6. Crusade

6th Crusade 1248 – 1254

In 1244 the Muslims took Jerusalem. A Turkish mercenary squad plundering Damascus was enough to take the Holy City by surprise. Several thousand Christians died and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher went up in flames. After four years of preparation, the sixth crusade began under Louis IX the Saint in 1248. The Crusaders had once again chosen Egypt as their destination. In June, the French king managed to conquer Damietta without a fight. However, his planned colonization of Egypt failed. The French army fell into Egyptian captivity in 1250, from which he and his army were only released in the form of an immense ransom. After his release, he expanded his fortifications at Acre, Jaffa and Caesarea. In 1254 he had to return to France due to lack of money.