The Second Crusade and the Cistercians

No subject in medieval history is changing as rapidly as crusade studies. Even so, the Second Crusade has been oddly neglected. The present volume is the first ever to have been devoted to it in English and one of the few which has appeared in any language. The twenty contributors represent six nations on three continents and their work reflects the most recent research on a crusade which mobilized Europe on a larger scale than any expedition undertaken since the time of the Roman Empire. Particular attention is paid to the key role played by St. Bernard and the Cistercians in this crusade and their relations with the Military Orders. An interdisciplinary approach is taken, incorporating history, art and music. One of the most valuable contributions of the volume to crusade scholarship is its unparalleled bibliography, listing over 700 primary and secondary sources.