Crusading Leaders Flashcards
(39 cards)
Who is Godfrey of Bouillon?
He was a leader of the First Crusade and became the first ruler of Jerusalem after its capture in 1099, taking the title Defender of the Holy Sepulchre instead of king. He reigned from July 1099 until his death on July 18, 1100.
What were Godfrey of Bouillon’s strengths?
• Participated in the capture of Jerusalem on July 15, 1099.
• Elected ruler on July 22, 1099, taking the title Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre (demonstrating humility and religious devotion).
• Defeated the Fatimids at the Battle of Ascalon on August 12, 1099, with just 10,000 men.
• Played a vital role in establishing Christian rule in Jerusalem.
• Secured Latin Church dominance in Jerusalem and laid groundwork for Baldwin I’s succession.
What were Godfrey of Bouillon’s weaknesses?
• Had a short reign of only one year.
• Died without an heir, causing a succession crisis.
• Faced political opposition from Patriarch Daimbert of Pisa, who aimed to dominate Jerusalem as a Church-State.
• Died suddenly on July 18, 1100, likely from typhoid or food poisoning, leaving the kingdom vulnerable.
Who is Baldwin I (Baldwin of Boulogne)?
He was the brother of Godfrey of Bouillon. He first ruled as Count of Edessa (1098–1100), founding the first Crusader state. He then became the first King of Jerusalem (December 1100 – April 2, 1118).
What were Baldwin I’s strengths?
• Captured Edessa in 1098, establishing the first Crusader state.
• Crowned King of Jerusalem in December 1100 by Patriarch Daimbert, solidifying secular leadership.
• Expanded the kingdom massively from 1101–1110.
• Captured Acre in 1104 with Genoese support.
• Took Sidon in December 1110 with help from Venetians and King Sigurd of Norway.
• Founded important castles:
• Toron (1105)
• Montreal (1115)
• Scandalion (1117)
• Scored key military victories:
• Defeated Fatimid counterattacks in 1101
• Won the Third Battle of Ramlah on May 27, 1105
• Controlled major ports and pilgrimage routes, which increased wealth and revenue.
What were Baldwin I’s weaknesses?
- May 17, 1102 – Defeated at the Second Battle of Ramlah; narrowly escaped death.
- 1113 – Lost the Battle of al-Sannabra to Mawdud of Mosul.
- BaldwinI besieged Tyre with no success (1112).
- 1112–1117 – Entered a bigamous marriage with Adelaide of Sicily, causing scandal.
- The annulment of the marriage caused tension with Sicily.
- Died on April 2, 1118, with no sons, sparking a succession dispute between Baldwin of Edessa (his cousin) and Eustace (his brother).
Who is Baldwin II (of Edessa, then Jerusalem)?
He was Count of Edessa from 1100 to 1118 and became King of Jerusalem from April 1118 until his death on August 21, 1131. He was the cousin of Baldwin I and succeeded him after a rivalry with Eustace.
What were Baldwin II’s strengths?
• April 1118 – Elected king despite rivalry with Eustace.
• August 14, 1119 – Won the Battle of Hab with Pons of Tripoli, restoring Christian morale after the Field of Blood.
• January 1120 – Convened the Council of Nablus, which:
• Established the legal system of the kingdom.
• Gave official recognition to the Templars as a military order.
• June 1124 – Tyre captured with Venetian aid, even while Baldwin was in captivity.
• June 11, 1125 – Defeated a larger force at the Battle of Azaz.
• 1126 – Built Mons Glavianus near Beirut and captured Rafaniya with Pons of Tripoli.
• 1129 – Secured royal succession by arranging Melisende’s marriage to Fulk of Anjou.
• 1130 – Defeated his rebellious daughter Alice of Antioch, reasserting royal dominance in the north.
What were Baldwin II’s weaknesses?
• April 1123 – Autumn 1124 – Captured by Balak while helping Edessa; imprisoned for over a year.
• Acted as regent of Antioch (1119–1130), spending less than 40% of his reign in Jerusalem, weakening central control.
• 1126 & 1129 – Failed campaigns against Damascus, wasting resources.
• Faced noble opposition due to:
• Extended absences from Jerusalem.
• Overreaching authority as he tried to centralise power.
Who is Fulk of Anjou?
A French nobleman who married Melisende, daughter of Baldwin II, in 1129. He reigned as King of Jerusalem from 1131 until his death in 1143, ruling first jointly with Melisende.
What were Fulk of Anjou’s strengths?
• June 2, 1129 – Married Melisende, securing Western legitimacy and succession.
• September 14, 1131 – Crowned King of Jerusalem jointly with her.
• 1132 – Asserted authority over Pons of Tripoli and Alice of Antioch, reinforcing royal control in the north.
• 1136 – Arranged the marriage of Constance of Antioch (age 9) to Raymond of Poitiers, securing Antioch’s stability.
• 1137 & 1140 – Formed a military alliance with Unur of Damascus to resist Zengi.
• Oversaw castle construction (1135–1142):
• Beth Gibelin (1135)
• Ibelin (1141)
• Blanchegarde (1142)
• Supported building of Kerak, disrupting Muslim communications.
• Fathered two future kings:
• Baldwin III (born 1130)
• Amalric I (born 1136)
What were Fulk of Anjou’s weaknesses?
• 1131–1136 – Tried to exclude Melisende from power, alienating native nobility and creating division.
* Pons of Tripoli came into conflict with Fulk (1131-2)
• 1134 – Hugh of Jaffa accused of rebellion and died mysteriously; Fulk was suspected of orchestrating his assassination, damaging his reputation.
