LEWIS IX. anno 1226 (canonized), was one of the greatest monarchs of France, equally memorable for his valour and his virtues; but, unfortunately misled by the superstition of the times, he sacrificed his own repose, and the welfare of his kingdom, to the folly of crusading. In 1248, leaving France to the care of his mother, he embarked for Egypt, attended by his queen, his three brothers, and the flower of the French nobility. At first his victories were rapid; he took Damietta in 1249; but the following year he was defeated and taken prisoner by the Turks, with all the nobility in his train, and the greatest part of his army. The sultan sent to him in prison, to demand an exorbitant sum for his ransom; and his answer being truly noble, deserves to be recorded; "Tell the sultan, that a king of France is not to be ransomed with money; I will give the sum required for
my people, and Damietta for myself." These terms were accepted, and a peace of ten years ensued. Upon his return to France, he diminished the taxes, revoked those which the cupidity of the financiers had introduced; issued several salutary edicts; founded several churches and hospitals; and effectually overturned the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the court of Rome, by his pragmatic sanction in 1269, which established the independency of the Gallican church. Thirteen years residence in his capital indemnified his subjects for his absence; but his pious zeal prevented the enjoyment of this happiness: he embarked for the sixth crusade in 1270; and died the same year, at the siege of Tunis, aged 55.