author
sire de Jean Joinville
A French nobleman and chronicler of the 13th century, he is remembered for bringing the world of King Louis IX and the Seventh Crusade vividly to life. His writing feels unusually personal for its age, mixing eyewitness detail with stories about faith, politics, and daily life.
1 Audiobook
La sesta crociata ovvero l'istoria della santa vita e delle grandi cavallerie di re Luigi IX di Francia
by sire de Jean Joinville
About the author
Born in 1224, Jean de Joinville was a nobleman from Champagne and served as seneschal of the region. He joined King Louis IX on the Seventh Crusade, and that experience shaped the work for which he is best known.
His great book, usually called Life of Saint Louis or Histoire de Saint Louis, is both a portrait of the king and a firsthand account of crusading life. Rather than sounding distant or formal, Joinville often writes with the directness of someone who was there, remembering conversations, dangers, and the character of the people around him.
That vivid, personal style is a big reason his work still matters. For many readers, Joinville is not just a medieval historian but a rare witness who makes the 13th century feel close and human.