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Deus vult (Latin for 'God wills it') is a Christian motto historically tied to ideas of Divine providence and individual interpretation of God's will.[1][2] It was first chanted by Catholics during the First Crusade in 1096 as a rallying cry, most likely under the form Deus le veult or Deus lo vult, as reported by the Gesta Francorum (c. 1100) and the Historia Belli Sacri (c. 1130).[a][1]
In modern times, the Latin motto has different meanings depending on the context. While it has been associated with nationalist ideologies in modern contexts, others interpret it as a historical expression of faith and dedication to divine purpose.[3] It has been used as a metaphor referring to "God's will",[4][5] by Christians throughout history, such as the Puritans,[6] or as a motto by chivalric orders such as the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.[7] In the 21st century, Christian nationalist movements, as well as Christian right and far-right groups, have adopted the motto as a catchphrase.[8] Medievalist scholars have criticized this use as harmful and historically inaccurate.[9]
- ^ a b Molloy, Michael (6 April 2017). The Christian Experience: An Introduction to Christianity. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4725-8285-0.
In Europe, Christians were convinced that God wanted them to bring the whole region back into the originally Christian fold. Their motto was Deus vult (God wills it).
- ^ "Definition of Deus Vult". Merriam-Webster.
- ^ Portnykh, Valentin (July 1, 2019). "God Wills It! Supplementary Divine Purposes for the Crusades according to Crusade Propaganda". The Journal of Ecclesiastical History. 70 (3): 472–486. doi:10.1017/S0022046918002610. ISSN 0022-0469.
- ^ Agnew, John (2010). "Deus Vult: The Geopolitics of the Catholic Church". Geopolitics. 15 (1): 39–61. doi:10.1080/14650040903420388. ISSN 1465-0045. S2CID 144793259.
- ^ Gomez, Adam (2012). "Deus Vult: John L. O'Sullivan, Manifest Destiny, and American Democratic Messianism". American Political Thought. 1 (2): 236–262. doi:10.1086/667616. ISSN 2161-1580. S2CID 153831773.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Mahan1972was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Kim, Dorothy (November 5, 2018). "The Alt-Right and Medieval Religions". Georgetown University Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs.
- ^ Arnold, Kate (2 January 2023). "Pop and the 'Palästinalied': a crusade song revived at the turn of a new millennium". Crusades. 22 (1): 115–126. doi:10.1080/14765276.2023.2189386.
Deus vult ('God wills it' – the supposed acclamation following Urban II's speech at Clermont and the battle cry of crusading armies as described in the Gesta Francorum) is a ubiquitous meme, encapsulating a perceived 'clash of civilisations' (discussed further below). The song's popularity with the Christian right and alt-right communities can be linked to the growth of the internet and the ensuing ease with which content can be disseminated, but it should also be set against the background of political and sociocultural developments since the 1990s.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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