The numberless disasters which accompanied the first expedition of
Louis IX. against the infidels had not at all abated the ardour of
that monarch, and he never laid down the cross after his return from
Palestine. The sad news which he daily received from thence only served
to inflame his zeal the more; and at length, in 1270, he resolved to
make fresh efforts to liberate the Holy City, and the unfortunate
Christians it contained, from the yoke of the Mussulmans. Most of his
nobles were eager to accompany their prince, the faithful Joinville
being almost the only one who refused to share the perils of his good
lord and master. He said, in full assembly, that the last Crusade had
ruined him; and that the king could not be advised to undertake this
new expedition, without his councillors incurring mortal sin. The good
seneschal was so weak and debilitated, that he could not bear the
weight of his harness or get on horseback. The French army, consisting
of sixty thousand men, embarked at Aigues-Mortes, on the first of July.
They steered towards the coast of Barbary, where they soon arrived.
On the western coast of Africa, opposite Sicily, is a peninsula,
whose circumference is about forty-two miles. This peninsula advances
into the sea between two gulfs, of which the one on the west offers
a commodious port. The other, between the east and the south,
communicates by a canal with a lake which extends three leagues into
the land, and which modern geographers call the Gouletta. It was there
that stood the great rival of Rome, spreading itself to the two shores
of the sea. The conquests of the Romans, the ravages even of the
Vandals, had not utterly destroyed the once proud city of Carthage;
but in the seventh century, after being invaded and desolated by the
Saracens, it became little more than a heap of ruins; a hamlet upon
the port, called Marsa, a tower on the point of the cape, a tolerably
strong castle upon the hill of Byrsa,--this was all that remained of
that city whose power dominated so long over the Mediterranean and the
coasts of Asia and Africa, and contended in three wars with Rome for
empire and glory.
At five leagues’ distance from this remarkable site, towards the
south-east, a little beyond the Gouletta, stands Tunis, a place so
ancient that Scipio made himself master of it before he attacked
Carthage. At the time of Louis’ invasion, Tunis was one of the most
flourishing cities of Africa. It contained ten thousand houses and
three large faubourgs; the spoils of nations, the produce of an immense
commerce had enriched it, and all that the art of fortification could
invent, had been employed in defending the access to it.
At the sight of the Christian fleet, the inhabitants of the coast of
Africa were seized with terror, and all who dwelt on the Carthage coast
fled away either towards the mountains or Tunis, abandoning several
vessels in the port. The officer sent by the king to reconnoitre,
reported that there was no living being on the strand or in the port,
and that no time was to be lost. But the king was made over-prudent by
the remembrance of past disasters, and it was determined not to land
till the morrow.
The next day, at dawn, the coast appeared covered with Saracens, most
of them on horseback. This did not at all delay the landing of the
Crusaders: at the approach of the Christians, instead of opposing them,
the multitude of Saracens disappeared, which, for the former, was a
most fortunate circumstance, for, according to an eye-witness, they
were in such disorder that a hundred men might have stopped the whole
army.
When the army had landed, it was drawn up in order of battle, and
according to the laws of war, a herald read with a loud voice a
proclamation by which the conquerors took possession of the territory.
Louis himself had drawn up this proclamation, which began with these
words: “Je vous dis le ban de notre Seigneur Jésus Christ, et de Louis,
roi de France, son sergent.”
The baggage, provisions, and munitions of war were landed. A vast
inclosure was marked out, and the tents were pitched. Whilst employed
in the ditches and intrenchments, to defend the army from a surprise,
a party was sent to take possession of the tower at the point of the
cape. The next day five hundred sailors planted the standard of the
lilies upon the castle of Carthage. The hamlet of Marsa, which was
close to the castle, falling at the same time into the hands of the
Crusaders, they sent their women and children thither, and the army
remained under canvas.
Louis IX. had formed a strange idea that he could convert the
inhabitants of Tunis; but this pious illusion soon faded away. The
Mussulman prince replied to his proposal, that he would come and meet
him at the head of a hundred thousand men, and would ask baptism of him
on the field of battle; the Moorish king added, that he had arrested
all the Christians residing in his states, and that every one should
be massacred if the Christian army dared to insult his capital.
