First regency Raymond III, Count of Tripoli

saladin s coin



ruins of crusaders castle @ arqa

taking advantage of senechal s unpopularity, raymond went visit king @ jerusalem , laid claim regency in august. argued both closest male relative , powerful vassal of child king. emphasized had appointed king s father administer tripoli during captivity entitled claim same treatment. miles of plancy postponed decision raymond s claim, stating plenary session of high court of jerusalem hear it.

raymond returned tripoli, miles of plancy murdered in acre in october 1174. powerful noblemen , clergymen assembled in jerusalem decide on administration of kingdom. bishops unanimously supported raymond s claim regency. constable humphrey ii of toron, reginald of sidon , ibelin brothers, baldwin , balian, stood him, raymond elected bailiff (or regent) after debate lasted 2 days. raymond installed in church of holy sepulchre, had been traditional venue of royal coronations, during extravagant ceremony. allowed king s mother, agnes of courtenay, return royal court, enabling strengthen influence on young monarch. made erudite william of tyre chancellor, left office of senechal vacant.

saladin had meanwhile expanded rule on damascus, baalbek, shaizar , hama, taking advantage of minority of nur ed-din s son, as-salih ismail al-malik. occupied homs in december 1174, garrison @ citadel resisted. without forcing garrison surrender, nur ed-din left homs aleppo, seat of zengids in syria. left small army in lower town @ homs.

saladin s fierce determination unite egypt , syria threatened crusader states. raymond mustered troops of jerusalem , tripoli @ arqa in 1175, did not intervene in conflict between saladin , zengids. defenders of homs citadel offered him set christian prisoners free, if provided military assistance them. prisoners included hostages held guarantee arrears of raymond s ransom. ali ibn al-athir recorded, muslim burghers of aleppo urged raymond attack saladin s troops. raymond willing assist defenders of homs if release prisoners, refused demand. william of tyre later emphasize commanders of crusader army doubted if defenders of homs citadel wanted release prisoners.

saladin returned homs after informed negotiations between crusaders , garrison. instead of attacking saladin, crusader army retrieved krak des chevaliers, enabling saladin capture citadel on 17 march 1175. saladin sent envoys crusaders camp, because wanted secure neutrality in conflict zengids. after agreed release hostages standing surety raymond s ransom, crusader army withdrew tripoli. william of tyre blamed humphrey ii of toron crusaders decision.

saladin defeated united armies of aleppo , mosul in battle of horns of hama on 13 april. concluded peace treaty aleppo consolidated rule in south syria. after allowed egyptian troops return home, crusader army disbanded in may. raymond proposed truce saladin signed on 22 july. truce enabled saladin march through oultrejordain—the easternmost territory of kingdom of jerusalem—without resistance during new campaign against ghazi ii saif ud-din of mosul in summer of 1176.