History The Crusades Questions Medium
The major events leading up to the Eighth Crusade can be summarized as follows:
1. Seventh Crusade: The Seventh Crusade, led by King Louis IX of France, took place from 1248 to 1254. Despite initial successes, the crusaders were ultimately defeated and Louis IX was captured by the Egyptians.
2. Treaty of Jaffa: In 1250, while Louis IX was still in captivity, a truce known as the Treaty of Jaffa was signed between the Crusaders and the Ayyubid Sultanate of Egypt. This truce allowed for the release of Louis IX and granted the Crusaders control over certain coastal cities.
3. Mamluk Sultanate: Following the death of Sultan Turanshah in 1250, the Mamluks, a military caste of slave soldiers, rose to power in Egypt. Under the leadership of their Sultan, Baibars, the Mamluks sought to consolidate their control over the region.
4. Mongol threat: The Mongol Empire, under the leadership of Hulagu Khan, had been expanding westward and posed a significant threat to the Mamluks. In 1258, the Mongols sacked Baghdad, further destabilizing the region.
5. Papal call for a new Crusade: Pope Innocent IV, in an effort to unite Christian forces against the Mongols and regain control over the Holy Land, called for a new Crusade in 1254. This call was initially met with little response.
6. Louis IX's preparations: King Louis IX of France, eager to redeem himself after his defeat in the Seventh Crusade, began preparations for a new Crusade. He sought alliances with other European powers and gathered resources for the expedition.
7. Tunisian campaign: In 1270, Louis IX launched a campaign against the Hafsid Sultanate of Tunis in North Africa. The objective was to secure a base for future Crusades and to convert the local population to Christianity. However, the campaign was plagued by disease and Louis IX himself died during the siege of Tunis.
These events set the stage for the Eighth Crusade, which would be led by Louis IX's brother, Charles of Anjou, and would ultimately end in failure.