Did a medieval Abbot really lead troops into war? And did he really command them to kill the population of an entire city - men, women and children; the old, crippled and infirm; even babies? This question has tantalised historians for centuries, and credible arguments have been advanced both for and against. In this work, James McDonald, sumarises these arguments and develops a number of new arguments of his own, which decisively tip the balance away from view that has predominated for over a century. This is the first ever comprehensive assessment of the arguments, astonishing in their breadth and depth. It is a true tour de force, that will revolutionise your ideas of medieval Europe.