Gone Medieval The Mongols and the Fall of the Crusaders
Mar 13, 2026
Nicholas Morton, historian and author of The Mongol Storm, explains 13th‑century Middle Eastern upheaval. He traces Mongol expansion, the sack of Baghdad, and why Mamluk leaders like Qutuz and Baybars halted them at Ain Jalut. The conversation covers Louis IX’s failed Nile campaign, Mamluk consolidation, and how these shifts led to the collapse of the Crusader states.
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Qutuz Publicly Executed Mongol Envoys
- Qutuz responded to Mongol envoys by imprisoning and publicly executing them to signal refusal to submit.
- The envoys' severed heads were displayed on Cairo's ramparts as a declaration of defiance before Ain Jalut.
Egypt First Strategy To Reclaim Jerusalem
- Crusader strategists often targeted Egypt as the key to reclaiming Jerusalem because of its economic centrality.
- Louis IX chose to assault Damietta in 1249 to secure Nile bases and revenue before marching on Cairo and using Egyptian wealth to fund a longer campaign.
Robert Of Artois' Rash Charge Doomed The Seventh Crusade
- Louis IX captured Damietta quickly but overextended when Robert of Artois led an impulsive cavalry charge into Mansurah.
- The vanguard's rash attack became trapped in town streets, supply lines were cut on the Nile, disease spread, and Louis was captured after a disastrous retreat.
