Chronicles of the Crusades (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor) - Softcover

Jean Joinville, Sire De

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0486454363 ISBN 13: 9780486454368

Publisher: Dover Publications Inc., 2007

Synopsis

This book features the most authoritative accounts available of the Holy Wars: Villehardouin's Conquest of Constantinople and Joinville's Chronicle of the Crusade of St. Lewis. The veteran crusaders provide engrossing narratives and firsthand testimony of terrifying battles as well as the religious and political fervor that sparked the two hundred-year campaign.

About this title

About the Author:

Geoffrey of Villehardouin was born in around 1150. In 1185 he was appointed to the office of marshal of Champagne, and having taken the cross in 1199 he was subsequently appointed as an envoy by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade. He was privy to crucial decisions made throughout the course of the crusade, which ended with the conquest of Constantinople from its Greek Christian rulers in April 1204. His account of The Conquest of Constantinople relates the controversial history of the Fourth Crusade and the early years of the Latin empire from the perspective of a well-informed insider.

John of Joinville was born in 1224 or 1225. In 1233 he inherited the office of seneschal of Champagne that would give him a leading role in the administrative affairs of the county. He took the cross for the first crusade led by King Louis IX of France. Joinville became a close friend of Louis IX and after their return to France he was a familiar figure at the royal court. Joinville refused to join Louis on his second crusade and was therefore not present when the king died in 1270. He honoured his friend’s memory by giving evidence to the enquiry that established the king’s sanctity and by composing The Life of Saint Louis as a record of his holy words and good deeds.

Synopsis:

The most authoritative, firsthand accounts available of the Holy Wars, this work collects both Villehardouin's "Conquest of Constantinople" and Joinville's "Life of Saint Louis". Veterans of the Fourth and Seventh Crusades, the former soldiers provide an engrossing narrative that recounts the terrifying battles, unspeakable atrocities, and the religious and political fervor that sparked the 200-year campaign. It is a reprint of "Memoirs of the Crusades", J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., London, 1908.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dover Publications Inc.
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0486454363
• ISBN 13: 9780486454368
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336