The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221: A Military History
Prof Laurence W Marvin
Published:
2024
Online ISBN:
9780198916208
Print ISBN:
9780198916178
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The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221: A Military History
Prof Laurence W Marvin
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Prof Laurence W Marvin
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July 2024
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Prof Marvin, Laurence W, 'The Chain Tower before Damietta, 1218', The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221: A Military History (
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Abstract
Chapter 3 describes how the crusade army got to Egypt, set up camps, and besieged the Chain Tower. As the army sailed for Egypt, contrary weather separated it, so only a partial force made the initial landing. These established a fortified camp north of Damietta on the Nile’s west side and elected a temporary leader. After the rest arrived, the notables elected John, titular King of Jerusalem, as commander. To threaten Cairo, the crusaders had to control the city of Damietta on the Nile’s east bank. The city was impossible to draw close to because of chains on pontoons stretching from the Nile’s east edge to a tower located on a small island in the Nile. The crusaders besieged the Chain Tower using various unsuccessful stratagems. Eventually they built a large structure on two conjoined ships to lower a bridge on the Chain Tower’s top, and, after an assault, caused the garrison to capitulate. Sultan al-‘Adil died, leaving the Ayyubid empire divided between several sons. Al-Kamil, al-‘Adil’s heir as sultan of Egypt, constructed a camp, called al-‘Adilya, across from the crusaders, preventing them from slipping by on the Nile. He also placed underwater obstructions to block crusader ships from sailing close to Damietta. That fall he conducted several unsuccessful attacks. As crusaders departed reinforcements arrived, among them Cardinal Pelagius, the papal legate assigned to the crusade. In November severe storms caused flooding for both crusaders and Egyptians. The crusaders also suffered from food shortages and cold weather.
Keywords: amphibious landing, Damietta, King John, Chain Tower, al-‘Adil, Nile, al-Kamil, Pelagius
Subject
Military History European History Medieval and Renaissance History (500 to 1500)
Collection: Oxford Scholarship Online
© Laurence W. Marvin 2024
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