The Memoirs of the Lord of Joinville: A New English Version (Illustrated Edition) (Dodo Press)

Jean de Joinville (c. 1224-1317) was one of the great chroniclers of medieval France. In 1241, he accompanied Theobald to the court of the king of France, Louis IX. In 1244, when Louis organized the Seventh Crusade, he decided to abandon his family to join with the Christian knights. In 1250, when the king and his troops were captured by the Mameluks in Al-Mansourah, Joinville, among the captives, participated in the negotiations and the collection of the ransom. He advised the king to stay in the Holy Land instead of returning immediately to France as the other lords had wanted; the king followed Joinville's advice. During the following four years spent in the Holy Land he was the constant advisor to the king.