Reign Raymond III, Count of Tripoli

1 reign

1.1 minority
1.2 personal rule
1.3 captivity
1.4 first regency
1.5 campaigns , dynastic factions
1.6 second regency
1.7 towards hattin
1.8 hattin , consequences

reign
minority

melisende s son, baldwin iii of jerusalem, staying in tripoli when raymond ii murdered, recalled widowed hodierna town. after burial, baldwin held assembly nobles of county of tripoli paid homage both hodierna , 2 minor children, raymond , melisende. when appointing hodierna administer county, baldwin iii ignored instructions of late husband. raymond ii had ordered high-ranking official, master of county, take care of administration of tripoli if underage count mounted throne.

the teenaged raymond spent several years in royal court of jerusalem. first extant document witnessed in royal capital issued on 23 september 1152 or 1153. historian kevin j. lewis proposes baldwin iii supervised raymond s knightly education personally.

personal rule

raymond reached age of majority in 1155. in first extant charter, issued on 11 june 1157, confirmed father s diploma grant of tortosa (now tartus in syria) knights templar. 8 days later, nur ad-din, zengid ruler of damascus, ambushed baldwin iii @ jacob s fort on jordan river. hundreds of christian soldiers captured or killed , king forced flee safed. after nur ad-din laid siege baniyas, baldwin iii sent envoys tripoli , antioch seek assistance raymond , raynald of châtillon. hurried chastel neuf (at present-day margaliot in israel) join decimated royal army. after arrival, nur ad-din lifted siege , withdrew troops without resistance.

an earthquake destroyed tripoli, arqa , krak des chevaliers in august 1157. taking advantage of arrival of thierry, count of flanders @ head of sizeable army in october, baldwin iii, raynald of châtillon , raymond decided launch joint campaign against muslim towns of north syria had been ruined during catastrophe. crusaders first attacked chastel rouge near borders of county of tripoli, not force defenders surrender. neither seize shaizar, because both thierry of flanders , raynald of châtillon claimed town before occupied , not reach compromise. siege of harenc (now harem in syria) success, crusader leaders finished campaign after captured in january 1158.

seeking wife crusader states, widowed byzantine emperor manuel komnenos sent envoys baldwin iii in 1160. manuel stated willing marry either maria of antioch, or raymond s sister, melisende, both closely related king. baldwin proposed melisende , emperor acknowledged choice. twelve galleys built @ raymond s order, because wanted set magnificent retinue sister during voyage towards constantinople. mother , aunt spent considerable amount of money buy precious jewelry future empress. however, emperor changed mind , started negotiations marriage maria mother, constance of antioch. feeling slighted both himself , sister, raymond crewed newly built fleet criminals , sent them raid byzantine coasts , islands in august 1161. pirates captured , plundered sacred places , attacked pilgrims.

nur ad-din made raid against krak des chevaliers , laid siege harenc in summer of 1164. raymond marched out join crusaders assembling relieve fortress, defeated in ensuing battle on 10 august. thousands of crusaders fell during battle, raymond, bohemond iii of antioch, joscelin iii of edessa, hugh viii of lusignan, , other commanders captured.

captivity

the crusader states in 1165

the crusader leaders captured @ harenc taken aleppo imprisoned. william of tyre recorded raymond had spent time in beggary , iron , emphasized raymond had learnt read , acquired high level of education in prison. modern historians assume raymond learnt arabic during captivity, without providing positive evidence. raymond instructed loyal vassals acknowledge amalric of jerusalem, had succeeded baldwin iii, lawful ruler of tripoli period of captivity. amalric hurried tripoli , took full responsibility government, assuming title of administrator of county of tripoli . amalric persuaded nur ad-din release bohemond iii , thoros ii, prince of armenia, had acknowledged suzerainty of byzantine emperor, raymond remained imprisoned.

in november 1164, bertrand de blanchefort, grand master of knights templar, reminded louis vii of france amalric unable defend crusader states alone. indeed, nur ad-din captured fortress @ al-munaytira in 1165 or 1166 , destroyed templars castles @ halba, araima , safita in summer of 1167. during latter campaign, nur ad-din allegedly captured gibelacar, according lewis, fortress recaptured in late 1169 or 1170.

