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Jean JoinvilleFrench medieval historian, biographer of Saint Louis
Date of Birth: 01.01.1224
Country:  France |
Content:
- A Knight's Devotion: The Life of Jean de Joinville
- The Seventh Crusade: A Battlefield Witness
- A Loyal Advisor and Regent
- An Absent Crusader
- The Written Legacy: 'Lives of Saint Louis'
- A First-Hand Account: Witness to History
- A Literate Knight's Devotion
- Other Works: A Faith Illustrated
A Knight's Devotion: The Life of Jean de Joinville
A Noble Lineage and a Royal ConnectionJean de Joinville was born into a prominent family in the Champagne region of France. As a young man, he entered the service of King Thibaut IV of Navarre, Count of Champagne, where he held the position of seneschal.
The Seventh Crusade: A Battlefield Witness
In 1245, Joinville joined the Seventh Crusade led by King Louis IX of France. To finance his participation, he mortgaged his estates. Upon reaching Cyprus, he pledged his small army to the king's service. Joinville fought valiantly and was captured alongside the king by the Mamluks in 1250 at Mansura, Egypt. He played a crucial role in negotiating their ransom and raising funds from the Knights Templar.
A Loyal Advisor and Regent
Returning to France in 1254, Joinville became King Louis IX's closest advisor. He effectively served as regent of Champagne until Thibaut IV's daughter, Joan I of Navarre, came of age.
An Absent Crusader
Joinville declined to participate in the Eighth Crusade (Tunis) in 1270, sensing its ill-fated outcome. He harbored animosity towards King Philip IV the Fair.
The Written Legacy: 'Lives of Saint Louis'
Joinville's most significant work, "Lives of Saint Louis," is a comprehensive historical account of King Louis IX. Written at the request of Joan of Navarre, the book remains unfinished upon her death in 1305. Completed between 1305 and 1309, it is dedicated to Joan's son, Louis the Quarrelsome.
Comprising 149 chapters and 769 paragraphs, the book focuses on Louis's pious words, reign, and the events surrounding his decision to embark on a crusade. The second part narrates the overseas expeditions in detail, including an insightful account of Bedouin customs.
A First-Hand Account: Witness to History
Joinville's writing goes beyond a detached chronicle. He interjects personal anecdotes and reflections. Paragraphs 119-666 resemble memoirs, recounting events in which Joinville himself participated. The account of the king's death is based on the testimony of Pierre of Alençon, one of Louis's sons.
A Literate Knight's Devotion
Joinville's "Lives of Saint Louis" was written during a period of intense devotion to the king. At the age of eighty, Joinville sought to strengthen the cult of Saint Louis through his writing.
Other Works: A Faith Illustrated
In 1250-1251, Joinville penned a small devotional treatise titled "Explanation of the Pillars of Our Faith, with Pictures." Illustrated with miniatures, it served as a commentary on the Apostles' Creed.
