How effective was the Govt of Outremer? 1100 - 1186

1100 Baldwin I 

1118 Baldwin II 

1131 Fulk & Queen Melisende

1143 Queen Melisende

1152 Baldwin III

1163 Amalric

1174 Count Raymond III of Tripoli (regent for B IV)

1176 Baldwin IV

1185 R III (regent to Baldwin V)

1186 Guy & Sybil  

1187 Saladin 

• King Bladwin I of Jerusalem - after Godfrey of Bouillon dies in 1100
• installed new count of Edessa and prevented Danishmend Turk capture of Antioch

Strong and Effective reign - consolidated territories of Outremer and established a clear system of overlordship in Jerusalem

• Authority over church: replaced Patriarch of Jerusalem (wanted Bohemond I of Antioch) with his own supporter 
• Intervention in Kingdom's affairs: Tripoli succession crisis 1109 - active ruler and tackled issues directly 
• Defense:  defended against turks (1113 - Galilee attacked by Turks and B forced them to retreat)
• Castles: intensive castle-building programme began with B's reign (Montreal built in 1115)

• B I dies in 1118-> Eustance of Boulogne still in Europe (had the support of senior nobles in J)
• Baldwin of Bourcq (Count of Edessa) - key supporters (patriarch of J & Count of Tiberias)
• was in Jerusalem so he claimed the throne 

REIGN: Able and effective defender 

• Antioch left without regent after Battle of the Field of Blood - stepped in until 1126 - 6 trips for political and defensive purposes 
• continued territorial expansion to minimize Muslim threat to J
• approx 19 military campaigns - some on Damascus

AGGRESSIVE POLICIES BROUGH UP CRACKS IN GOVT OF J

• Rebellion: B II captured on military campaign 1123 - Nobles try to install Charles of Flanders but he refused 
• while securing rule - had to replace key positions with supporters - favoritism started rebellions 
• succession: had only daughters - married Melisande with Fulk of Anjou = Baldwin III - prevented Fulk's dynasty from taking power by appointing all co-rulers 

• B II dies 21 April 1131 -> Queen Melisande, King Fulk, Baldwin III
• succession caused conflict between 2 dynasties (Melisande's and Fulk's )
• F appointed members of own family in key positions and didn't allow M to rule - rebellions 
• tricky position - forced to give Melisende power 
• F died 1143 - M continued as Queen 
• 1145 - B III came of age - M not ready to give throne 
  
• 1151 - B asked M to split kingdom but refused 
• B III besieged J and exiled her back to Nablus = became king 

GOOD AND EFFECTIVE RULER 

• conflict with mother stopped progress in south 
• secured position and achieved a lot 
• built castle at Gaza - cut vital road link between Egypt and Ascalon (muslim)
• 1153 - conquered Ascalon (key port)

GOVT WAS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE: 

• Crusader states bowed to his primacy: some leaders captured/murdered and the states looked up to BIII to restore stability 
• Lords forced to submit to him: some began to ignore his judgments and B confiscated their fiefs 
• Ensured a stable succession: brother Almaric (power in Jaffa and Ascalon)
• BIII died in 10th Feb 1163

• Amalric died 11 July 1174
• Left behind a divided govt by factionalism - married twice - Agnes of Courtenay (one faction around her & children) and Maria Comnena (nobles popular with Amalric)
• B IV crowned at 13yrs on 15 July 1174 - Queen Mother Agnes
• Regent Raymond III of Tripoli (Cousin) - set up own power base
• leprosy = can't have children - Sybil had to have a son (Baldwin V)
• 1176 - B IV took control 
• S husband died while pregnant - B IV had to find her a new one 
• R III concerned that new husband would take away his power - put forward someone he could control and started an invasion of J with Bohemond of Antioch
• B IV prevented this - Sybil married Guy of Lusignan 
• Aug 1183 - B IV with troops in Galilee to fights Saladin's invasion
• B IV got ill - Guy as regent but failed to take action as couldn't command the lords - Saladin free to plunder 
• Open conflict between factions (headed by Agnes) weakened govt and allowed Saladin to advance 

• Tensions between faction increased 
• B V crowned king as B IV was planning his final years 
• B IV unrest with Guy 
• R III appointed as regent to B V after B IV's death in 1185
• baby B V dies and another succession crisis starts 

RAYMOND'S FALL FROM POWER

• Raymond's faction - Isabel and Humphrey as leaders of J OR Agnes' faction - Sybil and Guy 
• S & G were first but was asked to divorce Guy to become Queen 
• she did but then appointed Guy as king - nobles deceived and angry 
• Raymond and faction planned to crown I & H - close to civil war 
• war prevented by H who paid homage to Guy 

EFFECTS OF DIVISIONS 

• R III lost power because of H 
• another 2 years of infighting that weakened government 
• Weakness of Govt - divided nobility, inactive govt, cease in hostilities 

• 1185 - R III made a truce with Saladin - logical as the kingdom was too divided
• 1187 - raid against Muslim caravan = Guy tried to save the truce but Saladin launches an attack on Kerak and Montreal 
• 1186 - 87 - R III asked S to help against G (scared G will attack bc RIII didn't pay homage
• in return, allowed a Muslim force of 7000 pass through Galilee to besiege Acre 
• this made R a traitor 
• same month - Sybil & Guy sent an army to encourage R to restore relationship w them 
• they discovered Saladin's army and attacked - acting against R's advice and lost 
• Saladin attacked Tiberias (R's town) - situation was desperate 
• R advised G to take no action but he didn't listen 
• Saladin won Battle of Hattin 
• Saladin conquered J  
• 3rd crusade started soon after