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The Crusades, the Genoese and the Latin East - DSpace at ...

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<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> first <strong>Genoese</strong> fleets made <strong>the</strong>ir way to assist <strong>the</strong> <strong>L<strong>at</strong>in</strong> <strong>East</strong>. Over 2000 documents are,<br />

however, available for <strong>the</strong> years 1190 - 1192, from <strong>the</strong> cartularies of Oberto Scriba, Guglielmo<br />

Cassinese <strong>and</strong> a few dozen documents by Guglielmo di Sori. For <strong>the</strong> period before <strong>the</strong> crusade<br />

<strong>the</strong>re exist over 1000 more documents; all are <strong>at</strong>tributed to Oberto Scriba di Merc<strong>at</strong>o. " <strong>The</strong><br />

comparison between <strong>the</strong> periods of commerce before 1187 <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> beginning of <strong>the</strong> 1190s is<br />

interesting in itself; however, <strong>the</strong> contracts from <strong>the</strong> period of <strong>the</strong> crusade, 1190-2, are especially<br />

significant for <strong>the</strong> study of <strong>the</strong> Third Crusade.<br />

<strong>The</strong> cartularies contain many documents th<strong>at</strong> may contribute to <strong>the</strong> above questions; <strong>the</strong>y<br />

open a window into commercial life during times of crisis <strong>and</strong> war. Hundreds of commercial<br />

contracts deal with investments as well as imports <strong>and</strong> exports of a variety of goods. Some of <strong>the</strong><br />

contracts th<strong>at</strong> were made between shipowners <strong>and</strong> merchants, sailors or even crusaders are<br />

especially significant. <strong>The</strong>se documents will be examined closely in this chapter. Importantly,<br />

although <strong>the</strong> crusade is not explicitly mentioned in <strong>the</strong> contracts, every travelling contract to<br />

Ultramare is, in a direct or indirect way, about <strong>the</strong> crusade.<br />

Based on this research it will be argued th<strong>at</strong> scholarship on <strong>the</strong> Third Crusade has under-<br />

appreci<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> contribution of individual <strong>Genoese</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> activity of <strong>the</strong> commune's contingent<br />

th<strong>at</strong> sailed to Tyre in 1189. <strong>The</strong> fighting spirit of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Genoese</strong> had left a remarkable impression in<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>L<strong>at</strong>in</strong> <strong>East</strong>. Moreover, it will be argued th<strong>at</strong> Genoa paid a heavy price when some of <strong>the</strong><br />

distinguished personnel of <strong>the</strong> commune, who led <strong>the</strong> crusade, perished in <strong>the</strong> <strong>L<strong>at</strong>in</strong> <strong>East</strong>.<br />

Similarly, some individuals' dedic<strong>at</strong>ion can be traced throughout <strong>the</strong> period from <strong>the</strong> spontaneous<br />

acts of shipowners <strong>and</strong> merchants in 1187 to <strong>the</strong> continuous support, including don<strong>at</strong>ions of<br />

money <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> shipping of supplies, in <strong>the</strong> following years. <strong>The</strong> commitment of Genoa as a<br />

commune is distinguishable in <strong>the</strong> shipping contract it signed with <strong>the</strong> king of France in February<br />

1190, after which it did not allow priv<strong>at</strong>e enterprise until <strong>the</strong> French failed to embark in time <strong>and</strong><br />

caused economic disturbance in Genoa.<br />

On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong>and</strong>, it will be argued th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> Third Crusade, which was organised during<br />

times of profound emotional distress over <strong>the</strong> fall of Jerusalem, also cre<strong>at</strong>ed gre<strong>at</strong> expect<strong>at</strong>ions in<br />

Genoa of vast profits. When a shipping contract was signed between Genoa <strong>and</strong> France for <strong>the</strong><br />

shipping of thous<strong>and</strong>s of French knights to <strong>the</strong> <strong>L<strong>at</strong>in</strong> <strong>East</strong>, it meant a commitment on both sides.<br />

This contract is important for <strong>the</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing of <strong>the</strong> practicalities of <strong>the</strong> crusade as well as <strong>the</strong><br />

mentality of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Genoese</strong> merchants who organised <strong>and</strong> embarked on <strong>the</strong> crusade. <strong>The</strong> various<br />

implic<strong>at</strong>ions of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Genoese</strong> commitment to <strong>the</strong> crusade will be examined. It will be argued, for<br />

"An index to <strong>the</strong> cartularies was published by <strong>the</strong> archive of Genoa. See Marco Bologna, Cartolari<br />

notarili Genovesi: inventario (Genoa, 1990). However, this index contains many mistakes. I would like to<br />

thank David Abulafia <strong>and</strong> Steven Epstein for <strong>the</strong>ir helpful warning on <strong>the</strong> errors in this index <strong>and</strong> for<br />

referring me to a corrected copy, which is only available in Genoa, in <strong>the</strong> archives' main reading room.<br />

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