Vassals of the Kingdom of Jerusalem
The
There were also a number of independent seigneuries, and some land held under direct royal control, such as
Northern states
Aside from the Kingdom of Jerusalem, there were also three other major Crusader states in the Near East:
These states nominally bore some dependency on the kingdom of Jerusalem. The king of Jerusalem was bound to reconcile them in case of disputes, or between a vassal prince and the
Edessa was perhaps the most closely tied to the kingdom, despite its distance. Its first two counts became kings of Jerusalem, and the county was bestowed as a royal gift on
The County of Tripoli, the nearest of them, is sometimes considered to have been a vassal lordship under the king's suzerainty, although it preserved an extraordinary degree of sovereignty.
Antioch was almost independent, for it was founded already before the kingship and its first holder was a rival of kings, the original leader of the crusade. Later in its history, it would at times recognize Byzantine or Armenian suzerainty, or none at all.
These states dated their documents by the reigns of their own rulers, carried out their own foreign policy, and sent military aid to the kingdom of their own will, rather than through feudal obligation; therefore, they are generally recognized as sovereign and are treated more fully under their own articles.
The Principality of Antioch, County of Tripoli and the Kingdom of Jerusalem were autonomous states.[1]
County of Jaffa and Ascalon
Counts of Jaffa
Jaffa was taken by the Crusaders in June 1099 during the siege of Jerusalem and became part of the kingdom shortly thereafter. The counts of Jaffa were:
- Royal domain, 1100–1110
- Hugh I of Jaffa, first cousin of king Baldwin II of Jerusalem, 1110–1118
- Albert of Namur, stepfather and regent to Hugh II, 1118–1122
- Hugh II of Jaffa, son of Hugh I, 1122–1134
- Melisende of Jerusalem, 1134–1151, with her husband Fulk (1131–1143) and her son Baldwin III(1143–1151)
- Amalric I of Jerusalem, son of Melisende and Fulk, 1151–1153 (when he reached the age of maturity).
Jaffa merged with newly-conquered Ascalon in 1153, becoming the County of Jaffa and Ascalon.
Counts of Jaffa and Ascalon
After the siege of Ascalon in 1153, the frontier fortress of Ascalon joined Jaffa in a combined county. The counts of Jaffa and Ascalon were:
- Amalric I of Jerusalem, 1153–1174 (as king from 1163)
- Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, 1174–1176
- William of Montferrat (1176–1177) and Guy of Lusignan(1180–1187)
- Jaffa and Ascalon occupied by Ayyubids, 1187–1191
- Geoffrey of Lusignan (1191–1193), brother of Guy of Lusignan
- Amalric II of Jerusalem, brother of Guy of Lusignan, 1193–1197
- Amalric II of Jerusalem, as king, with his wife Isabella I, 1197–1205
- Maria of Montferrat, 1205–1212, with her husband John of Brienne (1210–1212)
- Isabella II of Jerusalem, under regency of her father John of Brienne, 1212–1221
- Walter IV of Brienne(1221–1244), nephew of John of Brienne and husband of Amalric II's granddaughter, 1221–1244
- John of Ibelin, son of Philip of Ibelin, Isabella I's half-brother, 1244–1266
- Ascalon occupied by Ayyubids, 1247
- James of Ibelin, son of John, 1266–1268
- Jaffa occupied by Mamluks, 1268.
