THE EIGHT CRUSADE (1270)

The Eighth Crusade, which took place in 1270, was a significant campaign in the series of Crusades aimed at recapturing and maintaining control over the Holy Land. Here's a detailed account based on historical sources:

GENERAL OVERVIEW
The Eighth Crusade was launched primarily by Louis IX of France, also known as Saint Louis. Its goal was to assist the beleaguered Crusader states in the Holy Land and to launch an offensive against the Mamluk Sultanate in North Africa who defeated them in the seventh crusade but was later diverted against the Hafsid dynasty in Tunisia in 1270. It is also known as the Crusade of Louis IX Against Tunis or the Second Crusade of Louis.

PARTIES INVOLVED
1. Christian Crusader: The Crusaders were primarily from France, led by King Louis IX. There were also smaller contingents from other European regions.
2. Muslim Forces: The Muslim defenders were the Mamluks, the ruling force of the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt and the Levant and then the Hafsid dynasty of Tunisia of which the siege of Tunis later took place.

KEY EVENTS
1. Departure to Tunisia (1270): King Louis IX had initially planned to aid the Crusader states in the Levant. However, upon arriving in North Africa, he decided to divert the Crusade to Tunisia to strengthen the Christian position there and convert the region to Christianity.

2. Siege of Carthage (1270): The Crusaders besieged the city of Carthage in modern-day Tunisia. However, the siege was poorly executed, and the Crusader forces suffered from diseases and a lack of supplies.

3. Death of Louis IX (1270): During the siege, an epidemic, possibly dysentery, broke out in the Crusader camp, claiming many lives, including that of King Louis IX, who died on August 25, 1270.

4. Conclusion of the Crusade: After Louis IX’s death, the Crusade lost momentum. His son and heir, Philip III, decided to return to France, effectively ending the Eighth Crusade.

5. Treaty of Tunis: A treaty was later done between the crusaders and the Hafsids which led to some trade concessions for the Crusaders but they were not able to capture any land due to their loss.

OUTCOME
The Eighth Crusade is regarded as a failure due to its inability to achieve its objectives and the death of King Louis IX. Key outcomes include:

1. Failure to Aid the Crusader States: The intended aid to the Crusader states in the Levant was not realized due to the Crusade’s diversion to Tunisia and subsequent misfortunes nor was any victory won by them in Tunisia.
2. Impact on North Africa: The Crusaders failed to make significant territorial gains or conversions in North Africa even after negotiations in the Treaty of Tunis.
3. Death of King Louis IX: The death of King Louis IX was a significant loss for the Crusading efforts and marked the end of his ambitious campaigns to recover the Holy Land.
4. The Treaty of Tunis: It was an agreement during the Eighth Crusade. It was signed in November 1270 between the Hafsid Sultan Muhammad I al-Mustansir and Crusaders shortly after Louis IX of France’s death. The treaty guaranteed a truce between the two armies

In conclusion, the Eighth Crusade, while ultimately unsuccessful in achieving its intended goals, underscored the ongoing desire of European powers to support the Crusader states and extend Christian influence in the Holy Land and neighboring regions. However, due to strategic missteps and the death of its primary leader, the Crusade did not achieve lasting success.