These bravadoes had no effect upon Louis; the Moors inspired no
terrors, and did not conceal their own fears at the sight of the
Crusaders. Never venturing to face their enemy, their bands, sometimes
scattered, hovered about the Christian army, seeking to surprise
wanderers from the camp; and sometimes united, they fell upon the
advanced posts, launched a few arrows, just exhibited their naked
swords, and then relied upon the swiftness of their horses for safety.
They often had recourse to treachery: three of them came to the
Christian camp, and said they wished to embrace the Christian faith;
and a hundred others followed them, expressing the same intention. They
were received with open arms; but, watching their opportunity, they
fell, sword in hand, upon some unguarded Frenchmen; but upon the alarm
being given, were surrounded, and most of them killed, The three first
comers threw themselves on their knees and implored the compassion
of the chiefs. The contempt such enemies were held in obtained their
pardon, and they were kicked out of the camp.
Rendered bold by the inactivity of the Christian army, the Mussulmans
at length presented themselves several times in the plains. Nothing
would have been more easy than to attack and conquer them, but Louis
had resolved to await the arrival of his brother, Charles of Anjou,
before he began the war: a fatal resolution, that ruined everything.
The Sicilian monarch, who had principally promoted this ill-starred
expedition, was doomed to complete by his delay the evil he had
commenced by his counsels.
So much time being afforded them, the Mussulmans flocked from all parts
of Africa to defend the cause of Islamism. Thus the army of the Moors
became formidable; but it was not this crowd of Saracens that the
Crusaders had most to fear. Other dangers, other misfortunes threatened
them: the army wanted water; they had none but salt provisions; the
soldiers could not support the climate of Africa; winds prevailed,
which, coming from the torrid zone, appeared to be accompanied by a
devouring flame. The Saracens on the neighbouring mountains stirred up
the sand with certain instruments, and the hot dust fell in clouds
upon the plain where the Christians were encamped. At length dysentery,
the malady of hot climates, attacked them, and the plague, which seemed
to spring up of itself from the burning soil, spread its contagion
among them.
The men were under arms night and day, not to defend themselves against
an enemy who always ran away, but to avoid surprises. Most of the
Crusaders sunk under the awful combination of fatigue, famine, and
sickness. Some of the most renowned warriors of France fell a prey to
the one or the other. They could not bury the dead; the ditches of the
camp were filled with carcasses, thrown in _pêle-mêle_, which added to
the corruption of the air and the spectacle of the general desolation.
Information was brought that the king of Sicily was about to embark
with his army. This gave great joy, but did not mitigate the evils.
The heats became insupportable; want of water, bad food, the diseases,
and chagrin at being shut up in a camp without being allowed to
fight, completed the discouragement of both soldiers and leaders.
Louis endeavoured to animate them by his words and his example, but
he himself was seized with the dysentery. His sons, Prince Philip,
the duke de Nevers, and the king of Navarre, with the legate, all
experienced the effects of the contagion. The duke de Nevers, who
was much beloved by the king, was so dangerously ill that he was
transported on ship-board. Louis was constantly asking news of his
son, but his attendants preserved a mournful silence. At length it was
announced to the king that his son was dead, and, notwithstanding his
piety and resignation, he was deeply affected. A short time after the
Pope’s legate died, much regretted by the clergy and the soldiers of
the cross, who looked upon him as their spiritual father.
In spite of his sufferings, in spite of his griefs, Louis was
constantly engaged in the care of his army. He issued his orders as
long as he had strength, dividing his time between the duties of a
Christian and those of a monarch. At length the fever increased; no
longer able to attend to the wants of the army, or even to exercises of
piety, he had a crucifix placed before him, and in silence implored the
aid of Him who had suffered for mankind.
[Illustration: DEATH OF LOUIS THE NINTH.]
The whole army was in mourning; the commonest soldiers moved about
in tears; the prayers of all were offered up for the preservation of
so good a king. After giving most pious and salutary advice to his son
Philip, both as a man and a king, and after taking an affectionate
leave of his family, this good, religious, and exemplary man, but most
mistaken monarch, expired at three o’clock in the evening of the 25th
of August, 1270.