Lordship of Ramla
Originally held by the bishop of Ramla-Lydda, in 1126 Ramla became part of Jaffa, and a separate lordship was created after Hugh II's revolt in 1134. The castle of Ibelin happened to be located quite near Ramla. It was later a part of the Lordship of Ibelin, inherited from Helvis of Ramla, daughter of Baldwin I of Ramla and wife of Barisan of Ibelin. The Lords of Ramla were:
- Baldwin I of Ramla, 1134–1138
- Barisan of Ibelin, 1138–1150
- Manasses of Hierges, 1150–1152
- Hugh of Ibelin, son of Barisan of Ibelin, 1152–1169
- Baldwin of Ibelin, brother of Hugh of Ibelin, 1169–1186
- Thomas of Ibelin, son of Baldwin of Ibelin, 1186–1187
- Ramla occupied by Ayyubids, 1187–1191
- Balian of Ibelin, brother of Baldwin of Ibelin, 1191–1193
- John of Ibelin, son of Balian, 1193–1247
- Lordship held by Counts of Jaffa and Ascalon after 1247.
Lordship of Ibelin
The Lordship of
- Barisan of Ibelin, c. 1134–1150
- Hugh of Ibelin, son of Barisan of Ibelin, 1150–1170
- Balian of Ibelin, son of Barisan of Ibelin, 1170–1193
- John of Ibelin, son of Balian, 1193–1236
- Lordship held by Counts of Jaffa and Ascalon after 1236.
Lordship of Mirabel
Principality of Galilee
The Principality of Galilee was established by
Princes of Galilee
The princes of Galilee were:
- Tancred, 1099–1101
- Hugh of Fauquembergues, 1101–1106
- Gervaise de Bazoches, 1106–1108
- Tancred, second reign, 1109–1112
- Joscelin I of Edessa(as Lord of Courtenay), 1112–1119
- William I of Bures, 1120–1141
- Elinand, 1142–1148
- William II of Bures, brother of Elinand, 1148–1158
- Raymond III of Tripoli(1174–1187)
- Galilee occupied by Ayyubids, 1187–1240
- Eschiva of Saint Omer, granddaughter of William II, 1240–1247, with Odo of Montbéliard (1240–1247)
- Galilee taken by Ayyubids, 1247.
The sons of William I I of Bures were titular princes of Galilee after the death of Eschiva of Bures in 1187:
Lordship of Beirut
Beirut was captured in 1110 and given to Fulk of Guînes. It was one of the longest-lived seigneuries, surviving until the final collapse of the kingdom in 1291, although only as a tiny strip on the Mediterranean coast surrounding Beirut. It was important for trade with Europe, and had its own vassals within the Principality of Galilee. The lords of Beirut were :
- Fulk of Guînes, 1110–1117
- Royal domain 1117–1125
- Walter I Brisebarre, 1125–1138
- Guy I Brisebarre, 1138–1149
- Walter II Brisebarre, 1149–1156
- Guy II Brisebarre, 1156–1164
- Walter III Brisebarre, 1164–1166
- Royal domain 1166–?
- Beirut occupied by Ayyubids, 1187–1198
- John I of Ibelin, 1204–1236
- Balian of Ibelin, 1236–1247
- John II of Ibelin, 1247–1264
- Isabella of Ibelin, 1264–1282, with her husbands and regent:
- Hugh II of Cyprus, 1265–1267
- Haymo Létrange, 1272–1273
- Alice de la Roche, as regent to her daughter Isabella, 1274–1277
- Nicholas Aleman, 1277
- William Barlais, 1278–1282
- Eschive d'Ibelin, 1282–1291, with her husbands:
- Humphrey of Montfort, 1282–1284
- Guy of Cyprus, 1291
- Beirut taken by Mamluks, 1291.
The sub-vassals of Beirut were the Lordship of Banias and the Lordship of Toron.
Lordship of Banias
Lordship of Toron
The castle of
- Humphrey I of Toron, before 1109–after 1136
- Humphrey II of Toron, son of Humphrey I, before 1137–1179
- Humphrey IV of Toron, grandson of Humphrey II, 1179–1183
- Royal domain, 1183–1187
- Toron occupied by Ayyubids, 1187–1229
- Alice of Armenia, granddaughter of Humphrey II, 1229–after 1236
- Maria of Antioch-Armenia, granddaughter of Alice, after 1236–1239
- Toron occupied by Ayyubids, 1239–1241
- Toron merged with Lordship of Tyre, 1241.
