Strenghts And Weaknesses Of Outremer Flashcards
(18 cards)
What initiated the creation of Outremer in 1095?
1095: Byzantine Emperor Alexius I requests military aid from Pope Urban II, leading directly to the launch of the First Crusade.
At this point, there is no Latin Christian military presence in the Levant.
What were the key strengths of the First Crusade (1096–1099)?
1097–1098: Capture of Nicaea (June 1097) and Antioch (June 1098).
July 15, 1099: Jerusalem captured by Godfrey of Bouillon and crusading army.
Massacres of Muslims and Jews followed.
Godfrey declined title “king,” became Advocate of the Holy Sepulchre.
Demonstrated military competence: siege towers, coordination, logistics.
August 1099: Victory at Ascalon vs Fatimids under al-Afdal consolidated control of Jerusalem.
What were the weaknesses of the First Crusade’s outcome (1096–1099)?
1096: People’s Crusade destroyed by Kilij Arslan; poorly armed volunteers eliminated early.
Crusader army severely depleted; few hundred knights remained in Jerusalem.
Geopolitical isolation: surrounded by Muslim rivals, no permanent support.
What states were established in Outremer by 1118?
County of Edessa (1098) – Baldwin of Boulogne.
Principality of Antioch (1098) – Bohemond of Taranto.
Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099) – Godfrey, then Baldwin I.
County of Tripoli (1109) – Raymond of Toulouse and Bertrand.
What were the major strengths of Outremer from 1100–1118?
1101–1115: Castle-building surge—Montreal (1115), Toron, Bethgibelin, Scandalion.
Krak des Chevaliers taken by Tancred (1110), later held by Hospitallers.
Military Orders:
Hospitallers received papal recognition in 1113.
Templars founded in 1119 by Hugh of Payns.
Italian city-states support sieges:
Acre (1104), Tripoli (1109), Tyre (1124).
Rewarded with trading privileges.
Baldwin I (1100–1118): Strong ruler; expands Jerusalem’s borders from Jaffa to the Jordan.
What were the weaknesses of Outremer from 1100–1118?
Chronic manpower shortages: Baldwin I had only ~300 knights and 2,000 foot soldiers.
No central command—four states acted independently, sometimes competitively.
Dependence on Italian fleets for sieges and trade.
Poor relations with Byzantium:
Bohemond refused to return Antioch to Byzantines (1098).
Fought Alexius I (1107–1108).
What strengthened Outremer’s defense from 1119–1143?
Military Orders expanded: received major castles—Krak, Bethgibelin, Tortosa.
Backed by Western donations and papal bull Omne Datum Optimum (1139).
Castle building: Belvoir, Ibelin, Kerak fortified.
Dynastic stability:
Baldwin II (1118–1131) and Fulk of Anjou (1131–1143).
1131: Baldwin II’s daughter Melisende married Fulk—union bolstered legitimacy.
Ongoing trade: ports like Tyre (1124) secure supply lines from West.
What were the vulnerabilities of Outremer from 1119–1143?
1119: Battle of the Field of Blood—Roger of Salerno and Antiochene army annihilated by Il-Ghazi.
Rise of Zengi: governor of Mosul (1127), takes Aleppo (1128).
From 1130s, increasing attacks on Edessa and Antioch.
1137: Templars defeated at Montferrand.
Byzantium tension continues:
John II Comnenus forces Antioch to recognize him (1137–1138).
Latin leaders resent Byzantine interference.
What were the strengths of Outremer between 1143–1149?
1143: Fulk dies; Baldwin III (age 13) crowned co-king with mother Melisende.
1144: Krak des Chevaliers granted to Hospitallers—fortifies eastern defense.
1147–1149: Second Crusade brings reinforcements.
Led by Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany.
1148 (24 June): Council of Acre asserts Baldwin III’s political authority.
Supports assault on Damascus to claim strategic dominance.
What were the weaknesses of Outremer between 1143–1149?
Dec 1144: Edessa falls to Zengi—first Crusader state to collapse.
Caused by Joscelin II’s poor defense and Raymond of Antioch’s refusal to aid.
July 1148: Failed siege of Damascus by Second Crusade damages morale.
1149: Raymond of Antioch killed at Inab by Nur ad-Din, weakening northern frontier.
What were the strengths of Outremer between 1150–1174?
1152: Baldwin III ends regency conflict with Melisende, rules independently.
1153: Capture of Ascalon—last Fatimid port in Palestine—secures south.
1163–1174: Reign of Amalric I (Baldwin’s brother)—launches Egypt campaigns.
Aligns with Byzantines and Templars.
1169: Joint Byzantine–Frankish expedition to Damietta—shows imperial cooperation despite failure.
What were the weaknesses of Outremer between 1150–1174?
1163: Internal feuding—barons vs. military orders over Egypt policy.
1164: Battle of Harim—Bohemond III captured by Nur ad-Din.
1171: Fatimid Caliphate abolished by Saladin—Sunni unity under Ayyubids.
1174: Amalric dies; crown passes to Baldwin IV, a child and leper, causing instability.
What were the strengths of Outremer between 1174–1187?
1177 (25 Nov): Battle of Montgisard—Baldwin IV defeats Saladin in surprise attack.
1179: Arrival of nobles like Henry of Champagne and William Marshal stabilizes court.
Military orders gain influence: more castles (e.g., Jacob’s Ford), more Western funding.
What were the weaknesses of Outremer between 1174–1187?
1174: Saladin captures Damascus, uniting Syria and Egypt.
1180–1185: Succession crises: disputes over Baldwin V, Sibylla, and Guy of Lusignan.
Raymond of Tripoli opposes Guy—tensions inflamed by marriage politics.
1186: Sibylla crowns Guy king despite noble objections.
July 4, 1187: Battle of Hattin—Saladin destroys Crusader army, captures Guy, Raymond, and military orders.
October 1187: Jerusalem falls to Saladin after siege.
Only Tyre remains under Conrad of Montferrat.
What were the strengths of Outremer during the Third Crusade (1188–1192)?
1188–1190: Support from William II of Sicily, fleets from Pisa, Denmark, Germany.
1189–1191: Siege of Acre—led by Guy, Conrad, and Richard I; captured in July 1191.
Sept 1191: Battle of Arsuf—Richard defeats Saladin, securing Jaffa and the coast.
Sept 1192: Treaty of Jaffa ends hostilities.
Christians retain Tyre to Jaffa, pilgrims allowed access to Jerusalem.
What were the weaknesses of Outremer during the Third Crusade (1188–1192)?
Richard fails to retake Jerusalem (attempts in 1191 and 1192) due to illness, lack of support, and political reality.
April 1192: Conrad of Montferrat assassinated.
Guy deposed; Henry of Champagne becomes king via marriage to Isabella.
Post-1192: Western interest declines; few reinforcements follow.
What were the strengths of Outremer between 1193–1204?
1197: German Crusade under Henry VI’s commanders captures Sidon and Beirut—extends coastline.
1198: Pope Innocent III issues Post Miserabile, launching the Fourth Crusade.
Sept 1204: Truce with al-Adil—Jaffa, Ramlah, Lydda, Nazareth handed to Christians—some stabilization.
What were the weaknesses of Outremer between 1193–1204?
1197: Henry of Champagne dies—political instability returns.
Amalric II of Lusignan becomes king via marriage to Isabella.
1202–1204: Fourth Crusade diverted to Constantinople—few troops reach Outremer.
Internal divisions: Hospitallers, Templars, baronial factions compete.
Unified Muslim leadership under al-Adil and later Ayyubids keeps Franks on defensive.
