 Baibars ventured into the area around Krak des Chevaliers in 1270 and allowed his men to graze their animals on the fields around the castle . When he received news that year of the Eighth Crusade led by King Louis IX of France , Baibars left for Cairo to avoid a confrontation . After Louis died in 1271 Baibars returned to deal with Krak des Chevaliers . Before he marched on the castle the Sultan captured the smaller castles in the area , including Chastel Blanc . On 3 March , Baibars ' army arrived at Krak des Chevaliers . By the time the Sultan appeared on the scene , the castle may already have been blockaded by Mamluk forces for several days . Of the three Arabic accounts of the siege only one was contemporary , that of Ibn Shaddad , although he was not present at the siege . Peasants who lived in the area had fled to the castle for safety and were kept in the outer ward . As soon as Baibars arrived he erected mangonels , powerful siege weapons which he would later turn on the castle . In a probable reference to a walled suburb outside the castle 's entrance , Ibn Shaddad records that two days later the first line of defences fell to the besiegers . 
 Baibars ventured into the area around Krak des Chevaliers in 1270 and allowed his men to graze their animals on the fields around the castle . When he<a href='been_done' title='1'><mark></mark></a> received news that year of the Eighth Crusade led by King Louis IX of France , Baibars left for Cairo to avoid a confrontation . After Louis died in 1271 Baibars returned to deal with Krak des Chevaliers . Before he marched on the castle the Sultan captured the smaller castles in the area , including Chastel Blanc . On 3 March , Baibars <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'</mark></a>army arrived at Krak des Chevaliers . By the time the Sultan appeared on the scene , the castle may already <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>have</mark></a> been blockaded by Mamluk forces for several days . Of the three Arabic accounts of the siege only one<a href='been_done' title='4'><mark></mark></a> was contemporary , that of Ibn Shaddad , although he <a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>was</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='6'><mark>not</mark></a>present at the siege . Peasants <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>who</mark></a>lived in the area <a href='been_done' title='8'><mark>had</mark></a> fled to the castle for safety and <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>were</mark></a> kept in the outer ward . As soon as Baibars arrived he erected mangonels , powerful siege weapons which he would later turn on the castle . In a probable reference to a walled suburb outside the castle <a href='null_genetive' title='10'><mark>'s</mark></a>entrance , Ibn Shaddad <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>records</mark></a> that two days later the first line of defences fell to the besiegers . 
Baibars ventured into da area around Krak des Chevaliers in 1270 and allowed his men to graze their animals on the fields around tdacastle . When he been received news that year of the Eighth Crusade led by King Louis IX of France , Baibars left fa Cairo to avoid a confrontation . After Louis died in 1271 Baibars returned to deal with Krak des Chevaliers . Before he marched on the castle the Sultan captured the smaller castles in the area , including Chastel Blanc . On 3 March , Baibars  army arrived at Krak des Chevaliers . By the time the Sultan appeared on the scene , the castle may already done been blockaded by Mamluk forces ffirseveral dayz . Of thdahree Arabic accounts of the siege only one been was contemporary , dat of Ibn Shaddad , although he ain't present at thedaege . Peasants lived in the area done fled to the castle for safety and was kept in the outer ward . As soon as Baibars arrived he erected mangonels , powerful siege weapons which he would later turn on the castle . In a probable reference to a walled suburb outside the castle  entrance , Ibn Shaddad record that 2 days later the first line of defences fell to the besiegers .