Toron itself had two sub-vassals, the Lordship of Chastel Neuf and the Lordship of Maron.
Lordship of Chastel Neuf
Chastel Neuf was built by
Lordship of Maron
Not much is known about the Lordship of Maron. It was given in 1229 to the
Lordship of Nazareth
Lordship of Haifa
- Geldemar Carpenel, 1100–1101
- Tancred, 1101–1103
- Rorgius, 1103–1107
- Pagan, 1107–1112
- Royal domain, 1112–1187
- Haifa occupied by Ayyubids, 1187–1191
- Vivian, c. 1140s
- Pagan, 1190–?
- Rorgius II, ?–1244?
- Garsias Alvarez, c. 1250
- Gilles d'Estrain, c. 1260
- Haifa taken by Mamluks, 1265.
Lordship of Sidon
The cities of
Lords of Sidon
Sidon became part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem following the siege of Sidon in 1110. The lords of Sidon were:
- Eustace I Grenier, 1110–1123
- Gerard Grenier, son of Eustace I, 1123–1171
- Renaud Grenier, son of Gerard, 1171–1187
- Occupied by Ayyubids, 1187–1197
- Renaud Grenier, lordship restored, 1197–1202
- Balian I Grenier, son of Renaud, 1202–1239
- Julian Grenier, son of Balian I, 1239–1260
- Sidon destroyed by Ayyubids in 1249 and Mongols in 1260
- Sidon sold to the Knights Templar, 1260.
Lordship of Caesarea
- Eustace I Grenier, 1110–1123
- Walter I Grenier, son of Eustace I, 1123–1154
- Hugh Grenier, son of Walter I, 1154–1169
- Guy Grenier, son of Hugh, fl. 1170s
- Walter II Grenier, brother of Guy, c. 1180s–1189/1191
- Caesarea occupied by Ayyubids, 1187–1191
- Juliana Grenier, sister of Walter II, 1189/1193–1213/1216, with husbands:
- Guy Brisebarre (possible lord), after 1183
- Aymar de Lairon, 1189/1193–1213/1216
- Walter III, son of Juliana and Guy Brisebarre, 1213/1216–1229
- John, son of Walter III, 1229–1238/1241
- Margaret, daughter of John, 1238/1241–1255/1265 with her husband:
- John Aleman, 1238/1243–1264/1265
- Nicholas Aleman, son of John Aleman (possible lord or titular lord), d. 1277
- Caesarea taken by Mamluks, 1265
- John of Nevilles, 1384–?
- John Gorap?
Lordship of the Schuf
The
Lordship of Oultrejordain
The Lordship of Oultrejordain, consisting of land with an undefined boundary to the east of the
- Roman of Le Puy, possibly 1118–1126
- Pagan the Butler, 1126–1147
- Maurice of Montreal, nephew of Pagan, 1147–1161
- Philip of Milly, with his wife Isabella, daughter of Maurice, 1161–1168
- Stephanie de Milly, daughter and heiress, whose husbands exercised the powers of the lordship:
- Humphrey III of Toron, 1168–1173
- Miles of Plancy, 1173–1174
- Raynald of Châtillon, 1176–1187
- Oultrejordain lost to Saladin, 1187.
Other seigneuries
(Titular lords/princes are italicized)
Lordship of Adelon
The Lordship of Adelon seems to have been created after the center of the kingdom was moved to Acre, and held some influence under Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor.
