On April 6, 1250, the Crusading ambitions of King Louis IX of France met a devastating end at the Battle of Fariskur, where the French king and much of his army were captured by Egyptian forces. This dramatic moment not only marked the collapse of the Seventh Crusade but also underscored a shift in power within the medieval world.
A Holy Mission
King Louis IX, a devout Christian and later canonized as Saint Louis, launched the Seventh Crusade in 1248 with a determined goal: to recapture Jerusalem by first striking at Egypt, the heart of Muslim power in the region. The strategy was bold. In 1249, the French forces landed in Damietta, quickly taking the city. From there, Louis pressed on toward Cairo, expecting to deal a fatal blow to the Muslim forces.
A Campaign Gone Wrong
But Egypt proved treacherous. The Crusaders struggled in the unfamiliar terrain, plagued by disease, supply shortages, and stiff resistance. Their advance stalled near Mansurah, where they faced the newly empowered Mamluk leadership that had recently taken control from the Ayyubid dynasty. After a failed assault and mounting casualties, the French began a retreat down the Nile.
The Battle of Fariskur
It was during this retreat that disaster struck. At Fariskur, the Crusaders were intercepted by the Egyptian army. The exhausted and demoralized French forces were quickly overwhelmed. The battle turned into a rout, and thousands were slain or taken captive. Among the prisoners was none other than King Louis IX himself, along with several of his knights and commanders.
A King’s Ransom
The capture of a European monarch was unprecedented and sent shockwaves across Christendom. Louis was held by the Egyptians until a massive ransom of 400,000 livres tournois was paid—an astronomical sum at the time. After his release, Louis did not return immediately to France but remained in the Holy Land for several more years, attempting to strengthen the remaining Crusader territories before finally returning home in 1254.