Florent de Varennes

Florent de Varennes († 1270 before Tunis ) is considered the first admiral of France .

Florent was founded in 1269 by King Ludwig IX. the saint was appointed admiral ( amiraut du roi ) of the fleet for the crusade to Africa . This fleet consisted mainly of the first specially built ships of the French king, while the fleet of the crusade to Egypt (1248-1250) was still provided by Genoa and commanded by Ugoni Lercadi ( admiratus illustris regis Francorum ).

On July 17, 1270, the fleet coming from the Sardinian Cagliari reached the coast of Africa near Tunis . Florent immediately received the order from the king to scout the port of the city with a squadron. Florent, however, exceeded his instructions without authorization and went ashore on the headland in front of the port entrance, occupied the port gate and boarded several warships of the Sultan of Tunis. This unauthorized action had, despite the success of King Ludwig IX. angry, and he immediately ordered the evacuation of this advantageous position, much to the resentment of some crusaders. Florent nevertheless complied with the order and returned to the fleet with his squadron.

Despite these discrepancies, Louis IX. with the crusader army the next day (July 18) to land unhindered on the same headland. But instead of immediately taking up the siege, the nearby ruins of Carthage were occupied first , where they set up a fortified camp. Only then was Tunis besieged. Like the king himself, Florent died in the camp after an outbreak of dysentery .

Web link

• www.netmarine.net Florent de Varennes