Joinville and the King were both captured by the Mamluks , and the book describes their period of imprisonment and the eventual payment of their ransom.
The title (Memoirs of a Crusader) refers to the Turkish translation of the memoirs of Jean de Joinville , a 13th-century French knight and counselor to King Louis IX.
It is a rare "eye-witness" source for Turkish history, specifically regarding the Mamluks of Egypt and the Seljuks of Anatolia. He admits to having previously misunderstood the Turks and praises their cultural and moral structures. Turkish Publication Details Bir Haçlının Hatıraları
The most prominent version available in Turkey is translated by , published by houses like Yeditepe Yayınevi and Vadi Yayınları .
Detailed descriptions of the landing at Damietta and the Battle of Al Mansurah. Joinville and the King were both captured by
Jean de Joinville was an aristocrat who accompanied King Louis IX (Saint Louis) to Egypt and the Holy Land. He wrote these memoirs in his late years, providing a vivid, personal account that reads more like war reporting than a dry chronicle. Central Themes:
Unlike many biased accounts of the era, Joinville expresses surprising respect for his adversaries. He provides early Western insights into the Mamluk Sultanate, the Mongols (Tatars), and the Order of the Assassins (Hashshashin). He admits to having previously misunderstood the Turks
This work is considered one of the most significant Western historical sources for the Middle Ages, particularly the (1248–1254). Key Content Overview