Seventh Crusade (1248 – 1254)

The Seventh Crusade (1248–1254) was a major military campaign led by Louis IX of France, also known as Saint Louis,…

By Staff , in Wars and Conflicts , at August 30, 2024 Tags: 1248, conflicts, crusades, wars

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The Seventh Crusade (1248–1254) was a major military campaign led by Louis IX of France, also known as Saint Louis, in an effort to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control. The crusade was part of a broader series of religious wars known as the Crusades, which aimed to capture Jerusalem and other sacred sites in the Levant for Christendom. The Seventh Crusade focused primarily on Egypt, with the intent of weakening Muslim power in the region and thereby making it easier to reconquer Jerusalem.

Background and Causes
The Fall of Jerusalem and the Crusading Movement:
Loss of Jerusalem: The capture of Jerusalem by the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin in 1187 during the Third Crusade had been a devastating blow to Christian Europe. Although the Third Crusade and subsequent efforts managed to reclaim some territories, Jerusalem remained under Muslim control.

The Sixth Crusade: The Sixth Crusade (1228–1229), led by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, achieved a temporary success when Frederick negotiated the return of Jerusalem to Christian rule through a treaty with the Ayyubid Sultan al-Kamil. However, this control was short-lived, as the city was recaptured by Muslim forces in 1244 after the Battle of La Forbie.

Louis IX’s Devotion: King Louis IX of France was a deeply religious monarch, dedicated to the Christian faith and committed to the idea of crusading. The loss of Jerusalem and the renewed Muslim threat to Christian territories in the Levant spurred Louis to take up the cross and launch a new crusade. In 1244, after recovering from a serious illness, Louis vowed to lead a crusade to the Holy Land.

Preparations and Departure
Planning and Mobilization:
Financing the Crusade: Louis IX invested significant resources into the Seventh Crusade, including personal funds and a special crusading tax levied on his subjects. The French nobility and knights also provided men and materials for the campaign. Louis’s brother, Charles of Anjou, and other prominent French nobles played key roles in organizing the crusade.

Strategic Focus on Egypt: Recognizing the strategic importance of Egypt as the heart of Muslim power in the region, Louis decided to target the Ayyubid Sultanate’s capital, Cairo, via the Nile Delta. The logic was that by capturing Egypt, the crusaders could cut off Muslim support for Jerusalem and pave the way for its eventual reconquest.

Departure and Voyage:
Departure from France: Louis IX and his forces departed from the port of Aigues-Mortes in southern France in August 1248. The crusading army included around 15,000 men, including knights, infantry, and non-combatants. The fleet made a stop in Cyprus to regroup and gather additional supplies and reinforcements.

Landing in Egypt: In June 1249, the crusaders landed at the Egyptian port city of Damietta, which had been captured by crusaders during the Fifth Crusade but was later returned to Muslim control. The city fell quickly to Louis’s forces, providing the crusaders with a base of operations in Egypt.

The Campaign in Egypt
Initial Successes:
Capture of Damietta: The swift capture of Damietta in June 1249 was a significant victory for the crusaders. The city was strategically important as a gateway to the Nile River and Cairo. However, instead of immediately advancing toward Cairo, Louis chose to fortify Damietta and wait for the Nile’s annual floodwaters to recede, which delayed his campaign for several months.

Advance to Mansurah: In November 1249, the crusaders finally advanced towards Cairo. They encountered the main Egyptian army near the town of Mansurah, which was defended by the forces of the Ayyubid Sultan al-Salih Ayyub. The crusaders initially achieved some success, but their advance was hindered by the difficult terrain and the flooding of the Nile.

The Battle of Mansurah:
Ambush and Counterattack: The Battle of Mansurah in February 1250 proved to be a turning point in the Seventh Crusade. The crusaders, led by Louis’s brother Robert of Artois, launched a surprise attack on the Muslim camp, but Robert ignored orders to wait for reinforcements and pursued the enemy into the city. The crusaders were ambushed by the Mamluks, elite slave-soldiers who served the sultan, and suffered heavy losses. Robert of Artois was killed in the fighting, and the crusader forces were forced to retreat.

Stalemate and Attrition: Following the battle, the crusaders found themselves in a difficult situation. They were trapped between the Nile and the fortified city of Mansurah, with dwindling supplies and mounting casualties from disease and combat. The Egyptian forces, now led by the Mamluk commander Baybars after the death of Sultan al-Salih Ayyub, mounted continuous attacks on the crusaders.

Defeat and Capture:
Retreat and Disaster: In April 1250, Louis IX ordered a retreat toward Damietta. The retreat quickly turned into a disaster as the crusaders were harried by the pursuing Mamluks. Many crusaders were killed, and those who survived were captured. Louis IX himself was taken prisoner along with much of his army.

Ransom and Release: Louis IX was held captive for several months before being ransomed for a large sum of money, as well as the surrender of Damietta back to the Egyptians. The ransom was reportedly paid by the Templars and Hospitallers, with additional funds raised by the French crown. Louis and his surviving followers were released and eventually returned to the Kingdom of France.

Aftermath and Legacy
Louis IX’s Stay in the Holy Land:
Louis’s Efforts in the Levant: After his release, Louis IX did not immediately return to France. Instead, he spent four years in the Holy Land, primarily in the Crusader states of Acre, Jaffa, and Caesarea, attempting to strengthen their defenses and negotiate alliances with local Muslim rulers. Despite his efforts, Louis was unable to make any significant gains, and the crusader presence in the region remained precarious.

Return to France: In 1254, Louis IX finally returned to France, where he continued to rule as a respected and pious monarch. His experience during the Seventh Crusade deeply influenced his later reign, and he became known for his devout Christian faith and commitment to justice. Louis was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1297, and he remains one of France’s most revered kings.

Impact on the Crusades
Failure of the Crusade: The Seventh Crusade is generally considered a failure, as it did not achieve its objectives of recapturing Jerusalem or significantly weakening Muslim power in the region. The defeat at Mansurah and the subsequent capture of Louis IX highlighted the difficulties faced by crusading armies in the hostile and unfamiliar environment of the Nile Delta.

Rise of the Mamluks: The failure of the Seventh Crusade contributed to the rise of the Mamluks, who would go on to seize power in Egypt and establish the Mamluk Sultanate. Under Mamluk rule, Egypt became a formidable power in the region, and the Mamluks played a key role in the eventual defeat of the Crusader states in the Levant.

Continuation of the Crusading Ideal: Despite the failure of the Seventh Crusade, the crusading ideal persisted in Europe, and Louis IX later launched the Eighth Crusade in 1270, which also ended in failure. The continued enthusiasm for crusading, despite repeated setbacks, reflects the deep religious and cultural significance of the Crusades in medieval Europe.