Anima Christi (Or Louis IX fuckery)

[VictortheMonarch]

“... and for that we must take Cairo! Without it it shall be impossible to ever end the Ayyubid threat! You do not kill a snake by caution, only by stamping it’s head does it die!” Robert’s speech invigorated me, and had I not been here before, I too would have given him leave, which would leave to his death.

Before this meeting, I had been in Tunis, sick with Dysentery, one moment, I was struggling to awaken, the next I was hale and hearty, twenty two years earlier. My brother was still alive, and my faith in god reinvigorated, he gave me but one more chance, a chance I shant forget.

“My lords, I see those who wish to strike like lightning, who wish to believe that god wills us to push south and end the Ayyubids. I also see those who wish to wait, and fight with Caution. I believe both of these to be fools errands. What are the power points of the Ayyubids? Egypt? Syria? The Holy Land? None of these are the power points of the Islamic Ayyubids, yet they are all.” I said, and with a gesture I felt the sun breach the window behind me, as if giving a holy gale upon me.

“We are at the forchance of greatness, but we must strike when it is right, too quickly and the meat is raw, and too long and it is burnt. We must take what brings power to the Ayyubids, and that is the fertile land. An Army with no food, is one surely to disband. My lords, if we are to defeat the Ayyubids, Egypt must burn.” I said, taking a piece of bread. “Scour the nile. Take what crop one can handle and burn what is left. Yet be gracious to the common Egyptian, let them take what crop they must, let them eat of the grain grown in their lands, yet let none forfeit to the Ayyubids, for they are surely the Devils advocates on this Earth.” I said, before turning to Sir William Longespée.

“Good Sir Knight, you must take the city of Alexandria, take the Saracens gate to the Mediterranean, and do so quickly, I grant you leave to take some of the men and a few ships. Take the City of The Great and it shall forever be thy home.” I said, as Sir WIlliam Knelt. “Your grace, by god’s leave.” He said, before leaving the room. “The rest of thee I have but one mission, let Egypt Burn.” I said, before turning and leaving.

 

[VictortheMonarch]

Shirban was burning.

The People residing in the small town had fled long ago, leaving only but a small garrison to fight the 97 French Crusaders lead by Robert of Artois. Despite having numbers nearly double that of the Crusaders, the leader of the 173 defenders, a man named Muhammed Bakhar would believe it to be a trick, and would position half his group on the rear, with the front lines evenly matched, the French Crusaders would push through the lines easily, and would slaughter the entirety of the guard taking only 3 casualties, being statistically one of the greatest military victories of the Seventh Crusade. This however, was not the only strategic victory in the first six months.

On the other side of Egypt, The Knight William Longespée would be positioning himself outside the City of Alexandria, intent of Sieging the city of Alexanders Egypt. The City was much smaller than William had anticipated, yet as it stands it would make it all the more deadly to take by force. The Walls of the city, while most certainly not the most fortified, would be hazardous. And that is when an Idea came to William's head. As King Louis said, let Egypt burn. And Burn it shall. On the first day he would order the construction of a counterweight trebuchet, similar in design to those that aiding the conquest of Saladin.

He had two hastily made Trebuchets in a fortnight, and would begin to hammer the city like none other. His Ammunition was not stone, but bags filled with grasses and oils. It took the Alexandrians some time to figure out how to negate the flame, and so he swapped tactic, he moved to bigger ammunition. He would order the remains of deceased livestock to be launched over the city, with the men who handled the remains to bath frequently, and to stay well away from the rest of the army so as to avoid plague.

This as it seems, was a godsend. the starved Alexandrians would eat the remains, and would get sick. plague was beginning to rise, yet it seemed those in charge of Alexandria were stubborn, and thus William was forced to find new tactics.

The city of Alexandria was mighty, yet the one thing mightier was promises. He found some attempting to flee Alexandria, and instead of killing them, he gave them hope for their families. Return to Alexandria, and convince the starved masses to open the gates. to join him and they shall be saved, that food would soon arrive and the folk of the city may feast, so long as their masters were handed to him.

It took several weeks, but finally the gates were opened at night. Some of the guard had defected, and the city was in revolt. The chance to strike was then, and so with his four thousand men he struck. Down each and every street, his men would cut down any with sword, shield or even a fork. Any who bore arms were slain, and those who surrendered were given quarter. The Lord and his retinue were butchered, and the Mosques of Alexandria were reduced to rubble. This angered many of the Muslims of the city, but those who revolted faced the same fate as those whom revolted before.

Though there were not losses, of the four thousand whom came with William, a little over thirty hundred remained.

 

[ATP]

Good idea.Was it before mongols come? if so,he need peace with them,when they come.