Kings of Jerusalem

This is a list of Kings of Jerusalem, from 1099 to 1291, as well as claimants to the title up to the present day.

Kings of Jerusalem, 1099-1291

The Kingdom of Jerusalem had its origins in the First Crusade, when Godfrey of Bouillon took the title Advocatus Sancti Sepulchri in 1099 and was crowned in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The following year, his brother Baldwin I of Jerusalem was the first to use the title "king" and the first to be crowned in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem itself.

Related Topics:
Kingdom of Jerusalem - First Crusade - Godfrey of Bouillon - 1099 - Church of the Nativity - Bethlehem - Baldwin I of Jerusalem - Church of the Holy Sepulchre - Jerusalem

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The kingship of Jerusalem was partially elected and partially hereditary. During the height of the kingdom in the mid-12th century there was a royal family and a relatively clear line of succession. Nevertheless the king was elected, or at least recognized, by the Haute Cour. In the Haute Cour the king was considered primus inter pares, and in his absence his duties were performed by his seneschal.

Related Topics:
Haute Cour - Primus inter pares - Seneschal

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The royal palace was located in the Citadel in the Tower of David. The Kingdom of Jerusalem introduced French feudal structures to the Levant: the king personally held several fiefs incorporated into the royal domain (these varied from king to king). He was also responsible for leading the kingdom into battle, although this duty could be passed to the constable. While several contemporary European states were moving towards centralized monarchies, the king of Jerusalem was continually losing power to the strongest of his barons. This was partially due to the young age of many of the kings, and the frequency of regents from the ranks of the nobles.

Related Topics:
Tower of David - Feudal - Levant - Domain

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After the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, the capital of the Kingdom was moved to Acre, where it remained until 1291, although coronations took place in Tyre. In this period the kingship was often simply a nominal position, held by a European ruler who never lived in Acre. When young Conradin was king and living in Southern Germany, his father's second cousin Hugh of Brienne claimed the regency of the Kingdom of Jerusalem (and, indirectly, his place in the succession) in 1264 as senior heir of Alice of Jerusalem, second daughter of Queen Isabella I, being the son of their eldest daughter, but was passed over by the Haute Cour in favor of his cousin Hugh of Antioch, the future Hugh III of Cyprus and I of Jerusalem. After 1268, the kingship was held by the Lusignan family, simultaneously kings of Cyprus. However, Charles I of Sicily had purchased the rights of one of the heirs of the kingdom in 1277. In that year, he sent Roger of Sanseverino to the East as his bailiff. Roger captured Acre and obtained a forced homage from the barons. Roger was recalled in 1282 due to the Sicilian Vespers and left Odo Poilechien in his stead; his resources and authority was minimal, and he was ejected by Henry II of Cyprus when he arrived from Cyprus for his coronation as King of Jerusalem. Acre was captured by the Mamluks in 1291, eliminating the crusader presence in the east.

Related Topics:
1187 - Acre - 1291 - Tyre - Conradin - Hugh of Brienne - Kingdom of Jerusalem - 1264 - Alice of Jerusalem - Hugh of Antioch - 1268 - Lusignan - Kings of Cyprus - Charles I of Sicily - 1277 - Roger of Sanseverino - Bailiff - 1282 - Sicilian Vespers - Henry II of Cyprus - Mamluks

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King/QueenReignedRegent

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Godfrey of Bouillon (Protector of the Holy Sepulchre)

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1099–1100

Related Topics:
1099 - 1100

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Baldwin I1100–1118

Related Topics:
Baldwin I - 1100 - 1118

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Baldwin II 1118–1131Eustace Grenier (Regent, 1123)William Bures (Regent, 1123-1124)

Related Topics:
Baldwin II - 1118 - 1131 - Eustace Grenier - 1123 - William Bures - 1124

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Melisende and Fulk

Related Topics:
Melisende - Fulk

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1131–1153 Fulk lost influence after 1136, and died in 1143. Melisende countinued to reign by right of law

