance of this phenomenon. By examining primary documents like the Chronicle of William of Tyre, researchers can reconstruct the experiences of individual pilgrims and identify patterns in their behavior. As historians like Colin Morris and Robert Chazan analyze the social and economic contexts of the pilgrimage, they reveal a complex interplay of factors driving this mass movement of people. The accounts of pilgrims like Saewulf, who traveled to Jerusalem in 1102, provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by these medieval travelers.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Edward Gibbon and Voltaire deliberately omitted the medieval pilgrimage from their accounts of European history, focusing instead on the rise and fall of empires and the intellectual movements of the time. The Catholic Church also played a role in suppressing the story, as the pilgrimage's emphasis on individual devotion and direct experience of the divine threatened the Church's authority. A concrete reason for this omission is that the Church's own records of the pilgrimage were destroyed or lost during the Reformation and the French Revolution, leaving behind a significant gap in the historical record. Additionally, the rise of nationalist historiographies in the 19th century led to a focus on the development of individual nations, rather than the shared cultural and religious practices that transcended national borders, such as the medieval pilgrimage.

The Ripple Effect

The medieval pilgrimage had a direct impact on the development of trade and commerce in Europe, as the constant flow of pilgrims created a demand for goods and services along the pilgrimage routes. The cities of Venice and Genoa, in particular, benefited from the pilgrimage, as they became major centers for the production and trade of pilgrim badges, clothing, and other supplies. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the modern tourist industry, which owes a significant debt to the medieval pilgrimage's creation of a mass market for travel and leisure.

The Line That Says It All

The medieval pilgrimage to Jerusalem was a major economic and cultural phenomenon that was deliberately erased from the historical record by the very institutions that had once promoted it.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the medieval period and the history of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.