Please see article Great Kings of Christendom: Saint Louis of France
St Louis of France
Son of the French King Louis VIII (The Lion) and of Queen Blanche of Castile. Louis IX was born in the castle of Poissy on April 25th 1214, around the time of the French victory over the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor and England at Bouvines. Crowned at the very young age of 12 just a few days after the burial of his father.
His mother Blanche of Castile had made this decision to try and avoid any court intrigue or rebellion in the power vacuum left by his father’s death, Blanche had raised Louis with a very honed sense of Piety installing in Louis a great love of God, dedicating his education to the works of the church, she would remain his advisor for the rest of her life. Louis would pray for several hours a day and often engage in Alms and feeding up to 100 peasants a day in his own home. In 1234 he married Margaret of Provence; she was well known for being a fine example of Catholic womanhood.
He would often go to the woods and lay out a carpet where he would hear the cases of the people, he was loved by the people for they knew of his consideration for them, Louis enacted many legal reforms, for example trials by ordeal (torture) were outlawed, the right to appeal against the royal court was also instituted something unheard of in the medieval era.
However, he matched his gentleness and love of the people with his zeal for justice and used discipline where he felt it necessary such as instituting laws against prostitution, gambling, blasphemy and usury.
He standardised silver currency to help trade and oversaw the continuing rise of the French economic and military development making it the pre-eminent super power of Europe, with this rise came a wave of building, he built new castles, endorsed and helped to promote the gothic style which spread all over Europe. A man of the arts and education he supported the University of Paris already renowned for being a bastion of learning and he built the College of Sorbonne.
The year 1242 saw war with king Henry III. He rode at the head of his army at the Battle of Talleboug resulting in a great victory over the Anglo-Poteian army.
The peace treaty that was settled was not supported by King Louis’ nobles, but his faith drove him to make peace as he wanted above all else to live the life the lord would want him to live. The treaty of Paris was quite unique as it confirmed the territories of Normandy, Touraine and Anjou as well as Saintonge north of the Charente river confirming all of the conquests of Phillip II. England was only allowed to keep Guyenne and had to swear allegiance to the King in effect becoming a vassal state.
He oversaw the exchange of Catalonia for Languedoc in a treaty with James I of Aragon, King Louis was well known as a man who valued peace and often stayed neutral. While still being respected for the power of his army. He only broke this with Frederick II. When Fredrick II threatened the Papal States Louis IX in an echo of what the great Carolingian Kings had done, offered his protection to Pope Innocent IV, this alone was enough to turn Fredricks armies back.
Louis because of his faith desired to acquire many relics including allegedly the crown of thorns amongst many others.
From then on the Capetian Dynasty was seen as the spearhead of the Christian world. In December 1244 Louis fell seriously ill on the brink of death he swore to take up the cross of crusade if he recovered, he of course with the will of God recovered and was true to his oath. The seventh crusade exclusively French, entered in preparation, in August 1248 a fleet set sail from the French coast, onboard some of Frances finest knights and a force of 3000 Calvary 12000 Infantry.
Along with his brothers Alphonso Count of Poiters, Robert I Count of Artois and Charles of Anjou. A decision was made to invade Egypt the major power in the Islamic world at the time. In June 1249 the crusaders landed before Damietta and swept away the Egyptian defence and took the city and freed Christians who had been jailed in the dungeons of the fortress.
These first successes enticed the King to carry on his advance to Cairo in January 1250. The crusaders were blocked by the fortress of Al man Surah. Skilfully defended by General Fakhr-ad-dim. On February 8th the French vanguard led by the fierce Robert Count of Artois managed to cross the river using a narrow ford. Disobeying the Kings orders Robert and his men rushed to Al man Surah where the gates had been purposely left open as a trap. They were ambushed in the narrow streets and slaughtered by the Mamluk Garrison of General Baibais. A few hours later the rest of the force crossed the river, but too late to save their comrades.
Saracens reinforced by the Mamluk mounted archers threw a rain of arrows and flood of Greek fire causing panic amongst the French ranks. Seeing his men at the brink of collapse Louis gathered his knights, yet again always rousing them to fight for God and launched a counterattack against the mass of Mamluks. This is where the Frankish knights shone and in hand to hand combat the Mamluks were no match and the Saracens were slaughtered.
At nightfall the Egyptians retreated. Yet because of the foolhardiness of Robert what should have been crushing defeat for the Egyptians amounted to nothing more than a costly victory.
In the following days sickness spread throughout the camp most likely typhus, preventing the crusaders from taking advantage of the victory. The Frankish Column became no more than a shadow of the army that set off from France and the King had to retreat to Damietta.
April 6th the crusaders were encircled by Baibars men, after a heroic defence Louis was captured. For the first time a King of France was a hostage threatened with death on many occasions, Louis impressed all with his stoic attitude. The ransom was proferred by Margaret of Provence although she was about to give birth, the templars provided the ransom money as the sum was vast.
Once set free Louis IX travelled throughout the crusader states for four years, as soon as he arrived the King was named chief of the eastern Christians and helped to reorganise the defences of Acre, Jaffa and Sidon, Caesarea. Through his brilliant knowledge of diplomacy and his political acumen he managed to stoke already simmering tensions between house of Damascus and the house Cairo, these two combined bought some much needed time for Crusader states. In a typically characteristic act, he also had all the hostages taken during his campaign ransomed back.
Louis in a great feat of diplomacy sent a messenger to the Mongols knowing their tolerance of Christianity and friction with Islam. However, the death of his mother 1254 meant he had to return to France. In 1261 Baibers who become Sultan of Egypt launched a great offensive against the Crusader States which had fallen back into anarchy since the reorganisation by St Louis.
Against the advice of the counsellors the King of France despite declining health decided to take the cross again launching the 8th crusade. Thanks to the fleet of Charles of Anjou who become Charles 1st of Naples, St Louis’ army landed in Tunis on July 24th, 1270 and Carthage was retaken by the crusaders then they besieged Tunis defended by Muhammad I al- mustansar.
Yet operations where hindered by the extreme heat and disease, John Tristan son of the King died on August 4th and Louis also fell sick from dysentery and died on August 25, 1270.
With his last breath he pronounced the name Jerusalem. His young son Phillip succeeded him. However negotiation by Charles of Naples ended the siege with a huge indemnity and set sail for France. The remains of Louis were placed in the Basilica Saint Denis after the long journey home.
Many French prelates asked of his canonisations. King Louis was fair, but put pressure on the pope to hurry his canonisation’s. August 11, 1297 Pope Boniface VIII announced King Louis would be made a saint under the title Saint Louis of France.
Saint Louis IX was a great King who shone forth in his desire to live a virtuous life, he manged the fine balance of kindness, shrewdness and strength of leadership, I would highly recommend reading The Glory of Christendom by Warren Carroll and checking Real Crusades History a You Tube channel for more on this great Saint.
AC