On the very day of the death of Louis IX., his brother, the duke of
Anjou, landed with his army near Carthage. The trumpets and instruments
of war resounded on the beach, but a solemn silence prevailed in the
camp, and no one went to meet the Sicilians, whom they had looked for
with so much impatience. Sad presentiments took possession of Charles;
he preceded his army, flew to the tent of his brother, and found his
body stretched upon its bed of ashes. Charles prostrated himself at
his feet, which he bathed with his tears, calling upon him sometimes
as his brother, sometimes as his lord. He remained in this attitude
a long while, without heeding any of the persons who surrounded him,
constantly addressing Louis as if he were living, and reproaching
himself in accents of despair for not having heard, for not having
imbibed the last words of the most affectionate of brothers, of the
best of kings.
The death of Louis restored the confidence of the Saracens; they
took the mourning they observed in the camp for discouragement, and
flattered themselves with an approaching triumph over their enemies.
But their hopes were of very short existence. During the sickness of
Philip, now king, Charles of Anjou took the command of the army, and
renewed the war with spirit. The soldiers he had brought with him were
eager for battle, the diseases became less violent, and the Crusaders,
so long confined to their camp, revived at the idea of the perils of
war. Several battles were fought round the Lake of Gouletta, which it
was necessary for them to possess before they could invest Tunis. The
Moors, who only a few days before had threatened the Christians with
extermination or slavery, could not stand for a moment the shock of the
Christian chivalry; not unfrequently the arbalisters were sufficient to
disperse innumerable multitudes. Horrible howlings, the noise of drums
and other loud instruments, announced their approach; clouds of dust,
pouring down from the neighbouring heights, announced their retreat and
concealed their flight. In two rencontres, however, they were caught,
and left a great number of dead on the field. Another time their camp
was seized and plundered. The sovereign of Tunis could not depend
upon his army for the defence of his states, and he himself gave no
example of bravery or conduct to his soldiers. He remained constantly
in subterranean grottos, to escape at once from the burning rays of the
sun and the perils of the fight. Pressed by his fears, he saw no safety
but in peace, and resolved to purchase it, if at the expense of all
his treasures. His ambassadors came to the camp several times, charged
with proposals, and were directed particularly to endeavour to seduce
the king of Sicily. The Tunisian monarch was cunning and fortunate
in this idea; venality was the weak side of Charles, and the other
Crusaders were not immaculate in that respect. After much debating in
the Christian council, a truce for ten years was signed, on the 31st
of October, between the leaders of the crusade and the king of Tunis.
All prisoners were to be restored on both sides, and all the Christians
previously in chains were to be set at liberty. The sovereign of Tunis
engaged not to require of the Franks any of the duties imposed in his
kingdom upon foreign commerce. The treaty granted all Christians the
faculty of residing in the states of Tunis, with permission to build
churches, and even preach their faith. The Mussulman prince was to
pay an annual tribute of forty thousand golden crowns to the king
of Sicily, and two hundred and ten thousand ounces of gold for the
expenses of the war to the leaders of the Christian army.
This was all in favour of the king of Sicily, and loud murmurs soon
arose in the army. But what must have been the feelings of a real
hero when he came amongst them? By an agreement with Louis, Edward of
England was to take part in this expedition, and arrived in the camp
only a few days after the signing of the truce, with the Crusaders of
England and Scotland. The French and Sicilians were prodigal in their
demonstrations of welcome and respect, and received him with great
honours; but when he learnt they had made such a disgraceful peace, he
retired to his tent, and refused to be present at any of the councils
of the Christian leaders.
The Crusaders became impatient to leave this arid and unhealthy soil,
and the army embarked for Sicily. But as if this expedition was doomed
to be unfortunate, a violent tempest overtook the fleet when about
to enter the port of Trapani. Eighteen large ships and four thousand
Crusaders were submerged, and perished in the waves. Most of the
leaders lost their arms, their horses, and their equipments. But as
the crowning misfortune, and as if to point out the will of Heaven in
the case, the whole of the money paid by the king of Tunis went to the
bottom.
Of all this vaunted expedition, Edward of England was the only leader
who kept his word and followed up his purpose. He went to Palestine
in the spring, and, as every reader of history knows, distinguished
himself there greatly. Edward I., when prince, may be said to have been
the last Crusader of royal rank who appeared in Palestine. Here let me
remark an inadvertency I was about to commit; I wrote Edward, prince
of Wales, whereas his son, Edward of Caernarvon, was the first eldest
son of our kings who bore that title. This is a common error with us.
Shakspeare calls Louis, the father of Louis IX., dauphin when prince,
whereas that title did not belong to the sons of French monarchs till
more than a hundred years after Louis’ invasion of England.