ABSTRACT
Despite the disunity prevailing in their camp, the defeat of part of their forces by the Egyptians, and their troops’ apparently pointless wandering up and down the coast, the Barons’ Crusade of 1239–41 ended with some substantial achievements. The castle of Beaufort was regained; its former master, the sultan of Damascus al-Ṣāliḥ Ismāʿīl, had to besiege his own garrison that had mutinied, disgusted that such a strong fortress was to be transferred to the Christians. Eastern Galilee was repossessed and the massive refortification of Saphet allowed the Franks to bring a substantial area with over 200 villages under their control. More to the south, a new castle was built over the ruins of Ascalon, adding some fifty kilometres to the Frankish littoral.
