An evaluation of the motives of Christians from different classes to take the cross

Motives of the Nobility and Higher Classes

Many members of the nobility were driven by religious devotion and a desire to fight for their faith. Pope Urban II’s call to arms at the Council of Clermont in 1095 was seen as an opportunity for Christian knights to demonstrate their piety.
There was also a status-driven motive for their involvement. Engaging in a holy war and leading troops in the name of their faith could enhance a noble’s prestige among their peers. Many saw the Crusades as an opportunity to increase their standing within their own society.
The promise of wealth and land was another significant incentive. In territories they conquered, Crusaders could seize riches and properties, presenting an attractive prospect for nobles seeking to expand their domains.

Knights often joined the crusades in search of financial gain. The promise of looted wealth and land territories from conquered lands offered a chance to rise in station.
The Crusades presented an opportunity for these knightly classes to fulfil their chivalric code of the warrior, allowing them to demonstrate bravery and martial prowess.
The idea of indulgences was a significant pull. The Church promised that those who fought in the Crusades would be absolved of any sins, an attractive concept to those who believed in the threat of eternal punishment.

Religious fervour was a significant motivator as peasant classes took Pope Urban II’s speech to heart, believing that participating in a holy war would secure their place in heaven.
Many had hope for social advancement. In the chaos of war, they glimpsed an opportunity to rise above their status and improve their lives.
Escape from serfdom. For some peasants, the Crusades offered an escape from their feudal obligations and from the monotony and hardship of their everyday lives.
Desire for adventure and a better life. Stories of the East, with its purported riches and wonders, fuelled the imagination of many lower-class individuals, providing a powerful draw.