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New Medieval Books: The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221

The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221: A Military History

By Laurence W. Marvin

Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780198916178

The Fifth Crusade saw European forces launch an ambitious invasion of Egypt. This book delves into the military dimensions of the campaign, examining the grand strategy of the Crusaders and the tactical manoeuvres employed during the protracted siege of Damietta, which spanned over 18 months.

Excerpt:

This book tells the story of the Damietta Crusade as a military campaign but seeks to treat both sides who fought it sympathetically. It explains the campaign’s failure, or, conversely, the successful defense of Egypt by its ruler and people. Its arguments and contents are intended not only to pass muster with specialists but also the broader audience of military historians or persons interested in military history who do not know much about the Middle Ages and perhaps never thought much about them.

I have tried to use language and phrases that military historians and the literate public understand but often do not see used for the Middle Ages. Therefore, I treat the Damietta Crusade as a distinct military campaign. Its planning, preparation, and execution stemmed from a coherent grand strategy, it incorporated strategic thought to accomplish a tangible goal, its participants conducted a multi-year campaign via several different operations and of course the conflict itself reflected the tactics of early-thirteenth-century soldiers, both west and east.

Who is this book for?

Few books focus specifically on the Fifth Crusade, making this new work a valuable addition to the study of this pivotal event. Historians specialising in the Crusades, medieval warfare, or medieval Egypt will find it an insightful and useful resource.

The author

Laurence W. Marvin is professor of history at Berry College, where his research mostly focuses on the military aspects of the crusades. You can read this interview with him, conducted several years as he was just starting his research for this book.

You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website

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