Kingdom of Jerusalem

The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a French kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 by the First Crusade. It was finally destroyed in 1291 with the fall of Acre.

Mid-12th century

Baldwin II was succeded in 1131 by his daughter Melisende, who ruled jointly with her husband Fulk. During their reign Jerusalem exercised its greatest economic and artistic expansion, with the Melisende Psalter commissioned between 1135 and 1143. Fulk, a renowned military commander, was faced with a new and more dangerous enemy - the Atabeg Zengi of Mosul. Although Fulk held off Zengi throughout his reign, William of Tyre criticized Fulk for not securing the borders. Fulk died in a hunting accident in 1143. Zengi took advantage of Fulk's death by successfully conquering Edessa. Queen Melisende, now regent for her elder son, Baldwin III appointed a new constable, Manasses of Hierges, to head the army after Fulk's death, and a Second Crusade arrived by 1147.

Related Topics:
1131 - Melisende - Fulk - Melisende Psalter - Zengi - 1143 - Edessa - Baldwin III - Constable - Manasses of Hierges - Second Crusade

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Meeting in Tripoli in 1147, the crusading Kings of France and Germany decided to attack the friendly Emir of Damascus, seen as an easy target, despite a peace treaty between Jerusalem and Damascus. This was in direct opposition to the advice Queen Melisende and constable Manasses gave, as they and other Crusader states saw Aleppo as the main target that would allow the recapture of Edessa. The Crusade ended in defeat by 1148. Melisende ruled as regent until her government was overthrown by her son Baldwin III in 1153, but Baldwin appointed her his regent and chief advisor the next year. Baldwin III conquered Ascalon from the Fatimids, the last Egyptian outpost on the Palestinian coast. At the same time, though, the overall crusader situation became worse, as Nur ad-Din succeeded in taking Damascus and unifying Muslim Syria under his rule.

Related Topics:
Tripoli - France - Germany - Damascus - Aleppo - 1148 - Ascalon - Fatimids - Nur ad-Din

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Baldwin III died in 1162, a year after his mother Melisende, and was succeeded by his brother Amalric I. Amalric's reign was taken up with competition with Nur ad-Din and his wily some-time subordinate Saladin over control of Egypt. Although supported by Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnenus, Amalric ultimately failed in his bid to conquer Egypt. His and Nur ad-Din's deaths in 1174 ensured the dominance of Saladin.

Related Topics:
1162 - Amalric I - Saladin - Egypt - Byzantine Emperor - Manuel I Comnenus - 1174

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~