What is the theme in Chronicles of the Crusades by Jean de Joinville?

Abandonment of duty is a main theme in this book. In the first book of the novel, Geoffroy Villehardouin makes several references to the men who deserted the army or failed to arrive, as promised, to help fight the Crusade. Villehardouin is extremely negative towards these individuals. On several occasions, he notes how they are looked down upon wherever they go, and that they are not allowed to return to France. In another area, he notes many of them perished, rightfully, through illness and suffering at the ports they sailed to instead of those of the Crusaders. He blames these individuals first for the inability to pay for the ships at Venice.