1-155-266 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Louis IX of France disembarking at Damietta, Egypt, Seventh Crusade, 1249 (1522). The Saracen army is shown at top right. Louis led the Seventh Crusade, with Egypt as his objective. After capturing the port of Damietta on the Nile Delta, he marched on Cairo and besieged the Muslim camp at al-Mansourah. With their food supplies cut off, the crusaders suffered badly from famine and disease, and retreating to Damietta in March 1250, the remnant of their army was captured. Louis was ransomed for 400,000 livres and the surrender of Damietta. He commanded a further crusade, the Eighth, in 1270, but died of the plague near Tunis. Renowned for his piety and kindness to the poor, Louis was canonised by Pope Boniface VIII in 1297. Woodcut from Grand voyage de Hierusalem 1522.