Emperor Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire led the Sixth Crusade from 1228 to 1229 and claimed the title of King of Jerusalem as the husband of Isabella II of Jerusalem, queen since 1212. However, Jerusalem did not remain in the hands of Christians for long, as the latter did not control the surroundings of the city sufficiently to be able to ensure an effective defense.

In 1244, the Ayyubids allowed the Khwarazmians, whose empire had been destroyed by the Mongols in 1231, to attack the city. The siege took place on 15 July, and the city fell rapidly. The Khwarazmians plundered it and left it in such a state of ruin that it became unusable for both Christians and Muslims. The sack of the city and the massacre which accompanied it encouraged the king of France Louis IX to organize the Seventh Crusade.