King Louis IX's Seventh Crusade: A French Army in Egypt, 1248-1254

The Seventh Crusade (1248-1254) was led by King Louis IX of France, who vowed to go on crusade after a serious illness in December 1244. Despite opposition from his mother, Queen Blanche of Castile, Louis spent over three years preparing, securing funds from Pope Innocent IV and levying taxes. He assembled an army of 15,000-25,000 troops, including his brothers Robert of Artois, Alphonse of Poitiers, and Charles of Anjou, plus English knights under William Longuespee. The fleet sailed from Cyprus in 1249, capturing Damietta after a beach assault. The Crusaders then marched toward Cairo but were halted at Al Mansourah, where a premature attack by Robert of Artois led to a massacre of over 500 knights. The Egyptian sultan Ayub died, but his successor Turanshah cut Crusader supply lines, forcing a disastrous retreat. Louis was captured and ransomed for 800,000 bezants and the return of Damietta. After release, he stayed in the Holy Land until 1254, fortifying Acre, Caesarea, Jaffa, and Sidon. He returned to France after Blanche of Castile's death in 1252.