This volume is the first comprehensive English translation, with a substantial introduction and notes, of the writings of Caffaro of Genoa, as well as related texts and documents on Genoa and the crusades.

This volume is the first comprehensive English translation, with a substantial introduction and notes, of the writings of Caffaro of Genoa, as well as related texts and documents on Genoa and the crusades. The majority of early crusading historiography is from a northern European and clerical perspective and Caffaro¿s voice offers an exciting departure with his more secular and Mediterranean tone. This book adds to our understanding of the reception of crusading ideas in the Mediterranean and, given Genoäs prominence in the commercial world, illuminates the complex and controversial relationship between holy war and financial gain.

'This will be of interest to students and scholars of the Crusades, of Genoa, of Byzantine-Genoese relations, and the history of Mediterranean trade, warfare, and diplomacy in the pivotal twelfth century. ... this represents another fine and useful addition to Ashgate's series, "Crusade Texts in Translation."' Comitatus 'Highly recommended.' Choice 'The quality of the translations is uniformly outstanding as was the process of selecting which documents to translate from the great mass of surviving Genoese charters, treaties, and political documents.' Speculum