Crusader battlefield deaths were not technically martyrdom in medieval theology

Evidence

It may be safest to conclude that fighting against the Muslims was regarded as a holy exercise, a good work which would count very strongly on the side of salvation if one were killed in the process; but not, technically, as martyrdom. It did not make absolution superfluous. There was, however, no embarrassment in using the term ‘martyr’ emotionally and evocatively of those who died in battle. Runciman’s main point is that in the West bellicosity was consecrated by Crusading in a way unknown to the Church before, but it may be argued with all respect that he slightly overstated it. We may certainly maintain that we are here concerned much more with a matter of sentiment than with theology proper. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1784

The canonical position during the Crusades is not in doubt. Nothing was said of martyrdom, but for taking part a plenary indulgence was granted, on condition of a contrite heart and of oral confession. This positively excludes the idea of martyrdom. … It may be safest to conclude that fighting against the Muslims was regarded as a holy exercise, a good work which would count very strongly on the side of salvation if one were killed in the process; but not, technically, as martyrdom. It did not make absolution superfluous. There was, however, no embarrassment in using the term ‘martyr’ emotionally and evocatively of those who died in battle. Runciman’s main point is that in the West bellicosity was consecrated by Crusading in a way unknown to the Church before, but it may be argued with all respect that he slightly overstated it. We may certainly maintain that we are here concerned much more with a matter of sentiment than with theology proper. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1784

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to sacrificial-ritual themes and the distinction between theological categories and popular sentiment in other works. — connects to: Medieval Christian theology could glorify enemy deaths as service to Christ; Early crusading promised salvation, not martyrdom, for battlefield deaths.; The distinction between intentional and compelled sacrifice fails for holy war — Wendy Brown, Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism’s…, 733
• DEFINE: Clarifies the precise medieval Christian distinction between holy-war death and technical martyrdom — useful definitional precision.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1784