MEZDIRES, na'zyar, Philippe de, French soldier, religious pilgrim and author: b. Cha teau de Mizieres, Picardy, about 1327; d. Paris, 29 May 1405. While still very young he served under Lucchino Visconti in Lombardy and shortly afterward under Andrew, king of Naples. He served with the French army in Smyrna in 1346, was knighted and afterward went to Jerusalem where he endeavored to found an order of knighthood to be main tained in the holy city for its protection against the Mohammedans. He visited Cyprus in 1347 and made a convert of Peter, the son of King Hugo IV; and after the accession of Peter to the throne, in 1358, he returned to the island and became his chancellor, probably in 1360. He was associated here with the legate Peter Thomas, who became patriarch of Constanti nople in 1364. Mezieres traveled with King Peter to the courts of western Europe, seeking support for a new crusade, and was with him at the capture of Alexandria in 1365. One third of the booty was awarded Mezieres for the creation of his order, the plan of which was laid forth in his 'Nova religio passionis' (1367-68), and which he extended in 1386 and 1396. Finding the Crusaders unwilling to aid him in realizing his dream Mizieres was com missioned to visit Venice, Avignon and western Europe to enlist their aid for the kingdom of Cyprus against the sultan. Failing in his efforts he again sought converts for his order, but in 1368 returned to Cyprus, where he re mained until the assassination of King Peter in 1369. In 1372 he was attached to the court
of Pope Gregory XI, and in 1373 he became a counsellor of Charles V, at Paris. He enjoyed the Icing's full confidence and was tutor to his son, who became Charles VI. After the acces sion of Charles VI, however, Mezieres retired to the Convent of the Celestines. He never lost touch with public affairs, but devoted him self chiefly to literature and the endeavor td establish his order at Jerusalem. His writings are of great historical value. His life of his friend and confrere, Peter Thomas, 'Vita S. Petri Thomasii' (Antwerp 1659), contains a highly valuable account of the Alexandrian ex pedition. Most of his writings concerned his project for the founding of his Order of the Passion, among them being 'Songe du vieil pelerin) (1389) and the autobiographical 'Oratio trmgedica.) He was an earnest worker for friendship between England and France, and greatly desired the marriage of Richard II and Isabella of France, believing that it would ensure peace between the two countries and that his crusade could then be successfully inaugurated. His 'Epitre lamentable et con solatoire) (1397) was written after the disaster which overtook the Crusade of 1396, which he had not thought well advised. Consult Jorga, N., 'Philippe de Mizieres et la croisade au xiv siecle' (1896).