Etiam reges, Even Kings
William Chester Jordan
“He could not believe that the army had been brought so far, through many dangers, only to fail at last.” With these few words Joseph Strayer grasped essence of Louis IX's feelings during critical phase king's first crusade and French defeat in Egypt spring year 1250. The captivity hands his Muslim adversaries followed soon after disaster. My aim this paper is suggest explore some consequences Louis's experiences period, an undertaking is, I think, historically significant inasmuch as people over centuries have idealized rule purest form Christian governance. In large part my story a tale what might if king accomplished three central goals he set for himself 1250: own purification, kingdom's assurance purified realm would perdure beyond lifetime. essay present length cannot be comprehensive or even review considerable recent scholarship on reign periods immediately before are relevant aims, daunting task Sean Field Cecilia Gaposchkin made excellent, if, by their acknowledgment, partial attempt accomplishing,2 but do hope show there much still learned from pursuing research effects Egypt; learned, say, both about underlying motivations modes governance vision future were adopted rigorously pursued successors.
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