Baldwin III of Jerusalem
Baldwin III | |
---|---|
Amalric I | |
Co-Sovereign | Melisende (until 1153) |
Born | 1130 |
Died | 10 February 1163 Beirut, Kingdom of Jerusalem | (aged 33)
Burial | |
Spouse |
Melisende of Jerusalem |
Baldwin III (1130 – 10 February 1163
Succession
Baldwin III was born in 1130, during the reign of his maternal grandfather Baldwin II, one of the original crusaders. This made him the third generation to rule Jerusalem. Baldwin's mother Princess Melisende was heiress to her father Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem. Baldwin III's father was Fulk of Anjou, the former Count of Anjou. King Baldwin II died at the age of 60 when his grandson was a year old, which led to a power struggle between Melisende and Fulk. Melisende asserted her right to rule as successor to her father. She and Fulk reconciled and conceived a second child, Baldwin III's brother Amalric. Baldwin III was 13 years old when his father Fulk died in a hunting accident in 1143, and Baldwin III was crowned as co-ruler alongside his mother, echoing Melisende's own crowning alongside her father as his heir. Yet Baldwin showed little interest in the intricacies of governance.[2]
With a woman and a child ruling Jerusalem, the political situation was somewhat tense; the northern crusader states of
This crusade did not reach Jerusalem until 1148, and in the meantime Zengi was
Second Crusade
In 1148 the crusade finally arrived in Jerusalem, led by Louis VII of France, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Conrad III of Germany. Baldwin held a council at Acre in 1148 to decide on a target; control of Aleppo in the north would allow the crusaders to restore Edessa to Christian control, but capturing Damascus in the south would limit the power of the Zengids and add to Jerusalem's power and influence. Damascus was also considered more important in the history of Christianity than Aleppo and Edessa. Baldwin agreed to the plan to attack Damascus, but the ensuing siege ended in defeat after only four days. The city fell under Nur ad-Din's control in 1154, and the loss of a Muslim counterweight to Nur ad-Din was a diplomatic disaster.[4]
By 1149 the crusaders had returned to Europe, leaving behind a weakened Jerusalem. Nur ad-Din took advantage of the crusader defeat to invade Antioch, and
Civil war
By 1152 Baldwin had been of age to rule by himself for seven years, and he began to assert himself in political affairs. Though he had not previously expressed an interest in the administration of the country, he now demanded more authority. He and his mother had become increasingly estranged since 1150, and Baldwin blamed the constable Manasses for interfering with his legal succession. In early 1152 Baldwin demanded a second coronation from
Baldwin and Melisende agreed to put the matter before the
Within weeks of the division Baldwin launched an invasion of the south. Manasses was defeated at the castle of
By 1154 mother and son were reconciled, as Baldwin was astute enough to realize his mother's expertise in statecraft. At the same time, he asserted his authority over the kingdom's nobles.[5] Though she was "retired", she maintained great influence in court and government affairs, acting as regent for Baldwin while he was on campaign.
Recovery
During the civil war, Nur ad-Din had been busy consolidating his control of Damascus following the death of Mu'in ad-Din. With Syria united under one ruler, Jerusalem could only expand its influence to the south, towards
In 1156 Baldwin was forced to sign a treaty with Nur ad-Din. However, in the winter of 1157–1158 Baldwin led an expedition into Syria, where he besieged Shaizar. The expedition was forced to withdraw when a dispute arose between Thierry, Count of Flanders and Raynald of Châtillon, the new husband of Constance of Antioch, both of whom wanted Shaizar for themselves. Baldwin was, however, able to capture Harim, a former territory of Antioch, and in 1158 he defeated Nur ad-Din himself.[7]
Byzantine alliance
Baldwin's modest recovery garnered him enough prestige to seek a wife from the
Relations between Jerusalem and Byzantium improved and in 1159 Baldwin met with Manuel in Antioch. The two became friends, with Manuel adopting western clothes and customs and participating in a tournament against Baldwin. Manuel personally attended to Baldwin when the king was thrown from his horse during the tournament. Later in 1159 Baldwin became regent of Antioch once more, after Raynald of Châtillon had been captured in battle. This offended Manuel, who considered Antioch imperial territory, and the emperor strengthened his ties to the principality in 1160 by marrying Princess Maria, Baldwin's cousin. Baldwin himself suggested Manuel marry another cousin, Melisende of Tripoli, preferring not to see such a close relationship between Byzantium and Antioch.[2]
