RRR:
2754
YEAR:
1249
text:
Second half of 1249. Queen Blanche of France writes to King Henry III of England reporting on King Louis’s progress. The king, his brothers and the rest of the army overwintered in Cyprus and they agreed to attack Damietta. They set off on 19 May and arrived on 4 June. Although the landing was opposed, the Christians made land, whereupon the Saracens fled from Damietta. The Christians occupied the town and dedicated the mosque as a church in honour the Virgin Mary. The members of the royal family are all well including [Beatrice of Provence] the king’s sister-in-law who has given birth to a son [by Count Charles of Anjou, Charles of Salerno].
Sources:
Matthew Paris, Chronica maiora 6:165-67 no. 85. English translation in Jackson, Seventh Crusade, pp. 92-93
