Sixth Crusade
The Emperor and the Sultan
In truth, the prospect of diplomacy without battle did not bother Frederick very much. He had been in contact with the Sultan al-Kamil before he ever left Italy and the two men had a certain measure of respect for one another. Al-Kamil had let it be known that he might be willing to yield Jerusalem if the terms were right.
But when Frederick arrived, he caught al-Kamil at an awkward time, for he was otherwise occupied. One of his brothers had been ruling in Damascus and had died in late 1227. His son was still a child. After some quick maneuvering, al-Kamil was now engaged in laying siege to the city with every prospect of conquering it. Damascus was a highly desirable prize for the ruler of Cairo. Upon Frederick's arrival, the Sultan sent ambassadors to Acre with instructions to string out the negotiations for as long as possible. Ideally, either Damascus would fall or Frederick would go home.
There followed months of elaborate fencing, as neither man was bargaining from a position of strength. Both had to appear to their faithful as if they had won some signal victory, for both sides really expected their leaders to seek a decision on the field of battle.
Frederick tried one military expedition, in November 1228, trying to draw al-Kamil into battle, but the Sultan stayed put and the Emperor had to retire. Next, he took advantage of the situation to fortify Jaffa. Damascus continued to hold out, and al-Kamil began to be anxious for a settlement with the Crusaders. In February, Sultan and Emperor came to terms.