The Place of Jerusalem in Western Crusading Rites of Departure (1095–1300)

Crusaders underwent a liturgical rite of departure that was built upon the rite for departing pilgrims in which a cross blessing was added to the blessing of scrip and staff. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the symbolism of the cross and the meaning of the rite were developing and fluid, but became increasingly associated with Jerusalem pilgrimage and Jerusalem crusade. In turn, the evocation of Jerusalem was increasingly associated with the physical and obtainable place of Christ’s life (rather than the eschatological Jerusalem of the salvific future). The rite also reflected developing values of crusading spirituality.