both date , circumstances of raymond s release uncertain. according william of tyre, raymond set free after spending 8 (solar) years in captivity, ibn jubayr stated raymond had been held in prison twelve (lunar) years. ali ibn al-athir recorded raymond released after nur ad-din died on 15 may 1174, wrong, because raymond had witnessed royal charter in jerusalem on 18 april 1174. on other hand, according lewis, ali ibn al-athir may have been right when claiming raymond released because of emerging conflict between nur ad-din s family , ambitious commander, saladin.

william of tyre stated raymond had pay 80,000 pieces of gold ransom, pay 20,000. guarantee payment of arrears, raymond gave hostages. muslim authors wrote raymond s ransom amounted 150,000 syrian dinars. according charter of bohemond iii of antioch, raymond borrowed money knights hospitaller pay @ least part of ransom.

first regency

walter of saint omer, prince of galilee, died in 1174. amalric of jerusalem gave walter s widow, eschiva of bures, in marriage raymond, enabling him seize large fief in kingdom. marriage childless, raymond loved wife brought children first husband if father, according william of tyre. king died on 11 july 1174. 4 days later, son, baldwin, crowned king, although minor , had suffered lepromatous leprosy. senechal miles of plancy took charge of government, unable persuade commanders of army cooperate him.

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.

campaigns , dynastic factions

baldwin iv came of age @ fifteenth birthday on 15 july 1176. regency terminated, raymond returned tripoli. philip i, count of flanders landed @ acre @ head of considerable army on 1 august 1177. young king , advisors made several efforts persuade him join military campaign against principal base of saladin s power, egypt, philip kept giving excuses. according rumours spreading among crusaders, raymond , bohemond iii jointly convinced count resist, because wanted entice him own lands, hoping undertake benefit states .

philip came tripoli in late october. roger de moulins, grand master of knights hospitallers, , more 100 knights , 2,000 foot soldiers kingdom of jerusalem joined them in november. made assault on hama, taking advantage of sickness of governor. siege lasted 4 days, because bohemond persuaded them join him attack harenc. laid siege fortress in december, not capture it. bohemond made peace zengid ruler of aleppo in next year.

raymond attacked group of turkmens , seized considerable booty them in 1178 or 1179, saladin strengthened border defence prevent further raids. saladin dispatched group of horsemen make raid around sidon in june 1179. baldwin mustered troops prevent retreat. raymond, staying @ tiberias, joined royal army. routed raiders @ ford on litani river, saladin marched galilee , defeated crusaders in battle of marj ayyun on 10 june. raymond, had watched battle hill, escaped tyre, 1 of stepsons, hugh of saint omer fell captivity.

according story recorded in estoire de eracles, contains many folkloristic elements, raymond pledged give first wealthy heiress in county in marriage gerard of ridefort, flemish knight. however, when william dorel, lord of botrun (now batroun in lebanon), died, leaving daughter heir, raymond gave hand plivain, wealthy merchant pisa, had promised weight in gold him. raymond s perfidy outraged ridefort left tripoli , settled in kingdom of jerusalem in 1179.

raymond , bohemond iii of antioch ride jerusalem in 1180.

raymond , bohemond iii mustered troops , marched jerusalem in april 1180. allegedly came celebrate easter in holy city, ailing baldwin iv feared wanted depose him. hastily married sister , heiress, sibylla, knight had arrived poitou, guy of lusignan, although hand had been promised hugh iii, duke of burgundy. after studying controversial reports events, historian bernard hamilton concluded raymond , bohemond had wanted stage coup, because felt concerned growing influence of king s mother , brother, joscelin iii of edessa. raymond , bohemond, hamilton continues, wanted persuade king force marry sibylla local candidate of own choosing, baldwin of ibelin, instead of hugh, related courtenays, sibylla s marriage guy destroyed plan. since both raymond , bohemond lost king s favor, left jerusalem after easter.

