Page 73 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich

A Walk to Caesarea: A Historical-Archaeological Perspective 59

Letter from Louis IX to his brother, Alphonse of Poitiers

We are all hale and hearty near Caesarea, while we are ensconced in the camp with the Christian army for the issue
of fortifications of the city, and we have already made significant progress in building the walls. And now, in order
to complete the work, we are working daily on building the walls as well as the moats.

Another description of his deeds:
And he came with all his army to Caesarea, which lies on the coast and he ordered to fortify the city with walls
and moats and with 16 towers.

Absolution for sins for those dealing with the construction:
And when they built the walls of Caesarea, the Apostolic legate … gave absolution of atonement to all those who
would help in this project: So then the blessed king would often carry the stones on his shoulder and bore as well
other things needed for constructing the walls.

So as to earn the promised atonement for sins from the Apostolic legate “the king carried soil from the moat in a
basket” (after J. Prawer, The Crusaders, 2: 331, n. 52, Hebrew).

These are the city fortifications whose impressive remains are seen today. Fig. 63a
Construction was completed in April or May 1252. By their magnificence and the
quality of their construction, the fortifications left an impression on the people of Map of the Crusader city
those times as well (Figs. 63a–b). encircled by a wall with
sixteen towers and three
a gates – fortifications of
Louis IX
Northern
Gate

Column
Quay

Sea
Wall

Citadel Eastern
Southern Gate
Gate Cathedral

0 100 m