were in every way a defensive war. They were the West's belated response to the
Muslim conquest of fully two-thirds of the Christian world.
Dr. Thomas Madden, Nov. 2, 2001
Dr. Thomas Madden is quickly becoming the foremost crusade historian in the United States. Serious students of the crusades in the United States cannot progress far in their studies without becoming aware of his work. He is currently serving as the Chair of the Saint Louis University History Department and is active with the Society for the Study of the Crusades in the Latin East [SSCLE].
His Doctorate is from the University of Illinois, which he received in 1993. His numerous scholarly publications include four books, nine journal articles, three edited volumes, and two essays in edited volumes. His areas of specialty are the Fourth Crusade and medieval Italian history.
Dr. Madden remains active at various conferences promoting scholarship on the crusades, including organizing panels for the SSCLE at the popular International Medieval Congress in Kalamazoo, Mi. each May. In addition to his numerous scholarly publications, his articles in Catholic publications are often found online, as well as a scathing attack on the abuse of Crusades history for modern political purposes found on National Review Online. Dr. Madden has not been alone in his criticism of the manipulation of crusades history for modern political agendas, as the respected Cambridge historian Jonathan Riley-Smith has been equally active in combating such such efforts.
Under Dr. Madden's leadership, as Chair of the History Department, the St. Louis Graduate History program is quickly becoming recognized as one of the top centers in the United States for crusades studies. In February of 2006 St. Louis University hosted a major international symposium on the crusades which featured many of the best crusades scholars in the United States and Europe [Jonathan Riley-Smith, Carole Hillenbrand, John France, Michael Lower, etc..]. Additionally, his doctoral students are active in the pursuit of crusades scholarship, often presenting conference papers, occasionally publishing online, and in recent years SLU History PhD graduates have been increasingly successful in the massively competitive academic job market.
To view Dr. Madden's Curriculum Vitae, which includes a complete list of his scholarly publications, click here. Provided below are links to some of his various articles available online, which are not listed on his c.v.
Articles, Interviews, and Links:
St. Louis University Medieval and Byzantine History: Graduate Program
Information Page Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East
Crusades Myths, Misunderstandings, and Misconceptions- Crusades-Encyclopedia
Dr. Thomas Madden: Clinton's Folly Hudon Institute- American Outlook
Dr. Thomas Madden: Crusade Propaganda: The Abuse of Christianity's Holy Wars- National Review Online
Dr. Thomas Madden: Crusades of History and Politics Hudson Institute
Dr. Thomas Madden: Crusaders and Historians First Things
Dr. Thomas Madden: The Impact of the Crusades- The Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies
Dr. Thomas Madden: The Real History of the Crusades- Crisis Magazine
Dr. Thomas Madden: The Crusades in the Checkout Aisle- Crisis Magazine
Dr. Thomas Madden: Crusades Myths- Catholic Dossier
Dr. Thomas Madden: The Real Inquisition: Investigating the Popular Myth National Review Online
Dr. Thomas Madden: Onward P.C. Soldiers: Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven National Review Online
Dr. Thomas Madden: Cross Purposes Interview on the Crusades, with William Hamblin Uncommon Knowledge
Dr. Thomas Madden: What the Crusades Were Really Like: Thomas Madden Dispels Myths Interview With Zenit News Service
Vincent Ryan- Crusades-Encyclopedia
(c) Andrew Holt, June 2005- Permission is granted for electronic copying and distribution in print for educational and personal use. No permission is given for commercial use.