[t]he lord prince bohemond of antioch , lord count raymond of tripoli, entering kingdom army, terrified lord king feared lest should attempt organise revolution deposing king , laying claim kingdom themselves. king afflicted more grievously usual illness , day day symptoms of leprosy became more , more evident. sister of king ... awaiting arrival of [hugh iii of burgundy]... when king knew these noblemen had come, although both of them kinsmen, viewed them suspicion , hastened sister s marriage. ... [b]ecause things had happened, unexpectedly married young man called guy of lusignan.

they crossing galilee when saladin invaded principality, arrival forced him retrieve. saladin , baldwin signed two-year truce. truce did not cover tripoli, enabling saladin launch sudden raid county. since surprise attack prevented raymond mustering troops, fled fortress of arqa. saladin s army pillaged northern plains of county , fleet captured island of ruad @ tortosa (now arwad in lebanon). saladin withdrew troops after raymond signed truce. during following years, raymond strengthened defence of county through granting new territories knights hospitaller or confirming vassals grants them.

after 2 years of absence, raymond decided again visit galilee in april 1182. however, agnes of courtenay , joscelin iii persuaded baldwin iv forbide entrance kingdom, forcing him turn @ beirut. before long, princes , greater men of realm , whom william of tyre failed identify, convinced king allow raymond come jerusalem. @ following general assembly, raynald of châtillon, lord of oultrejordain, proposed military expedition across jordan river prevent saladin s march egypt syria in may 1182. raymond opposed châtillon s plan, because have left western lands undefended during campaign, châtillon convinced majority of barons of realm accept proposal.

the ancient water system @ saffuriya: royal troops customarily assembled @ springs

raymond accompanied royal army oultrejordain. during absence, troops nearby muslim towns invaded galilee , captured 500 women. invaders seized fortified cave near tiberias assistance of local christian garrison. royal army returned central territories of kingdom, because baldwin suspected saladin planning further raids. raymond went tiberias fell ill. when saladin laid siege castle of bethsain (now beit in israel) on 13 july, raymond dispatched stepson, hugh, command troops of galilee , join royal army assembling near saffuriya. royal army forced saladin lift siege , withdraw troops principality.

raymond made plundering raid against region of bosra in late 1182. hamilton argues reconnaissance expedition , because bosra excellent location discover southward movements of army of damascus. according lewis, raymond must have participated in king s unsuccessful campaign against syria before christmas, because royal army had assembled @ tiberias. saladin seized zengids last important stronghold in syria, aleppo, on 12 june 1183. decided invade kingdom , bring crusaders pitched battle. @ baldwin s order, more 1,000 knights , 15,000 foot soldiers gathered @ saffuriya. raymond hurried mustering point. baldwin started running fever, forced him make guy of lusignan bailiff. saladin crossed jordan , pillaged bethsan on 29 september. continued campaign 9 years, crusaders refrained attacking troops. william of tyre recorded common soldiers accused guy s opponents of refusing attack invaders, because feared victory strengthen guy s position.

relationship between king , guy became tense during following months. baldwin convoked barons of realm assembly discuss future of administration of kingdom. raymond, bohemond, reginald of sidon , ibelin brothers persuaded him dismiss guy. convinced king make guy s infant stepson, baldwin of montferrat, heir. child crowned on 20 november 1183. william of tyre recorded general wish king should appoint regent , barons said raymond suited hold office . assembly dissolved, because news saladin s sudden attack against châtillon s kerak castle reached jerusalem. king mustered army, not participate in campaign long, appointed raymond command before army crossed jordan. on learning of arrival of relief army, saladin lifted siege on 3 or 4 december.

second regency

baldwin iv appoints raymond regent @ death bed; child baldwin v s coronation

heraclius, latin patriarch of jerusalem, , grand masters of templars , hospitallers tried mediate reconciliation between baldwin iv , guy of lusignan, king did not forgive brother-in-law. in october 1184, guy made plundering raid against bedouin tribes grazed herds in royal domain of deir al-balah. action outraged king convened barons of realm assembly , handed on government of kingdom , general administration raymond, according william of tyre. however, ernoul s chronicle , estoire de eracles write baldwin iv decided appoint regent after members of high court had warned him guy (who minor baldwin s stepfather) still entitled govern kingdom after death. dying king requested them name candidate , unanimously nominated raymond. baldwin iv accepted choice , asked raymond act regent of kingdom , of child ten years until child came of age , according ernoul s chronicle. sources failed mention date of these events, version of estoire de eracles states raymond made regent in 1185.

