In 1219, Francis of Assisi had an encounter with Sultan Melek al-Kamil in Egypt. The interpretation of this meeting is controversial. On the one hand it is seen as a paradigm of a peaceful interreligious dialogue; on the other, mediaevalists think this idea was inconceivable in the 13th century. The mediaeval sources are contradictory. This article raises the question if Francis's deed was a breach in the spirituality of his days, and if so, how that is traceable. The sources tend to adapt Francis's attitude to the expectations of his age. The oldest source states that Francis "made little progress" in converting the Sultan but also that the Sultan and the Saint understood each other. Francis's Rule, written at the same time, shows that he advocated a peaceful attitude towards the Muslims. Because this was so uncommon, both his contemporaries and historians have difficulties in perceiving this breach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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