Florent de Varennes

Florent de Varennes (died in Tunis in August 1270) was the first Admiral of France, in 1269, and as such, became the head of the fleet during the Eighth Crusade and the last led by King Saint Louis IX.

[1] In July 1270, King Louis IX set sail from Aigues-Mortes with a large, well-organized fleet of 70 vessels, mostly Genoese and Venetian, stating: "Already old, I begin the overseas journey.

Florent de Varennes, without referring to the King, disembarks his troops on the platform[clarification needed] closing Tunis harbour.

Waiting for the reinforcements of Charles of Anjou, King of Sicily, to attack Tunis, a dysentery epidemic decimated the troops, the polluted water and excessive heat not helping.

Florent de Varennes and John Tristan, Count of Valois, son of Louis IX, were among the victims.