Assess the significance of the role of the Papacy in bringing about change to the nature and purpose of crusading in the years 1095-1215

From 1095 to 1215, the Papacy was at the heart of the nature and purpose of crusading. It has been argued in some cases that the true motives of the Church were to utilise crusading as a tool for their own needs. Other perspectives suggest that crusades were called simply to establish the dominance of Christianity in the Middle East, or to create a papal army. However, as the crusading period progressed, the extent of the Papacy's influence over the expeditions was frequently challenged and manipulated. The lack of papal control on the ground created an untenable barrier between the crusades and the Church, largely limiting papal influence throughout the period under study.Most significantly, the nature and purpose of crusading were continually shaped by the growing role of secular leaders, such as Louis VII and Richard I. This was especially the case, once the expeditions had reached the Middle East. 

Key Paragraph Themes: Papal Control, Secular Leadership, Practical Problems (Promoting Secular Involvement)