The government of the crusader states

What you need to know - The government of the crusader states: the rule of Baldwin I and Baldwin II; Baldwin III and the conflict with Queen Melisende; the rule of the 'leper king' Baldwin IV; the importance of growing divisions within the ruling elite and the succession crisis of 1185; the significance of Raymond of Tripoli's truce with Saladin.

Rulers of Crusader states

Rulers of the crusader states had similar functions to medieval monarchies in Europe. They were either called king, prince or count and had absolute power but were largely based on nobles' support and councils. In Jerusalem, a parlement attended by representatives of the church and military orders discussed policies including taxation and foreign affairs. Generally, governance in the crusader states was weak.

Causes of the crusader states' political weakness:

• Initial massacres of the local population
• Debates over successions
• Incidents of assassinations
• Intermarriages for political alliance
• Death of notable figures in warfare
• Change in the bourgeois population
• Loose connection between the four crusader states

Rule of Baldwin I

According to the Fulcher of Chartres, Baldwin grieved somewhat over the death of his brother but rejoiced more over his inheritance.

Unlike Godfrey, Baldwin I began his rule by consolidating lordships and establishing his royal status. With the help of a Genoese fleet and merchants, Baldwin I revived the kingdom's economy. He was known for his military experience. During his reign, he resisted attacks from the north and the east. In 1109, he led the capture of Tripoli. His military expeditions extended the Kingdom of Jerusalem to Ailah on the Gulf of Aqaba. Some regarded him as the real founder of the feudal kingdom of Jerusalem.

Coronation of Baldwin I in a 13th-century text

Rule of Baldwin II

Unlike Baldwin I, who was the natural heir of his brother, Baldwin of Bourcq's (later Baldwin II) succession was not easy. Before becoming King of Jerusalem in 1118, Baldwin was the second Count of Edessa (1100 to 1118). He was a cousin of Godfrey and Baldwin.

On 2 April 1118, Baldwin I died during his campaign in Egypt. Despite his three marriages, Baldwin I died childless. According to the accounts of Albert of Aachen, Baldwin I named his brother in Europe, Eustace III of Boulogne, as his successor but in case he couldn't come to Jerusalem, Baldwin of Bourcq should be elected as king.

Depiction of Baldwin II presiding at a council

William of Tyre accounted that Baldwin I's succession created a conflict between the barons and the prelates. Baldwin's succession was supported by the highest-ranking prelate and holder of the largest fief in Jerusalem. However, others insisted that the crown should be first offered to Eustace.

On 14 April 1118, Baldwin II was anointed. Joscelin was named the new ruler of Edessa, while Baldwin II secured the allegiance of the noblemen. This included direct royal control of the towns of Nablus, Jaffa, Sidon, Tiberias and Acre.

Meanwhile, Eustace accepted the invitation of the barons. He left Boulogne for Jerusalem but returned home upon hearing Baldwin's ascension.

Baldwin II's coronation

On Christmas Day in 1119, Baldwin II and his wife were crowned king and queen. In January 1120, Baldwin II and the patriarch of Jerusalem called a general assembly at Nablus which confirmed the clergy's right to collect tithes.

After the coronation:

Moreover, the council also ordered the punishment of sodomites, bigamists, adulterers and prohibited sexual relations between Muslims and Christians. Thieves and suspects of crimes were imposed with penalties.

The council also recognised the confraternity of knights organised by Hugh of Payns and Godfrey de Saint-Omer, which later became known as the Knights Templar. In May 1120, the invasion of Edessa and Antioch by Belek Ghazi returned Baldwin to leading an army.

Baldwin's capture

In 1122, the Pons of Tripoli swore allegiance to Baldwin II. In 1123, he was captured by Belek and taken to Kharput. With Armenian troops, Joscelin went to Kharput before leaving for Turbessel and Antioch. In an attempt to capture Kharput, Baldwin II stayed but was defeated by the returning Belek. Baldwin II was transferred to Harran and then to the Citadel of Aleppo.

While Baldwin II was held captive, Patriarch Warmund urged the barons and prelates to elect Flemish Eustace Grenier as regent of Jerusalem. According to the account of Galbert of Bruges, the crown was also offered to Charles the Good, Count of Flanders.

Following the death of Belek in May 1124, Baldwin II was seized by Timutash. For Baldwin II's release, Joscelin paid 80,000 dinars and the fortresses of Atarib, Zardana and Azaz to Timutash. On 29 August, Baldwin II was released. After two years in captivity, Baldwin II returned to Jerusalem. He re-negotiated an agreement with the Venetians for military assistance.

During his rule, Baldwin II strengthened his family ties within the crusader states by marrying two of his daughters to the ruler of Antioch and Tripoli. For Jerusalem, he named Fulk of Anjou, husband of his daughter, Melisende, as his successor.

