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On this day in 1250: the violent death of William II Longespée, one of England's more unfortunate crusaders
In the south aisle of Salisbury Cathedral are two remarkable military effigies of a father and son. The older one is a stone statue on a carved wooden chest; he is William, Earl of Salisbury (1167–1226), illegitimate son of King Henry II, and half-brother to King Richard the Lionheart and King John.
Because of his unusual height, he earned the nickname “Longespée”, or Long Sword. Across the nave, down by the great west door, is his son, William II Longespée, who died famously on this day in 1250.
As a young man, William II enjoyed a very privileged life. Aged 21 he accompanied his cousin, King Henry III, on campaign in Brittany, where he was one of the royal favourites. Aged 24 he was knighted by the king, who then took him into action in Wales, putting down a rebellion.
Unusually, as well as fighting for Henry and going on pilgrimages, William went on crusade twice. He first took the cross at Winchester in 1236, leaving four years later from Marseilles. It was not an eventful crusade, and he was home again two years later, in time to join King Henry on campaign in Gascony.
Several years later, he was again in Wales, acting on behalf of the King in the wake of another uprising.
William then undertook a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, before taking the cross again. He joined King Louis IX in Egypt in 1249, and led 200 English knights at the siege of Damietta. Robert of Artois (King Louis IX’s brother), then started a dispute over the spoils from Damietta, and Longespée moved to Acre to get away from it.
Eager for military success, Louis settled on a plan to attack Cairo. Longespée rejoined the army, and moved south with them out of Damietta. However, before long the crusaders found Egyptian forces blocking their way near Mansourah.
Heading up the van, Robert of Artois had orders from Louis to cross the Nile, set up a bridgehead, then wait for reinforcements. But with his eye on plunder, Robert disobeyed, and charged on into Mansourah. Longespée and his men, who were in the van with Robert and a contingent of Knights Templar, had no choice but to follow.
Once in the cramped streets of Mansourah, they were all cut to pieces.
As the story filtered back to England, Longespée soon became a national hero. He was celebrated in poems and chronicles as a symbol of the noblest pious and chivalric virtues, unlike Robert of Artois, who emerged as a greedy coward.
Despite Longespée’s wishes to be buried at Lacock Abbey, where his mother was now abbess, his body was laid to rest in Acre.