Death
Queen Melisende died in 1161, and Baldwin died in Beirut on 10 February 1163. It was rumoured that he had been poisoned in Antioch by pills given to him by his Syrian Orthodox doctor. "As soon as the king had taken the pills," says William of Tyre, "he was seized with a fever and dysentery which developed into consumption from which he was never able to obtain relief or help." On the way home Baldwin remained in Tripoli for a few months, and then continued to Beirut where he finally succumbed to his illness. As William says, "For eight successive days, while the funeral procession moved from Beirut to Jerusalem, lamentation was unrestrained and grief was renewed almost hourly." Theodora, now queen-dowager, retired to Acre. She was still only 18 years old; their marriage was childless. Baldwin was succeeded by his brother, Amalric I.[3]
A marble screen panel in the
Personal characteristics
William of Tyre knew Baldwin personally and gives a lengthy description of the king:
…He was taller than the average man, but his limbs were so well proportioned to his height that no feature seemed out of harmony with the whole. His features were comely and refined, his complexion florid, a proof of innate strength…His eyes were of medium size, rather prominent and sparkling. He had straight yellowish hair and wore a rather full beard on cheeks and chin. He was of somewhat full habit, although he could not be called fleshy like his brother or spare like his mother…
Baldwin was well educated, well spoken, and exceptionally intelligent. Unlike his father he had an excellent memory. He spent much of his spare time reading history and was knowledgeable in the jus consuetudinarium of the kingdom, later collected by lawyers like John of Ibelin and Philip of Novara as "the assizes of Jerusalem". He respected church property and did not burden them with taxes. He was friendly to people of all classes, and "voluntarily offered an opportunity of conversing with him to anyone who wished it or whom he casually met. If an audience was requested, he did not refuse it." As a young man he enjoyed dice and other games, and carried on affairs with married women, but as an adult he "became changed for the better", as William says, and remained faithful to Theodora. He was popular and respected by all of his subjects, and even had the respect of his enemy Nur ad-Din, who said of Baldwin's death, "the Franks have lost such a prince that the world has not now his like."
References
- ^ Malcolm Barber, The Crusader States (Yale University Press, 2013), p. 217.
- ^ a b c d e f g Barker, Ernest (1911). "Baldwin III". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pgs. 246–247.
- ^ a b c Baldwin, Marshall W. (1969). "The Latin States under Baldwin III and Amalric I, 1143–1174". In Setton, Kenneth M.; Baldwin, Marshall W. (eds.). A History of the Crusades: Volume One. The First Hundred Years. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 528–563.
- ^ a b Berry, Virginia G. (1969). "Chapter XV. The Second Crusade". In Setton, Kenneth M.; Baldwin, Marshall W. (eds.). A History of the Crusades: Volume One. The First Hundred Years. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 463–512.
- ^ "...In 549/1154 Nur al-Dln ZengI, whose father's conquest of Edessa had set off the crusade, seized Damascus as a result of it. He then organized a state devoted to the prosecution of the war against the Kingdom of Jerusalem.2 At the same time Baldwin III asserted his power over his nobles, making the kingdom more dangerous to its rivals". Cambridge University Press, 1999, page 213.
- ^ "...With his new freedom of action Baldwin conquered Ascalon in 548/1153" Cambridge University Press, 1999, page 213
- ^ Gibb, Hamilton A. R. (1969). "The Career of Nūr-ad-Din". In Setton, Kenneth M.; Baldwin, Marshall W. (eds.). A History of the Crusades: Volume One. The First Hundred Years. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 513-528.
- ISBN 978-1-58839-598-6.
Portion of a Transenna Panel […] CTS-SB-09460
Sources
- William of Tyre (1943). Babcock, E. A.; Krey, A. C. (eds.). A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea. New York: Columbia University Press.
- Runciman, Steven (1952). A History of the Crusades, vol. II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem. New York: Cambridge University Press.
- Hamilton, Bernard (1978). "Women in the Crusader States: The Queens of Jerusalem". In Baker, Derek (ed.). Medieval Women. Oxford: Ecclesiastical History Society. ISBN 0-631-19260-3.
- Barber, Malcolm (2013). The Crusader States. Princeton: Yale University Press.