Editing Children's Crusade (section)

====Stephen of Cloyes in France====
The second movement was led by a twelve-year-old<ref name="Bridge"/> French shepherd boy named Stephen (Étienne) of [[Cloyes-sur-le-Loir|Cloyes]], who said in June that he bore a letter for the king of France from Jesus who was disguised as a poor pilgrim.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hansbery |first=Joseph E. |date=1938 |title=The Children's Crusade |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25013654 |journal=The Catholic Historical Review |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=30–38 |jstor=25013654 |issn=0008-8080}}</ref><ref name="Britannica" /> Large gangs of youths around his age were drawn to him, most of whom claimed to possess special gifts of God and thought themselves miracle workers. Attracting a following of over 30,000, including adults, but mostly children, he went to [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]], where he was reported to cause miracles. On the orders of [[Philip II of France|Philip II]], advised by the [[University of Paris]], the people were implored to return home. Philip himself did not appear impressed, especially since his unexpected visitors were led by a mere child, and refused to take them seriously. Stephen, however, was not dissuaded and began preaching at a nearby abbey. From Saint-Denis, Stephen travelled around France, spreading his messages as he went, promising to lead charges of Christ to Jerusalem. Although the Church was skeptical, many adults were impressed by his teaching.<ref name="Bridge"/> Few of those who initially joined him possessed his activeness; it is estimated that there were fewer than half the initial 30,000 remaining, a figure that was shrinking rapidly, rather than growing as perhaps anticipated.

At the end of June 1212, Stephen led his largely juvenile Crusaders from [[Vendôme]] to [[Marseille]]. They survived by begging for food, while the vast majority seem to have been disheartened by the hardship of this journey and returned to their families.<ref name="Bridge"/>

Two French merchants (Hugh the Iron and William of Posqueres) offered to carry any children that were willing to pay a small fee by boat. They were then taken to Tunisia, where they were sold into slavery by the merchants. However, some died in a shipwreck on San Pietro Island off Sardinia during a gale.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}