Baldwin III and conflict with Queen Melisende

With a woman and a child ruling Jerusalem, the County of Tripoli, the Principality of Antioch and the County of Edessa asserted their independence. Meanwhile, Zengi expanded his control by capturing Damascus and Edessa. The fall of Edessa in 1144 led to the call for the Second Crusade.

As he reached the age of maturity, Baldwin III asserted himself in political affairs. Since 1150, he and his mother had conflicted. The matter was presented before the Haute Cour or royal council which resulted in the division of the Kingdom of Jerusalem into two districts. Baldwin III took Galilee, Are and Tyre, while Melisende held Judea, Samaria, Nablus and the city of Jerusalem.

Baldwin III arguing with his mother

After a few weeks of division, Baldwin III launched an invasion. Nablus and the city of Jerusalem fell quickly. Almaric and Queen Melisende hid in the Tower of David. A settlement was negotiated which gave Nablus to Melisende. In 1154, the two reconciled. Melisende retired but retained her influence in the court and government affairs.

Baldwin III on his deathbed

In 1161, Melisende died. Two years later, Baldwin III died in Beirut. According to William of Tyre, "As soon as the king had taken the pills, he was seized with a fever and dysentery which developed into consumption from which he was never able to obtain relief or help."

Baldwin IV, the leper king

When he reached the age of maturity, Baldwin IV refused to ratify Raymond's treaty with Saladin. Instead, Baldwin launched an attack on Damascus which pushed away Saladin from Aleppo.

William of Tyre discovers Baldwin's first symptoms of leprosy, painted in 1250s

Baldwin IV's deteriorating health led to factionalism and power struggles among the nobility.

Baldwin IV had two sisters, Sibylla, who was raised in Bethany, and half-sister, Isabella, who stayed in Nablus. To secure the throne for his family, Baldwin IV tasked his regent, Raymond of Tripoli, to arrange the marriage of Princess Sibylla to William of Montferrat, cousin of Louis VII of France and Frederick I of the Holy Roman Empire. Following the marriage, William became the Count of Ascalon and Jaffa.

In 1180, Sibylla married Guy of Lusignan. This second marriage was unfavourable to Raymond of Tripoli. As regent, he attempted to marry Sibylla to Hugh III of Burgundy or Balian of Ibelin to increase his power base. Meanwhile, Isabella was betrothed to Humphrey IV of Toron.

In 1182, Baldwin IV was blind and could not walk. He appointed Guy Lusignan as regent but was disappointed by his inability to attack Saladin. He was immediately deposed as regent.

Baldwin IV's coronation

In 1183, with the support of Raymond and other barons, Baldwin IV named his 5-year-old nephew as his heir and excluded Sibylla from the succession.

In 1184, Baldwin IV attempted to annul the marriage of Guy and Sibylla. The following year, Baldwin IV died in Jerusalem. As stated in his will, he was succeeded by Baldwin V and Raymond of Tripoli as regent.

The succession:

The poor health of Baldwin V resulted in a succession crisis. The throne was only to be inherited by either Sibylla, his mother, or Isabella, his aunt. The council composed of the kings of France and England, the Holy Roman Emperor and the pope was tasked with determining the rightful heir.

Upon the death of Baldwin V, Raymond of Tripoli gathered his allies at Nablus, and suggested to support Isabella. According to Baldwin IV's will, Sibylla's succession was conditional. She would be reconsidered if she annulled her marriage to Guy and remarried her chosen husband.

Meanwhile, Raymond of Tripoli's attempt to install Isabella failed when Humphrey IV of Toron allied with Sibylla.

Manuscript showing the marriage of Sibylla and Guy of Lusignan

The significance of Raymond of Tripoli's truce with Saladin

Signed on 22 July 1185, a four-year truce proposed by Raymond of Tripoli enabled Saladin's forces to enter through Oultrejordain without resistance. Raymond III was the son of Raymond II of Tripoli and Hodiera, **Queen Melisende'**s younger sister. When he was young, Raymond III was taken captive by Nur ad-Din.

In 1174, he served as regent to young Baldwin IV. After becoming regent, he married Eschiva, Princess of Galilee which increased Tripoli's influence within the kingdom. In 1185, Raymond III served his second regency after Baldwin IV's death.

Baldwin IV appointing Raymond III of Tripoli as regent on his deathbed

It is believed that Saladin agreed on a truce with the Crusaders because of Izz Ad-Din Mas'ud, the Zengid ruler of Mosul. Despite the agreement, Saladin launched an attack against the kingdom in 1187.

Glossary of Terms

CRUSADER STATES

Feudal polities were established by the first Crusaders in the Levant. They consisted of the County of Edessa, County of Tripoli, the Principality of Antioch and the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

OUTREMER

A French term for overseas. A term used by medieval writers referring to the crusader states.

OULTREJORDAIN

The easternmost territory of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

HOMAGE

An acknowledgement of feudal allegiance or loyalty.

MILITARY ORDER

A Christian religious society of knights was founded during the Crusades.

REGENT

A person appointed to govern because of a minor regnant monarch.