- Adam
- Agnes, c. 1200
- Thierry de Termonde (died 1206)
- Daniel of Terremonde (died after 1225)
- Daniel II of Terremonde
- Peter, c. 1250
- Jordan
Lordship of Arsuf
- Royal domain, 1101–1163
- John of Arsuf, 1163–1177
- Arsuf occupied by Ayyubids, 1187–1191
- Melisende of Arsuf, sister of John of Arsuf, 1177– at least 1218, with Thierry of Orguenes (c. 1190s)
- John of Ibelin, husband of Melisende, before 1209–1236
- John of Arsuf, son of Melisende of Arsuf and John of Ibelin, 1236–1258
- Balian of Ibelin, 1258–1261
- Arsuf sold to Knights Hospitaller, 1261
- Arsuf taken by Mamluks, 1265
- Balian of Ibelin, titular 1261–1277
- John of Ibelin, son of Balian, 1277–1309
- Balian of Ibelin, son of John, 1309–1333
- Philip of Ibelin, son of Balian, 1333–1373.
Lordship of Bethlehem
- Balian II of Ibelin (died before April 19, 1316), also titular Prince of Galilee.
Lordship of Bethsan
- Adam of Bethune
- Adam II, son of Adam
- John, – after 1129
- Guermond, son of Adam II, – after 1174
- Hugh of Gibelet
- Walter
- Adam III
- Guermond II, c. 1210
- Baldwin
- Walter, c. 1310?
- Thibaut
Lordship of Blanchegarde
- Walter III Brisebarre, 1166–1187
- Blanchegarde taken by Ayyubids, 1191, 1192
- Gilles, c. 1210
- Raoul, ?–1265
- Amalric Barlais, 1265–?
Lordship of Botrun
The
- Raymond of Agoult, before 1174
- William Dorel, until 1174
- Cecilia (Lucia), 1174–1181/1206; married Plivain
- Isabella, 1206–1244; married Bohemond of Botron, son of Bohemond III
- William, 1244–1262
- John I, 1262–1277
- Rudolf (Rostain), 1277–1289
Lordship of Caymont
Caymont was created in 1192 after the Third Crusade for Balian of Ibelin, who had lost his other territories to Saladin. It eventually passed into the royal domain.
Lordship of Dera
Little is known about Dera, except that it was created in 1118, during the reign of Baldwin II of Jerusalem.[4]
Lordship of Hebron
- Geldemar Carpenel, 1100
- Gerard of Avesnes, 1100–1101
- Royal domain, 1102–1104
- Hugh of Rebecques, 1104
- Royal domain, 1104–1108
- Walter Mahomet, 1108–1118
- Royal domain, 1118–1120
- Baldwin of Saint Abraham, 1120–1136
- Hugh II of Saint Abraham, 1136–1149
- Royal domain, 1149–1161
- Hebron merged with Lordship of Oultrejordain, 1161
- Under Ayyubid control, 1187–1191
- Royal domain, 1191
- Hebron destroyed by Khwarazmians, 1244.
Lordship of Montgisard
Montgisard (possibly
- William, c. 1155
- John
- Aimard, c. 1198
- Reginald, c. 1200
- William, c. 1230
- Robert, c. 1240
- Henry (?)
- Balian, c. 1300
- William
- Baldwin
- Robert
- John
- James, c. 1400.
Lordship of Nablus
Nablus was first captured in 1099 by Tancred, and named "Naples" by the Crusaders. It later became a separate lordship out of part of Oultrejordain. It was lost during Saladin's conquest of the kingdom.
- Royal domain, 1099–
- Pagan the Butler, 1126–?
- Guy of Milly, ?–1142 or between 1138–1144
- Philip of Milly, son of Guy, 1142 or between 1138–1144–1161
- Maria Comnena, received the lordship from her first husband Amalric I of Jerusalem
- Balian of Ibelin, 1177, Maria's second husband
- Stephanie of Ibelin, sister of Balian
- Nablus taken by Ayyubids, 1187.
Nablus was technically part of the royal domain, and also had a royal viscount, who governed in place of the monarch :
- Ulric, 1115–1152
- Baldwin Bubalus, c. 1159–1162
- Baldwin, son of Ulric, c. 1162–1176
- Amalric, c. 1176–1187.