Related Topics:
1131 - 1153 - 1136 - 1143

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Baldwin III1143–1162, was crowned as co-ruler and heir of Melisende 1143; claimed full power in 1153

Related Topics:
Baldwin III - 1143 - 1162 - 1153

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Melisende (Regent and advisor, 1154–1161)

Related Topics:
1154 - 1161

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Amalric I 1162–1174

Related Topics:
Amalric I - 1162 - 1174

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Baldwin IV 1174–1185

Related Topics:
Baldwin IV - 1174 - 1185

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Raymond III of Tripoli (Regent, 1174–1177)Guy of Lusignan (Regent, 1183–1184)

Related Topics:
Raymond III of Tripoli - 1174 - 1177 - Guy of Lusignan - 1183 - 1184

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Baldwin V 1185–1186

Related Topics:
Baldwin V - 1185 - 1186

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Raymond III of Tripoli (Regent, 1185–1186)

Related Topics:
1185 - 1186

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Sibylla and Guy of Lusignan1186–1187

Related Topics:
Sibylla - Guy of Lusignan - 1186 - 1187

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Jerusalem lost in 1187; kingship disputed until 1192, after which kings ruled over a narrow coastal strip

Related Topics:
1187 - 1192

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Isabella1192–1205

Related Topics:
Isabella - 1192 - 1205

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With Conrad of Montferrat, Conrad I 1192

Related Topics:
Conrad of Montferrat - 1192

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With Henry of Champagne, Henry I 1192–1197

Related Topics:
Henry of Champagne, Henry I - 1192 - 1197

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With Amalric II 1198–1205

Related Topics:
Amalric II - 1198 - 1205

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Maria of Montferrat1205–1212

Related Topics:
Maria of Montferrat - 1205 - 1212

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John of Ibelin (Regent, 1205–1210)

Related Topics:
John of Ibelin - 1205 - 1210

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John of Brienne1210–1212

Related Topics:
John of Brienne - 1210 - 1212

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Yolande (Isabella II) 1212–1228

Related Topics:
Yolande - 1212 - 1228

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John of Brienne (Regent 1212–1225)

Related Topics:
1212 - 1225

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Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor 1225–1228

Related Topics:
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor - 1225 - 1228

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Conrad of Hohenstaufen, Conrad II

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1228–1254

Related Topics:
1228 - 1254

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Frederick II (Regent, 1228–1243)Queen Alice of Cyprus (Regent, 1243–1246)King Henry I of Cyprus (Regent, 1246–1253)Queen Plaisance of Cyprus (Regent, 1253–1254)

Related Topics:
1228 - 1243 - Alice of Cyprus - 1246 - Henry I of Cyprus - 1253 - Plaisance of Cyprus - 1254

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Conrad III of Jerusalem 1254–1268

Related Topics:
Conrad III of Jerusalem - 1254 - 1268

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Queen Plaisance of Cyprus (Regent, 1254–1261Isabella of Lusignan (Regent, 1261–1264)Hugh of Antioch (Regent, 1264–1268 (challenged by the claim of Hugh of Brienne))

Related Topics:
Plaisance of Cyprus - 1254 - 1261 - Isabella of Lusignan - 1264 - Hugh of Antioch - 1268 - Hugh of Brienne

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Hugh I (the former Hugh of Antioch)

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1268–1284 (firstly challenged by claims of Hugh of Brienne and Mary of Antioch, then opposed by Charles of Anjou)

Related Topics:
1268 - 1284 - Hugh of Brienne - Mary of Antioch

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Charles of Anjou

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1277–1285 (Opposed by Hugh I and John II)

Related Topics:
1277 - 1285

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John II

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1284–1285 (Opposed by Charles of Anjou)

Related Topics:
1284 - 1285

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Henry II 1285–1291

Related Topics:
Henry II - 1285 - 1291

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Acre captured in 1291; kingdom ends.

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