Rumored desecrations and papal indulgences stiffened crusader resolve

Evidence

What put some determination into a renewed Christian assault was an atrocity story that did the rounds. Allegedly communion wafers were stolen from a church at Chilches, and the scandal was exacerbated by the consequent decision to postpone the Corpus Christi processions of May 31. With their religious zeal thus aroused and with the license for pillage and murder that was provided by the plenary indulgence a culpa et a poena sent by the pope to those joining the army, the 4,000 local troops fought fiercely, and alongside them 3,000 seasoned German soldiers intended for service in Italy who had been diverted by the emperor and turned against the Muslims. — L. P. Harvey, Muslims in Spain, 1500 to 1614, 500

Categorization

• ADDENDUM: Supports the sacrifice article’s treatment of how religious zeal and papal license authorized slaughter; the communion-wafer atrocity story is another instance of ritual desecration narratives mobilizing violence.
• QUESTION: The communion-wafer theft is ‘allegedly’ — is there any evidence it was staged or invented by authorities to justify the assault?