At the Council of Clermont in 1095, Pope Urban II gave a stirring speech designed to rouse Christian knights for a holy war against Muslim "infidels." Five versions of his speech survive. The following excerpt is from the version recorded by a monk called Fulcher of Chartres:

All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested. O what a disgrace if such a despised and base race, which worships demons, should conquer a people which has the faith of omnipotent God and is made glorious with the name of Christ! With what reproaches will the Lord overwhelm us if you do not aid those who, with us, profess the Christian religion...