Előzetes egyezségek a zsákmányról a 12–13. századi keresztes hadjáratok során

During a long military campaign, especially an international venture on foreign soil, maintaining the unity and discipline of the army was a key task, especially in the harsh conditions that awaited the crusaders arriving in Syria, Palestine or Egypt. In order to maintain the determination of their soldiers, the army leaders were expected to compensate the soldiers with gold, treasure, the promise of a quick fortune and thus the hope of a better life. consequently, the distribution and sharing of the spoils of war were in the interests of all the parties involved in the Crusade. In this essay, i have collected a number of references in contemporary sources to demonstrate that certain prior agreements were already made in the period to regulate the fate of the expected spoils. it is true, however, that these agreements cannot be considered as sophisticated and detailed as in the late medieval and early modern eras. Nonetheless, studying agreements on the spoils to be taken in the crusades not only sheds light on the customs regulating their sharing, but allows us to examine the practical aspects of spoils management itself. Numerous contemporary sources attest to the fact that the fair distribution of booty was often problematic and abuses were common, Whether in Christian or Muslim armies. For this reason, the crusaders and military orders sometimes sought to reach a separate agreement with the leader or leaders of the undertaking in order to secure for themselves a share of any booty proportionate to their military strength and contribution. These agreements could not only guarantee a share commensurate with the contribution of the parties involved, but also prevent any resulting conflict. Since the success of the multinational armies of the Crusades depended crucially on the cooperation of their leaders any conflict that might threaten this unity had to be avoided and, if possible, prevented. Covering the costs of waging war far from domestic homelands was not an easy task, and logistical as well as financial problems could hinder the efficiency even of the most well-organized institutions, such as the military orders. Thus, any kind of income gained directly on the spot, that is on the Holy Land, was essential. The article studies the methods of division and storing of war booty during the 13th-century crusades in the Holy Land. It argues that preliminary agreements and privileges offered legal and accepted ways to ignore customarily established proportions, thus allowing participants to acquire a larger share from the spoils and to finance their military activity.