Laurence W. Marvin's Books

The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221

By: Laurence W. Marvin

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The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221

By: Laurence W. Marvin

The Damietta Crusade, which is often referred to as the 'Fifth Crusade', was the first of the numbered crusades to be targeted against Egypt. Rather than directly targeting Jerusalem, its architects believed that by threatening the economic hub of Cairo the Ayyubid sultan would gladly give up Jerusalem in exchange. Here Laurence Marvin offers the first book-length treatment of the Damietta Crusade in almost 40 years. Written in accessible language and driven by a narrative and analysis firmly grounded in the primary sources in multiple languages, Marvin emphasizes what made this campaign unique, from its planning, choice of target, "brown-water" or amphibious nature, course, and result. He presents a multi-sided perspective by amply describing and analyzing the Egyptians and other groups in the eastern Mediterranean who played an important role in mounting a successful defense against Latin Christian forces. Marvin contends that the crusade in Egypt failed not because it derived from an unachievable or flawed grand strategy, but because of shifting operational goals, leadership issues, the social dynamics within the army, arrivals and departures of participants, and the effective defense led by Egypt's sultan, al-Kamil. This detailed analysis of an understudied event of thirteenth century history brings the latest methodologies of military history to bear on a wide range of primary sources, raising important questions about the complex nature of warfare and crusade in the medieval Mediterranean.

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265

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Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0198916191

ISBN 13

9780198916192

The Occitan War

A Military and Political History of the Albigensian Crusade, 1209–1218

By: Laurence W. Marvin

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The Occitan War

A Military and Political History of the Albigensian Crusade, 1209–1218

By: Laurence W. Marvin

In 1209 Simon of Montfort led a war against the Cathars of Languedoc after Pope Innocent III preached a crusade condemning them as heretics. The suppression of heresy became a pretext for a vicious war that remains largely unstudied as a military conflict. Laurence Marvin here examines the Albigensian Crusade as military and political history rather than religious history and traces these dimensions of the conflict through to Montfort's death in 1218. He shows how Montfort experienced military success in spite of a hostile populace, impossible military targets, armies that dissolved every forty days, and a pope who often failed to support the crusade morally or financially. He also discusses the supposed brutality of the war, why the inhabitants were for so long unsuccessful at defending themselves against it, and its impact on Occitania. This original account will appeal to scholars of medieval France, the Crusades and medieval military history.

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Cambridge University Press

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ISBN 10

1139470140

ISBN 13

9781139470148

The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221

By: Laurence W. Marvin

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The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221

By: Laurence W. Marvin

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

265

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0198916191

ISBN 13

9780198916192

Book's by Laurence W. Marvin

The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221

The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221

The Occitan War

The Occitan War

The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221

The Damietta Crusade, 1217-1221

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