both ernoul , estoire de eracles recorded high court passed specific rules regency before raymond installed. first of all, barons of realm elected joscelin iii child king s guardian after him. high court stipulated military orders hold royal fortresses during king s minority, beirut granted raymond compensate him expenses of state administration. finally, high court ruled if child king died before reaching age of majority, pope, holy roman emperor , kings of france , england approached decide whether mother or half-sister, isabella, had stronger claim succeede him. although versions of estoire de eracles hint raymond had persuaded hight court pass these rules, of them adopted limit regent s authority.

the date of baldwin iv s death unknown, died before 16 may 1185. king still alive when raymond sent envoys saladin start negotiations armistice. saladin granted four-year truce, land free external battles during raymund s second regency, continuator of william of tyre s chronicle remarked. saladin agreed make peace crusaders because izz ad-din mas ud, zengid ruler of mosul, had formed coalition against him. made series of attacks against mosul, forcing izz ad-din accept suzerainty in march 1186. raymond not strengthen authority during regency. joscelin iii of edessa, patriarch heraclius , peter, archdeacon of lydda, had succeeded william of tyre chancellor, guy of lusignan s supporters. knights templar elected personal enemy, gerard of ridefort grand master.

towards hattin

baldwin v died unexpectedly in acre in summer of 1186. joscelin iii convinced raymond go tiberias make preparations general assembly , let templars deliver young king s body jerusalem. taking advantage of raymond s absence, joscelin took full control of acre , seized beirut. raymond convened barons of realm nablus, fief of 1 of main supporters, balian of ibelin. arnold of lübeck , ali ibn al-athir claimed raymond tried seize throne @ general assembly. reliability of reports questionable, because none of them present @ meeting, , wrote works years after events. so, reports clear evidence of widespread belief in raymond s ambitions seize crown.

while barons assembling @ nablus, sibylla , guy of lusignan attended king s funeral in jerusalem. patriarch of jerusalem, grand masters of templars , hospitallers , raynald of châtillon present. being sibylla s staunch supporters, decided offer crown her, without waiting decision of 4 western monarchs, high court had stipulated in 1185. invited barons @ nablus attend coronation, did not acknowledge right rule , forbade ceremony. sent 2 cistercian abbots jerusalem inform veto. raymond dispatched 1 of retainers accompany abbots in disguise spy in capital.

ruins of crusaders castle @ tiberias

sibylla s supporters ignored barons opposition , patriarch heraclius crowned before end of september. put crown on guy s head , patriarch anointed him. in reference raymond s betrayal, ridefort proudly declared crown worth marriage of botrun”, according estoire de eracles. learning of coronation, raymond , supporters decided elect sibylla s half-sister, isabella, , husband, humphrey iv of toron, king. humphrey—who châtillon s stepson—secretly left nablus jerusalem , did homage guy, because did not want stir civil war. barons followed humphrey s example , swore fealty royal couple before end of october. after former partisans abandoned him, raymond returned tiberias, without doing homage sibylla , guy.

guy accused raymond of betrayal , invaded galilee in october. king demanded account period of raymond s regency, raymond answered had spent royal income on state administration. raymond decided resist , sought assistance saladin. sultan sent troops tiberias, forcing guy withdraw. saladin offered raymond make him independent king franks 1 , , according ibn al-athir s report. arnold of lübeck wrote raymond pledged allow saladin s army invade kingdom across galilee in exchange sultan s assistance seize throne.

lewis proposes occitan trubadour, peire vidal, visited raymond s court in tiberias around time of conflict between raymond , royal couple. raymond provided patronage vidal dedicated eulogy him in 1 of poems. lewis says around time raymond offered appoint member of house of toulouse heir provided willing settle in county of tripoli. raymond s offer recorded in version of late source, lignages d outremer, story may have been invented author.

