Fifth Crusade: Departing for Egypt

May 24, 1218 - German, Dutch, Frisian, and Flemish Crusaders sail from Acre to capture the port of Damietta, Egypt as part of the Fifth Crusade. Called by Pope Honorius III, the Fifth Crusade sought to reclaim Jerusalem from its Muslim masters. Armies were initially raised by Leopold VI of Austria and Andrew II of Hungary, who allied with local Christian leaders and fought against the Ayyubids in Syria. Little came from their efforts and they soon departed. In 1218, additional armies were raised by Oliver of Cologne and Count William I of Holland. These troops arrived in Acre, where their leaders made a deal with the Sultan of Rum. While the sultan attacked from the north, the crusaders would conqueror Egypt and attack the Holy Land from the south.

Landing in Egypt, the Crusaders began operations against Damietta (above right). They quickly captured the outer defenses, but were unable to storm the city. Initiating a siege, the Crusaders began to lose large numbers of men to disease. Unhappy with how the crusade was proceeding Pope Honorius dispatched Cardinal Pelagius to take command. The new sultan of Egypt, Al-Kamil offered to trade Damietta for Jerusalem, but Pelagius refused. This was attractive to Al-Kamil as the walls of Jerusalem had been pulled down and he knew if given to the Crusaders they would not be able to hold it. In November 1219, Damietta was finally captured. Two years later, the Crusaders then began marching south to Cairo, but became trapped when the Nile flooded. Taking advantage of the situation, Al-Kamil attacked, inflicting heavy losses and forcing the Crusaders to surrender. In return for their freedom, Pelagius returned Damietta and agreed to an eight year truce.

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