Silver Coin Fifth Crusade 2011 Standard Cook Islands

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History of the Crusades series

An exclusive silver (antique) coin issued by the Cook Islands in 2011 from the History of the Crusades series depicts the scenery of the Fifth Crusade with a portrait of John of Brienne on its reverse. The inscriptions 'FIFTH CRUSADE 1213', 'JOHN OF BRIENNE KING OF JERUSALEM' and the year of publication complete the obverse. The obverse shows crusader knights holding a flag and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II..

The coin comes in a blue gift box with grey and silver trim along with a numbered certificate of authenticity in a limited edition of only 1000 pieces for the entire world!

John of Brienne

John of Brienne (John de Candia of Brienne, c. 1148 - 23 March 1237, Constantinople) was King of Jerusalem (1210-1212) and Emperor-Regent of the Latins (1229-1237). He was also a leading participant in the Fifth Crusade.

In 1215, Pope Innocent III convened the Fourth Lateran Council. One of the consequences of the Council was the Fifth Crusade, the preparations for which were vigorously undertaken by Innocent's successor Honorius III. The troops were to be transported to the Middle East by Frisian ships, but the Frisians were delayed in Portugal by the conquest of the Moorish castle of Alcácer do Sal. Thus, only a part of the crusaders arrived in the Holy Land, joined by the Cypriot troops of King Hugo I and the Antiochian army of Prince Bohemund IV. The Crusaders found no opponent in Transjordan, plundered a wide area, and returned to Akkon with their spoils. King Andrew left for home and the remaining crusaders prepared to attack the Egyptian port of Damietta after the arrival of French reinforcements.

In May 1218 the crusaders captured the defensive tower protecting the mouth of the Nile and partially besieged the city of Damietta itself, which they captured in November 1219 after a siege of nearly two years. The city was claimed by King John of Brienne of Jerusalem against the will of Cardinal Pelagius. He became the temporary ruler of Damietta until the expected arrival of Emperor Frederick II. The city was transformed by the Crusaders into a Christian settlement with its own archbishop, Pierre des Roches.

After the arrival of the German crusaders, Pelagio felt that the army was strong enough to conquer all of Egypt and, despite the emperor's orders, he and his army headed south without the emperor with the aim of taking Cairo. The expedition ended ingloriously after the soldiers camped between two arms of the Nile and the Egyptians released the river dams, cutting the crusaders off from the mainland and forcing them to surrender. Sultan al-Kamil negotiated the Crusaders' withdrawal from Damietta and an eight-year truce. The released Crusaders retreated to Akkon, and at the place where they surrendered, the sultan had a new city, al-Mansoura, built to commemorate the victory.