Lordship of Scandalion
Scandelion, today's Iskandarouna[5] in the Tyre District of the South Governorate of Lebanon, was built in 1116 as a royal domain.[citation needed] Denys Pringle quotes William of Tyre indicating the year 1117 for the date when Baldwin I has built the castle of Scandalion.[5] It became a lordship by 1148 when Guy of Scandalion was created lord.[citation needed]
- Guy of Scandalion, c. 1150
- Peter
- Raymond, c. 1200
- William of Mandelee
- Raymond
- Philip, c. 1270
- Humphrey, c. 1300
- Eschiva, c. 1370.
Lordship of Tyre
- Royal domain, 1124–1129
- Fulk of Anjou, 1129–1131
- Royal domain, 1131–1187
- Conrad of Montferrat, 1190–1192
- Royal domain. 1192–1246
- Philip of Montfort, 1246–1269
- John of Montfort, son of Philip, 1269–1283
- Humphrey of Montfort, brother of John, 1283–1284
- Royal domain, 1284–1289
- Amalric of Lusignan, 1289–1291
- Tyre taken by Mamluks, 1291.
Lordship of Joscelin III of Edessa
This lordship, often called the seigneurie de Joscelin, was an unusual creation given to
Inheritance in the Kingdom of Jerusalem
Lordships in the Kingdom of Jerusalem were usually hereditary, in principle, but in practice the circumstances were such that their holders did not form long uninterrupted lines of inheritance, which was contrary to the usual patterns of succession in Europe.
Firstly, in the early years of the kingdom, lords sought out their own territories, and lordships changed hands often. Secondly, the average lifespan of male lords in Palestine was rather low, due to the constant state of warfare and violence, which led to inheritances by females and/or extinction of whole families.
Succession from father to son happened more rarely than in more peaceful countries in Europe. Female succession opened up the option for the liege or the monarch to reward services, loyalty and capability, as well as achievements, by giving an heiress' hand in marriage and her inherited lordship to a "new man".
A typical succession pattern was a father followed by a daughter, sister, or niece, who was then married to a man worthy of some reward, who then himself succeeded to the territory. This made the succession unpredictable and caused the family holding a particular territory to change once or perhaps even more often in a generation.
Sometimes families became extinct, or escaped from Syria, and either a distant relative came to claim their land, or more usually, their liege gave the lordship to another family. Sometimes a lord was condemned for treason, rebellion or some other reason, and he and possibly his descendants were disinherited from the lordship.
Occasionally, vacant lordships were put into the royal domain, but more often, another person received the lordship. A less careful observer may think that they were not hereditary, but almost always their succession took place according to feudal rights of inheritance, utilizing the relatively high number of heiresses.
Many of these seigneuries ceased to exist after the loss of Jerusalem in 1187, and the rest of them after the fall of Acre in 1291, yet they often had Cypriot or European claimants for decades or centuries afterwards; these claimants, of course, held no actual territory in Syria after the mainland kingdom was lost.
See also
- Crusader states
- Kingdom of Jerusalem
- King of Jerusalem
- Officers of the Kingdom of Jerusalem
- High Court of Jerusalem
- Assizes of Jerusalem
Notes
- ISBN 978-0-521-01747-3.
- ^ Jean Richard, The Crusades, C.1071-c.1291, transl. Jean Birrell, (Cambridge University Press, 2001), 310.
- ^ Jean Richard, The Crusades, C.1071-c.1291, transl. Jean Birrell, (Cambridge University Press, 2001), 310.
- ISBN 978-0-521-06162-9.
- ^ )
- ^ Susan Edington and Alan V. Murray, "Western Sources", in Alan V. Murray, ed., The Crusades to the Holy Land: The Essential Reference Guide (ABC-CLIO, 2015), p. 255.
Further reading
- Barker, Ernest (1911). . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 529–532.
- Bréhier, Louis (1910). . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company.