The King of France, Phillip the II, was enraged that England received the Holy Land. Petitioning his friend, the Pope, he was able to receive permission to attack Egypt and given the title of Crusader king. French forces landed on the Egyptian coast on March 5, 1189. The Egyptian caliphate surrendered almost immediately. The Crusader reason was cowardice; the real reason was because to many Egyptian soldiers had gone to fight with Saladin. With that, the French Republic was formed, with de Bartholemew the first Grand Master.