sentences:  In 1269, the English Prince Edward (the future Edward I), inspired by tales of his great-uncle, Richard the Lionheart, and the second crusade of the French King Louis, started on a crusade of his own, the Ninth Crusade.The number of knights and retainers that accompanied Edward on the crusade was quite small, possibly around 230 knights, with a total complement of approximately 1,000 people, transported in a flotilla of 13 ships.Edward understood the value of an alliance with the Mongols, and upon his arrival in Acre on , he immediately sent an embassy to the Mongol ruler Abaqa, requesting assistance.