1270: Ibn Ḫaldūn on Events that Led to Louis IX's Crusade to Tunis

Abstract

This article examines and contextualizes Ibn Ḫaldūn's explanation for Louis IX's crusade to Tunis in 1270. Juxtaposing Latin-Christian and Arabic-Islamic descriptions of the crusade, it demonstrates that these texts drew back on different sources of knowledge and pursued different objectives. In doing so, they produced contrasting explanations of what actually motivated the crusade. This variety of interpretations emerged shortly after the death of Louis IX. In consequence, any attempt to understand the precise reasons for the campaign must resort to a certain degree of conjecture.