Editing 1248 (section)

==== Seventh Crusade ====
* [[August 12]] &ndash; King [[Louis IX of France|Louis IX]] ('''the Saint''') leaves [[Paris]] together with his wife, Queen [[Margaret of Provence]], and her sister [[Beatrice of Provence]]. Two of Louis' brothers, [[Charles I of Anjou|Charles of Anjou]] and [[Robert I, Count of Artois|Robert of Artois]], are also present. He is followed by his cousins, [[Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy|Hugh IV of Burgundy]] and [[Peter I, Duke of Brittany|Peter Mauclerc]], both are veterans of the [[Barons' Crusade]].<ref>[[Steven Runciman]] (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 215. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[August 25]] &ndash; Louis IX departs from [[Aigues-Mortes]] and [[Marseille]]s with a French expeditionary force (some 10,000 men) transported by 100 ships. An English detachment (some 5,000 men) under [[William Longespée the Younger|William Longespée]] ('''the Younger'''), grandson of King [[Henry III of England|Henry III]], and his mistress [[Ida de Tosny]] follows close behind with 36 transport ships.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', pp. 215–216. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[September 17]] &ndash; Louis IX arrives at [[Limassol]] on the island of [[Kingdom of Cyprus|Cyprus]]. He gathers his forces and is well received by King [[Henry I of Cyprus|Henry I]] ('''the Fat'''). The Crusaders are supplemented by nobles from [[Acre, Israel|Acre]], including Grand Masters [[Jean de Ronay]] and [[Guillaume de Sonnac]]. Louis prepares a plan of campaign, with [[Egypt in the Middle Ages|Egypt]] as the prime objective.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 216. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* December &ndash; Louis IX receives an embassy during his stay in Cyprus from the Mongol general, [[Eljigidei]], who is viceroy in [[Iran|Persia]]. They bring a letter from [[Guyuk Khan]] (who had died by the time his envoys reached Cyprus<ref>{{cite book |first=C. P. |last=Atwood |title=Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire |location=New York |year=2004 |isbn=0-8160-4671-9 |page=213 }}</ref>) with no demands of submission, but talking in terms about Mongol favouritism for [[Christianity]], and a proposal of a joint invasion against the Ayyubid forces in [[Syria]].<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 218. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* December &ndash; Louis IX decides to spend the winter on Cyprus to make preparations against Egypt. Meanwhile, the nobles persuade him to start negotiations with Sultan [[As-Salih Ayyub]] to intervene in the internal Ayyubid affairs. But Louis rejects this offer and orders the [[Knights Templar]] to break off their negotiations with As-Salih.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 217. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>