In 1248, Louis IX of France went on the Seventh Crusade, but after the defeat of the crusaders, he was captured near Damietta in Egypt. A peasant movement arose in northern France to support Louis, led by "the Master of Hungary", apparently a very old Hungarian monk, who it was said could speak any language "as if by miracle". He claimed to have been instructed by the Virgin Mary to lead the shepherds of France to the Holy Land to rescue Louis and carried this commission in one hand all the while he preached, never letting it go. He led up to 60,000 mostly young peasants to Paris where, because of his very successful opposition to the Church he met with Louis IX's mother, the acting regent.