The Vow - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0974930598 ISBN 13: 9780974930596

Inhaltsangabe

For two hundred years during the Middle Ages—between 1096 and 1291AD—Europe launched a total of seven crusades on the Middle East. These attacks started during the reign of Pope Urban II as an attempt to "reclaim" biblical lands for Christians whose safety in the region had come into jeopardy years earlier.

At first, joining the crusades was seen as a sign of great piety and courage. Crusaders were promised by the pope that all those remaining in military service for one year would receive forgiveness for their sins. Sometimes, military service was unavoidable—kings would lead an army, followed by their high ranking nobles, knights and lords, and their vassals, brothers, and nephews.

As the crusades continued, most combatants remained religious in name only, and the brutality of some caused enduring harm to Europe-Middle East relations. By the time of the Seventh Crusade, profit from looting or from supplying troops may have been the main motive for participating. Another motive for as many of half of the participants in later crusades was to simply escape Europe.

This exciting novel by Robert Page explores the characters, life, and setting of the Third Crusade, around 1100 AD. Most of the events chronicled by this work of fiction are true.

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Robert Page began his writing career in the 1990s after retiring from forty years of high-level service in government and business. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Mr. Page served as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Chairman of the Panama Canal Commission, and a member of President Reagan's Export Council and the first President Bush's Domestic Policy Council. In business he has served as the president and CEO of the MW Kellogg Company and the George A. Fuller Company, and has held senior executive positions with Rockefeller Family and Associates, Bechtel, ARAMCO, and McDermott International.

Mr. Page began his career as an Assistant Professor of Engineering at American University in Beirut in the early 1950s. He currently teaches at American University in Washington, DC and at MIT.

Mr. Page and his wife, Nancy, have four children and reside in Washington, DC. The Vow is his second novel. His first novel, The Chain, was released in 2002.

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"We must aid our brethren in the east from the murderous tyranny of the infidels. We must reclaim Jerusalem where our Christ died. Those who join this crusade will be given absolution." The pope moved his hand in the sign of the Cross and blessed the crowd. A murmur that turned into a wave of hushed voices passed through the throng. The murmurs were soft at first and then a voice cried from the rear, "Deus le Volt (God wills it)!" Soon the shout became as a single voice raised to a steady chant echoing across the field behind the great cathedral.

The three great lord knights, led by Baldwin, rose and moved in a procession through the throng whose voices were raised in the melody of the songs of deeds, "Chansons de Geste."

Following the pope s speech, the lords met in the chapter house of the cathedral. In the chill darkness, the pope was to choose one of them to lead the great crusade. DuBois from Toulouse and Digby from Normandy were close allies. Baldwin from Burgundy stood alone, a man of fortune, ambition and greed.

The lords sat anxiously waiting for the pope to arrive. DuBois and Digby sat together speaking in hushed tones, and apart from Baldwin, a man they both disliked and feared.

All three were aware of the immensity of being the first to govern Jerusalem. Land, power, fortune, and a kingdom awaited in a realm far distant from the devious and vicious fiefdoms of impoverished Europe. Lord Baldwin, however, envisioned having even more power. His would be a total kingdom, encompassing not only the political but the religious dynasty of the church. He would have power greater than any crown, embracing all of the Christian factions Byzantine as well as the Roman church. Baldwin saw himself as the leader of a new era of Constantine.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0974930598
• ISBN 13: 9780974930596
• Einband: Gebundene Ausgabe
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar