The Fifth Crusade is an attempt to take back Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land by first conquering the powerful Ayyubid state in Egypt.Pope Honorius III organizes crusading armies led by Leopold VI of Austria and Andrew II of Hungary, and a foray against Jerusalem ultimately leaves the city in Muslim hands.

Later in 1218, a German army led by Oliver of Cologne and a mixed army of Dutch, Flemish and Frisian soldiers led by William I, Count of Holland arrives.

In order to attack Damietta in Egypt, they ally with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm in Anatolia, whose forces attack the Ayyubids in Syria in an attempt to free the Crusaders from fighting on two fronts.After occupying the port of Damietta, the Crusaders march south towards Cairo in July of 1221, but are turned back after their dwindling supplies lead to a forced retreat.

A nighttime attack by Sultan Al-Kamil results in a great number of crusader losses and eventually in the surrender of the army.

Al-Kamil agrees to an eight-year peace agreement with Europe.