Defence

What you need to know - Defence: Baldwin I's consolidation of territory, 1100-18; adoption of local methods of fortification and the building of castles; the protection of the military orders of Templars and Hospitallers, including their control of border castles; financial support for the military orders by European nobles; lack of support for the states from Byzantium and Europe.

Baldwin of Boulogne

In the fall of 1097, Baldwin of Boulogne, brother of Godfrey of Bouillon, captured Edessa. As mentioned, Edessa was the first crusader state established during the First Crusade. Through political subterfuge and conquest, Baldwin's authority over Edessa was recognised in March 1098. Invited and adopted by Thorus, an Armenian lord, Baldwin was revered by the citizens of Edessa as their liberator against the Seljuks. On 9 March, a mob killed Thorus, while local nobles and the citizens announced Baldwin as their new ruler.

Armenians in Edessa giving homage to Baldwin

As a result, he became unpopular and local nobles plotted against him. Following the capture of Jerusalem on 15 July 1099, Baldwin decided to complete his pilgrimage and left Edessa. In Jerusalem, Godfrey refused to be crowned king. On 21 December, Baldwin and other pilgrims, Bohemond I and papal legate, Daimbert of Pisa reached Jerusalem. Daimbert was named as the new Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, while Baldwin and Bohemond returned to Edessa and Antioch respectively.

A 13th-century manuscript showing the coronation of Baldwin I

Brief timeline of Baldwin I's consolidation of territory

April 1101

May 1104

Baldwin and his Genoese alliance resulted in a successful capture of Arsuf.

First 1101 Second 1102 Third 1105

Capture of the Egyptian garrison at Caesarea.

The Battles of Ramla annihilated the majority of Baldwin's army.

Baldwin and his Genoese alliance captured Acre. Without Baldwin's knowledge, the Genoese plundered the town and killed its citizens. In response, Baldwin wanted to punish his allies, but the patriarch mediated. One-third of the town was granted to the Genoese.

In 1109, Bertrand, Count of Toulouse Baldwin and son of Raymond, came to the Holy Land to claim his inheritance. Following Raymond's death, areas near Tripoli were ruled by William Jordan, Bertrand's cousin. William Jordan was supported by Tancred, while Bertrand sought an alliance with Baldwin. As king of Jerusalem, Baldwin settled the dispute between the crusade leaders.

Depiction of the Third battle of Ramla in 1105

June 1109

October 1110

1115

The united crusade leaders successfully captured Tripoli. Bertrand received two-thirds of the town.

May 1110

Following Baldwin's successful conquest of Beirut, he and Bertrand hurried to Edessa to repel Muslim invaders from Mosul.

Baldwin and his new ally, Sigurd I of Norway, laid siege to Sidon. The town was finally captured in December.

1113

Baldwin launched an attack against the Damascene territory.

Baldwin ordered the construction of the castle of Montreal in response to Egyptian attempt in Jerusalem in 1113 and Jaffa in 1115. Castles Eilat, Graye, Scandelion and Ladder of Tyre were also built which secured trade routes between Syria and Egypt.

1118

Baldwin led an expedition against Egypt. Without resistance, he captured Farama.

Fortifications and castle building

Following the victory of the crusaders, new rulers of the Crusader states built fortifications and castles to defend their new possessions from the Muslims. The geographical positioning of castles was crucial and strategic to defend the crusader states. Aside from being the source of supply lines, castles were also a way to project the ruler's power. For example, Baldwin I of Jerusalem ordered the construction of the Montreal castle in Transjordan.

Map showing the crusader states, 1200

Castle design

The need for defensive structures in the crusader states led to the emergence of concentric castle design. Concentric castles were constructed with two or more concentric curtain walls, which were all based around a common central point. The gap between the outer and inners walls was called the outer bailey, while the area within the inner curtain wall was known as the inner bailey.

For a better defensive position, the inner walls were higher than the outer walls. Towers were also placed as stations.

