History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 2009, the Baltic Crusades, the Livonian Crusade Part 15, the Fourth Later in Council.

Hello again.

Last week we saw a new Holy Roman Emperor arise from the Hoens-Stauphin ashes. Emperor Frederick II. We also saw the Sword Brothers take a step backwards in

their bid for more power in Lavonia after they attempted to blind side Pope Innocent the third

by going directly to the Emperor with their concerns, a move which ultimately backfired.

Well, now it's the year 1215, and it's time to down tools across Europe and head to Rome.

Because Pope Innocent has sent word out that he is convening

an ecumenical council, the largest one yet seen in the history of the church.

Known as the fourth Lateran Council, it will be held in November 1215 and bishops,

archbishops, senior clergymen and power brokers from across Europe

were invited to travel to Rome to attend.

We discussed this council way back in episode 156 during our series on the Crusade against the Cathars.

You might recall that Count Raymond the 6th will attend this council, along with the 18-year- old future Count Raymond the 7th who

oddly travelled to Rome disguised as a merchant's servant. Arnold Armory will also be there, along with Simon de Monfort's brother, Gee.

Well, not only will the main players in the crusade against the Cathars be in attendance?

The main players in the Baltic Crusades are also intending to make the journey.

Those players being Bishop Albert, Bishop Theodoric, and the man who has been acting as Bishop Albert's caretaker in Lavonia for the past few years Bishop Philip of Ratsburg. Now Bishop Albert

didn't have that far to travel to get to Rome but Bishop Theodoric and Bishop Philip did. So sensibly, they decided to leave

Lavonia in the summer of 1215, allowing plenty of time to sail to Gotland, then Lubeck, then make the journey

overland to Rome.

And it was a very good thing that they allowed plenty of time. Why? Well, because Bishop Theodoric and Bishop Phillips journey to Rome was like a mini Odyssey, an action-packed journey full

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