The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221: A Military History
Prof Laurence W Marvin
Published:
2024
Online ISBN:
9780198916208
Print ISBN:
9780198916178
Contents
- < Previous chapter
- Next chapter >
The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221: A Military History
Prof Laurence W Marvin
Chapter
Get access
Prof Laurence W Marvin
Pages
62–90
-
Published:
July 2024
- Annotate
Cite Icon Cite
Cite
Prof Marvin, Laurence W, 'The Chain Tower before Damietta, 1218', The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221: A Military History (
Close
Search
Close
Search
Advanced Search
Search Menu
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
You do not currently have access to this chapter.
Sign in
Get help with access
Personal account
- Sign in with email/username & password
- Get email alerts
- Save searches
- Purchase content
- Activate your purchase/trial code
- Add your ORCID iD
Sign in Register
Institutional access
- Sign in with a library card
- Sign in with username/password
- Recommend to your librarian
Sign in through your institution
Sign in through your institution
Institutional account management
Sign in as administrator
Get help with access
Institutional access
Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:
IP based access
Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.
Sign in through your institution
Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.
- Click Sign in through your institution.
- Select your institution from the list provided, which will take you to your institution's website to sign in.
- When on the institution site, please use the credentials provided by your institution. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account.
- Following successful sign in, you will be returned to Oxford Academic.
If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.
Sign in with a library card
Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.
Society Members
Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:
Sign in through society site
Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:
- Click Sign in through society site.
- When on the society site, please use the credentials provided by that society. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account.
- Following successful sign in, you will be returned to Oxford Academic.
If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.
Sign in using a personal account
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.
Personal account
A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.
Viewing your signed in accounts
Click the account icon in the top right to:
- View your signed in personal account and access account management features.
- View the institutional accounts that are providing access.
Signed in but can't access content
Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.
Institutional account management
For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.
Purchase
Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.
Purchasing information
Metrics
Metrics
Total Views 0
0 Pageviews
0 PDF Downloads
Since 7/25/2024
Citations
Powered by Dimensions
Altmetrics
More from Oxford Academic
Arts and Humanities
European History
History
History by Period
Medieval and Renaissance History (500 to 1500)
Military History
Regional and National History
Books
Journals