Battle of Mansurah (1250)

The Battle of Mansurah was a significant engagement during the Seventh Crusade, fought in Egypt in February 1250. It pitted the Crusader army led by Louis IX of France against the Ayyubid forces of Egypt, then nominally ruled by Sultan al-Muazzam Turanshah, but effectively controlled by his stepmother, Shajar al-Durr.

The Crusaders, having successfully captured Damietta in 1249, advanced south towards Cairo, aiming to seize Egypt and use it as a bargaining chip to reclaim Jerusalem. They reached Mansurah, a fortified town on the Nile's bank.

The battle itself consisted of several distinct clashes. Initially, a contingent of Crusader knights, eager for glory, recklessly charged into Mansurah before the main army was prepared. They were lured into the town's narrow streets and ambushed by Mamluk soldiers led by Baibars, suffering heavy losses, including the death of Robert I of Artois, Louis IX's brother.

Following this disastrous initial foray, the Crusaders established a fortified camp outside Mansurah and engaged in a series of skirmishes with the Ayyubid forces. Both sides suffered significant casualties. The Ayyubids, while inflicting losses on the Crusaders, were hampered by internal instability, including the death of Sultan Turanshah shortly after the battle.

The battle ultimately ended in a tactical stalemate. While Louis IX managed to hold his position outside Mansurah, his army was weakened by disease, dwindling supplies, and constant harassment. The Ayyubids, although unable to dislodge the Crusaders, were dealing with their own political turmoil.

After weeks of stalemate, Louis IX decided to retreat towards Damietta. However, the Crusader army was ambushed and defeated at the Battle of Fariskur in April 1250. Louis IX was captured and held for ransom.

The Battle of Mansurah, while not a decisive victory for either side in the immediate sense, marked a turning point in the Seventh Crusade. It significantly weakened the Crusader army and ultimately led to the failure of the campaign. Furthermore, the chaos surrounding the death of Turanshah paved the way for the rise of the Mamluks, who seized control of Egypt and established a new dynasty that would rule for centuries.