• Faced rebellions and loss of noble support, especially from Pons of Tripoli, Joscelin II of Edessa, and the Jerusalem nobility.
• Late 1137 – Defeated at Montferrand (Barin) by Zengi; surrendered the castle and returned disgraced.
* Fulk failed to co-operate with Emperor John II of Byzantium (1137)
• November 1143 – Died in a hunting accident near Acre, leaving his 13-year-old son Baldwin III as heir, triggering a regency.
Who is Melisende?
Daughter of Baldwin II and Queen of Jerusalem. She ruled jointly with Fulk (1131–1143), as sole regent for Baldwin III (1143–1152), and retained influence until her death in 1161.
What were Melisende’s strengths?
• June 2, 1129 – Married Fulk, preserving royal lineage.
• September 14, 1131 – Crowned Queen of Jerusalem jointly with him.
• 1131–1143 – Retained strong support from nobility and the Church despite Fulk’s attempts to sideline her.
• Became a symbolic leader of native Frankish interests.
• November 1143 – Became sole regent after Fulk’s death, ruling effectively during Baldwin III’s minority.
• December 1144 – On hearing of Edessa’s siege, dispatched Philip of Milly and Manasses of Hierges to help – first queen to lead a Crusader military response.
• 1148 – Attended the Council of Acre and advocated for attacking Aleppo instead of Damascus (a more realistic military target).
• Maintained stable governance, justice, and revenue throughout Baldwin III’s minority.
• 1152 – Peacefully stepped down when Baldwin III demanded full rule, avoiding civil war and preserving kingdom stability.
What were Melisende’s weaknesses?
• 1131–1136 – Publicly undermined by Fulk, who attempted to rule alone.
• Nobles saw this as a challenge to her hereditary rights.
• 1144 – Her military response to Edessa was too slow to prevent the city’s fall to Zengi.
• 1152 – Baldwin III demanded sole rule; Melisende resisted, but was eventually forced to yield after a brief conflict.
• This marked the end of her political dominance, though she remained influential until her death in 1161.
Who was Baldwin III of Jerusalem?
Son of Melisende and Fulk. Crowned co-king in 1143, ruled independently from 1152 to 1163. Known for military success at Ascalon and improving royal authority.
What were Baldwin III’s strengths?
- 1143 (Christmas Day) – Crowned co-king at 13, gaining early political experience.
- 1152 (Spring) – Asserted full royal power by confronting Melisende; she stepped down peacefully, avoiding civil war.
- 1153 – Captured Ascalon after a 7-month siege, removing the last Fatimid base in Palestine and strengthening the south.
- 1158 –Baldwin III married Theodora Comnena to secure a Byzantine alliance.
- 1167 – Arranged Amalric’s marriage to Maria Komnene, tying the kingdom to Byzantium.
- Rebuilt baronial loyalty and promoted internal stability post-regency.
- 1163 – Named Amalric as heir, preventing dynastic disputes after his death.
What were Baldwin III’s weaknesses?
• 1143–1152 – Was politically limited by Melisende’s regency; had little real power until age 22.
• 1148 – Backed the Second Crusade’s failed attack on Damascus, which damaged Western confidence in Jerusalem.
• 1158 – Married Theodora Komnene, but the union produced no heirs, risking dynastic instability.
• Faced growing threats from Nureddin in Syria and lacked manpower to check his expansion.
Who was Amalric I of Jerusalem?
Younger brother of Baldwin III. Became king in 1163 and ruled until 1174. Known for diplomacy with Byzantium and campaigns in Egypt.
What were Amalric I’s strengths?
• 1163 – Succeeded Baldwin III smoothly, ensuring a stable transition.
• 1167 – Married Maria Komnene, creating a strong Byzantine alliance.
• 1167–1169 – Launched joint military campaigns into Egypt with Byzantine support.
• 1169 – Gained tribute from Egypt due to Fatimid instability.
• Effectively managed the nobility – Maintained loyalty and stability among the barons.
• Preserved the Latin Christian presence through diplomacy and military expeditions.
What were Amalric I’s weaknesses?
• 1163–1169 – Failed to conquer Egypt, missing a critical chance before Saladin’s rise.
• His marriage to Maria Komnene created resentment among native nobles over Byzantine influence.
• Could not defeat Nur ad-Din in Syria – Jerusalem remained on the defensive.
• 1174 – Died leaving the kingdom to his leper son, Baldwin IV, starting a chain of succession instability.
Who was Baldwin IV of Jerusalem?
Son of Amalric I, became king in 1174 despite having leprosy. Known for bold military leadership and managing succession during his illness.
What were Baldwin IV’s strengths?
• 1176–1177 – Led armies despite leprosy; won the Battle of Montgisard (November 1177) against Saladin despite having 6 times less of men. Held the True Cross relic, fell to his knees upon seeing it and prayed to God before the battle, boosting morale. Saladin retreated.
• 1178–1180 – Oversaw construction of Le Chastellet fortress on the Jordan frontier.
• 1179 – Married sister Sibylla to William of Montferrat, securing Western military aid.
• 1183 – Appointed Guy of Lusignan as regent, attempting to maintain order amid worsening illness.
• Maintained command and governance into his twenties, showing resilience despite disease.
What were Baldwin IV’s weaknesses?
• Diagnosed with leprosy in youth – limited lifespan and physical strength.
• 1180s – Kingdom suffered from succession disputes: Guy vs. Raymond of Tripoli factions.
• 1183 – Guy’s appointment was controversial; seen as rash and deeply unpopular.
• 1185 – Died childless, leaving throne to child Baldwin V, which worsened internal conflict.
