What were the outcomes of the Eighth Crusade?

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What were the outcomes of the Eighth Crusade?

The Eighth Crusade, which took place from 1270 to 1272, had several outcomes.

Firstly, the Crusade was launched by King Louis IX of France with the aim of recapturing the Holy Land, specifically Jerusalem, from the Muslims. However, the Crusaders were unsuccessful in achieving this objective. They were unable to make any significant territorial gains and were ultimately forced to retreat.

Secondly, during the Crusade, King Louis IX died in 1270 due to illness. This resulted in a leadership vacuum and weakened the Crusader forces. His death also marked the end of the direct involvement of European monarchs in the Crusades.

Thirdly, the Eighth Crusade did have some limited success in terms of diplomacy. Louis IX's brother, Charles of Anjou, negotiated a peace treaty with the Egyptian Sultan Baibars. This treaty allowed for the safe passage of Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land and ensured a temporary period of peace between the Crusaders and the Muslims.

Lastly, the Eighth Crusade marked the decline of the Crusading movement as a whole. The repeated failures and high costs of the Crusades, both in terms of lives lost and financial resources, led to a growing disillusionment among European powers. This, coupled with the rise of the Ottoman Empire and other geopolitical shifts, eventually led to the abandonment of the Crusades as a means of reclaiming the Holy Land.

In summary, the outcomes of the Eighth Crusade were the failure to recapture Jerusalem, the death of King Louis IX, limited diplomatic success, and the overall decline of the Crusading movement.