JOINVILLE, JEAN, SIRE or LORD DE, born of a noble family of Champagne, was brought up in the court of Thibaut, king of Navarre and count of Champagne, then one of the most polished courts in Europe. Joinville followed Louis IX. in his first crusade in 1248, with a body of several hundred armed men, which he raised among his tenants; and he was present at the taking of Damiata, and at the disastrous campaign of Masseurs, in which Louis and most of his army, with Joinville among the rest, were taken prisoners. Join ville narrowly escaped being killed by the Egyptians; but the ransom being paid, he followed the king to Acre, and was present at the war which was carried on in Palestine, until he returned to France with Louis in 1254. Being a great favourite with the king, and almost constantly near his person during the six years of that crusade, his narrative of that period, written in a simple unpretending style, is extremely interesting. It is entitled 'Histoire de St. Louis, IX. du nom, Roi de France, par Jehan Sire de Joinville,' and has been often republished. One of the best editions is that by Ducange, ful., 1668, with useful notes and learned dissertations. It has been translated into English by T. Johns, 2 vole. 9to, 1S07. The character of Join villa, a favourable specimen of a feudal lord in that, the golden age of chivalry, valiant, gay, witty, generous, shrewd, and yet at times careless through vivacity of temper, somewhat worldly and proud of his rank, but withal good-natured and sociable, forms a happy contrast with the piety, austerity, and simplicity of Louis, who however esteemed and loved Joinville for his sincerity and abilities, as much as Joinville cherished Louis's honesty and goodoess of heart, of which he gave numerous and affecting proofs iu his narrative. Joinvillo, after his
return to his native domain, did not forsake the king, but frequently repaired to his court, and continued to enjoy Louis's confidence. When Louis, in 1269, set out on his second expedition, in which he died at Tunis, he invited Joinville to join him, who however excused himself. Joinville kept away from the corrupt court of Philip le Bel, but after wards he is said to have joined the army which Louis X. collected at Arras against the Flemish. He died not long after; but the precise epoch of his death is not known. Joinville and his predecessor Villehardouin are among the oldest of the French chroniclers who wrote in the vernacular tongue.