but upon tripoli rely

because whereas other barons

chase away glory, retains it

and not let depart him

saladin decided launch full-scale invasion against kingdom , started mustering forces whole empire in 1187. barons of realm convinced guy seek reconciliation raymond. masters of 2 military orders, joscius, archbishop of tyre, raynald of sidon , balian of ibelin appointed start negotiations raymond in tiberias. saladin s son, al-afdal, sent muzaffar al-din, lord of harenc , edessa, make raid against kingdom. in accordance treaty saladin, raymond allowed syrian troops free entry galilee. after al-afdal began raiding region of nazareth, masters of military orders, gerard of ridefort , roger des moulins, attacked invaders although enemy forces extremely outnumbered retinue. raiders annihilated crusaders @ springs of cresson on 1 may. ridefort , 3 knights escape battlefield. estoire de eracles blamed ridefort catastrophe, emphasizing raymond s envoys had warned him not attack large syrian army. invaders rode syria across galilee, displaying severed heads of crusaders had been killed in battle on points of lances.

balian of ibelin , archbishops of tyre , nazareth arrived @ tiberias following day. ernoul—who present ibelin s squire—wrote news crusaders catastrophe came shock raymond. agreed homage guy. expelled muslim garrison had been stationing in tiberias since made alliance saladin. according ali ibn al-athir, raymond agreed come terms king after vassals threatened him disobedience, , prelates announced ready excommunicate him , declare marriage void. raymond , king met near jerusalem, @ fort st job, held hospitallers. after both dismounted, raymond did homage king on knees. guy lifted him , expressed regret irregular coronation, according ernoul.

hattin , consequences

the king ordered assembly of troops of kingdom @ saffuriya. raymond joined royal army accompanied knights galilee, leaving wife in tiberias @ head of small garrison. knights county of tiberias came saffuriya. on 2 july 1187, saladin invaded galilee , laid siege town. number of troops outnumbered crusaders more 30%. eschiva sent messengers crusaders camp inform them saladin s attack.

the news siege of tiberias caused new conflict among crusaders, because raymond , ridefort proposed adverse strategies. emphasizing town resist prolonged siege, raymond wanted avoid pinched battle. proposed guy should send envoys antioch , ask bohemond iii send reinforcements. hearing raymond’s proposal, ridefort , châtillon accused him of cowardice, adding passivity cost king kingdom. since king willing accept raymond s proposal, ridefort reminded him raymond s previous alliance saladin. finally, king decided attack , ordered army march towards tiberias.

as lord of region, raymond appointed guide army across galilee. after saladin s troops started attacking templars @ rear, crusaders halted @ maskana, although local not provide enough water large army. ernoul blamed raymond decision, anonymous author of libellus de expugnatione terrae sanctae per saladinum, participated in campaign, stated king decided stop, ignoring raymond s advice. saladin s troops encircled crusaders camp , killed crusaders left in searh water. following day army continued march towards tiberias, raymond commanding vanguard, saladin s troops continuously attacking them. suffering thirst, group of foot soldiers tried break through enemy lines towards distant sea of galilee, massacred. 5 of raymond s own knights voluntarily defected saladin s side. in attempt reach springs near hattin, raymond led cavalry charge against right wing of saladin s army, forcing muslim troops open free pass without resistance. instead of turning back, raymond , crusaders had accompanied him (including reynald of sidon, balian of ibelin , joscelin iii of edessa) hurried first safed, , later tyre.

the rest of crusader army annihilated. raymond s many vassals—plivain of botrun, hugh ii embriaco , melioret of maraqiyya—fell captivity. defenseless towns not resist , saladin captured of them during following month. eschiva of bures voluntarily surrendered tiberias saladin , joined raymond in tyre. embriaco surrendered fief of jubayl saladin in exchange release on 4 august. after saladin occupied beirut on 6 august, raymond fled tripoli, because thought saladin capture tyre. old allies, balian of ibelin , raynald of sidon, joined him.

raymond fell ill in tripoli. baha ad-din ibn shaddad recorded raymond suffered pleurisy. other sources—ernoul, estoire de eracles , abu l-fida—emphasized raymond s sorrow crusaders catastrophic defeat @ hattin caused illness. having no children, raymond willed county of tripoli eldest son of bohemond iii of antioch, raymond, godson. contemporaneous ralph of diceto recorded raymond died fifteen days after fall of jerusalem, is, on 17 october 1187. historian lewis proposes raymond died in september.