The Fall of Acre and the Salvation of Sodom. The use of peccatis exigentibus in response to the loss of Acre in 1291.

The fall of Acre in 1291, marking the end of the Crusades in the eastern Mediterranean, posed a theological challenge for medieval audiences. This study reveals that the concept of 'peccatis exigentibus'—a discourse attributing divine punishment to sins—was employed to explain such defeats. The research traces this argument from its biblical roots (Genesis 18:17–32) through Crusader historiography, highlighting its evolution and application post-1291. Two key texts were analyzed for their divergent interpretations of the same passage, demonstrating how 'peccatis exigentibus' was adapted to reconcile the loss of Acre with Christian doctrine.

Pretzer, C. (2024). The Fall of Acre and the Salvation of Sodom. The use of peccatis exigentibus in response to the loss of Acre in 1291. Open Research Europe, 4, 21. https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.16808.1