Parts of a concentric castle

Montreal castle constructed during the reign of Baldwin I to control the passage between the south of Egypt and north of Syria

Margat castle is located in present-day Syria, on top of a hill. By the 13th century, it was owned by the Knights Hospitallers.

Kerak castle is situated in present-day Jordan. It was one of the largest crusader castles in the Levant.

The Montreal castle was built on top of a hill facing east of the river Jordan. It was captured by Saladin in 1189.

The castle was captured by Tancred, Prince of Galilee and became part of the Principality of Antioch.

Constructed into the slopes in 1140s, the castle was inspired by European, Byzantine and Arab architecture. In 1176, it was used to launch raids against the Arabs and travellers from Mecca and Egypt.

Military Orders

Order of the Holy Sepulchre founded by Godfrey of Bouillon and protector of the Kingdom of Jerusalem until 1291

Order of Saint Lazarus founded in the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1118

Knights Hospitaller founded by Gerard Thom and recognised by Pope Paschal II in 1113

Teutonic Knights founded in Acre in 1192

Knights Templar founded by Bernard of Clairvaux and Hugues de Payens in 1118

National military orders were also founded in the Holy Roman Empire, Kingdom of Portugal, Kingdom of Castile, France, Kingdom of Aragon, Bohemia, Bologna, Tuscany and the Byzantine Empire.

Knights Templar

Originally founded to protect Christian pilgrims, the Knights Templar was one of the original military orders established during the First Crusade. Members were composed of the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon. It was founded by Hugh de Payns along with eight other French knights. Baldwin II of Jerusalem was the one who gave the order quarters in the royal palace. Following the Benedictine rule, members swore an oath of chastity, poverty and obedience. Similar to monks, they also performed prayers and were not allowed to gamble or get drunk. To fight and protect the pilgrims remained their primary responsibility until the fall of Acre in 1291

Member of the Knights Templar

Knights Hospitaller

Formally known as the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, or simply the Knights Hospitaller, it was founded by Gerard Thom around 1099 and recognised by Pope Paschal II in 1113. The order's original purpose was to care for Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem. It was extended to provide armed escort and later an army. Under Raymond de Puy, the order was divided into three ranks: Knights, men at arms and chaplains. The armed troops of the Hospitaller were first introduced during the rule of Baldwin II, particularly in the siege of Ascalon. Along with the Knights Templar, the Knights Hospitaller became a leading military order in the Holy Land.

Depiction of a Hospitaller

Castles occupied by the Hospitallers during the Crusades

Krak des Chevaliers was first used as a garrison by Kurdish troops in the 11th century

Belvoir Fortress was built by Gilbert of Assailly, Grand Master of the Knight Hospitaller in 1168

Margat in present-day Syria was a Hospitaller fortress built in 1062 to protect Antioch

In 1142, the castle was given to the Knights Hospitaller by Raymond II of Tripoli. It served as the order's central military base along the border of the County of Tripoli until 1271.

Located in northern Israel, the fortress was strategically built on a hill controlling a route to Jerusalem. It was besieged by Saladin in 1189.

Sold to the Hospitallers in 1186, the fortress became the order's headquarters in Syria. Due to its impregnable structure, Saladin passed it on to Jabala in 1188.

Lack of support to crusader states

In 1097, Alexios I's fear of the expanding Seljuk Turks led to the First Crusade. When the Crusaders arrived in Constantinople in 1097, Alexios I refused to participate and chose to protect Byzantine's capital city. After the siege of Antioch, crusader leaders refused to return it to the Byzantines. This impacted Byzantine policies towards the West and the Levant.

During the Second Crusade, Manuel I used the same tactic as Alexios I. Manuel I was more successful than his predecessors after imposing tutelage on the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Principality of Antioch and County of Tripoli between 1158 and 1171.

(left) Second crusaders arrival in Constantinople (above) Byzantine Emperor, Manuel I