Editing Amalric, King of Jerusalem (section)

====Franco-Byzantine invasion of Egypt====
[[File:BN MS FR 2628 Folio205 Amalric and Manuel.png|thumb|right|Amalric's envoys convinced Emperor Manuel to despatch a large force for a joint invasion Egypt.]]
The death of Bertrand of Blancfort in January 1169 paved the way for a master of the Templars who would be more compliant with Amalric's desire to subjugate Egypt. In August 1169 Philip of Milly was elected the new master. Barber considers it obvious that King Amalric influenced the election, for he and Philip had been associated since the 1150s, when both supported Amalric's mother, Queen Melisende, against his brother, King Baldwin III.{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=253-254}} In the same month Amalric confirmed his earlier deal with the Hospitallers and also recruited the Templars. In late 1169 Emperor Manuel sent a formidable force led by experienced men, and a large fleet.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=253}}

Amalric was served by the animosity of the Egyptians for their new, foreign rulers, and by the unexpected death of Shirkuh. On 16 October the king left Ascalon, shortly after the Byzantine fleet set out from Acre. Sea floods hindered him, but he reached [[Damietta]] on 27 October.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=254}} The Nile was blocked north of the city, and William of Tyre is confident that Damietta could have been taken by a quick attack. The siege of the city drew out, however, because the city was reinforced by boats from the south and [[siege engine]]s had to be constructed. The defenders launched a [[fire ship]] towards the Byzantine fleet, burning six ships; the king averted a greater loss by rousing the crews.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=557}}

As their food ran out and the [[torrential rain]]s poured, the attackers became desperate.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=557}} William's informants insisted that Manuel had not sent enough supplies, whereas the Byzantine chroniclers [[John Kinnamos]] and [[Niketas Choniates]] accuse the Franks of procrastinating.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=255}} The Byzantine general [[Andronikos Kontostephanos]] proposed an all-out assault, but Amalric believed that the city walls had not been battered enough by the siege engines. Kontostephanos had been instructed to obey Amalric, but made preparations to attack without him.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=557}} According to Choniates, Kontostephanos had grown tired of "talking into the ear of the dead".{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=255}} Before Kontostephanos could act, Amalric began peace negotiations.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|pp=557-558}} Patriarch [[Michael the Syrian]], ever disdainful of the Greek Orthodox, writes that the Byzantines intended to deceive Amalric and seize Egypt for themselves, and that the king took the Egyptians' offer of gold and left after he realized the Byzantines' treachery.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=255}} Nur ad-Din, meanwhile, again used Amalric's absence to plunder the kingdom.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=255}} Amalric and his army returned on 21 December.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=254}}