Editing Charles I of Anjou (section)

===Seventh Crusade===

[[File:Mansura.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A mounted knight fights against footmen, while a crowned man is carried from the battlefield.|The crusaders' defeat in the [[Battle of Mansurah (1250)|Battle of Al Mansurah]], forcing them to abandon the invasion of Egypt. During the withdrawal, the Egyptians captured Charles and his two brothers, [[Louis IX of France]] and [[Alphonse of Poitiers]].]]

In December 1244 Louis IX took a vow to lead a crusade.{{sfn|Asbridge|2012|p=580}} Ignoring their mother's strong opposition, his three brothers—Robert, Alphonse and Charles—also took the cross.{{sfn|Asbridge|2012|pp=580–581}} Preparations for the crusade lasted for years, with the crusaders embarking at [[Aigues-Mortes]] on 25{{nbs}}August 1248.{{sfn|Asbridge|2012|p=580}}{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=10}} After spending several months in [[Kingdom of Cyprus|Cyprus]] they invaded [[Egypt in the Middle Ages|Egypt]] on 5{{nbs}}June 1249.{{sfn|Lock|2006|pp=177–178}} They captured [[Damietta]] and decided to attack [[Cairo]] in November.{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=178}} During their advance Louis's biographer [[Jean de Joinville]] noted Charles's personal courage which saved dozens of crusaders' lives.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|p=194}} Robert of Artois died [[Battle of Mansurah (1250)|fighting against the Egyptians at Al Mansurah]]. His three brothers survived, but they had to abandon the campaign. While withdrawing from Egypt, they fell into captivity on 6{{nbs}}April 1250.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|p=194}}{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=108}} The Egyptians released Louis, Charles and Alphonse in exchange for 800,000 [[bezant]]s and the surrender of Damietta on 6{{nbs}}May.{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=108}} During their voyage to [[Acre (city)|Acre]],{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=108}} Charles outraged Louis by gambling while the king was mourning Robert's death.{{sfn|Dunbabin|1998|p=194}} Louis remained in the [[Holy Land]], but Charles returned to France in October 1250.{{sfn|Runciman|1958|p=73}}