Near East Kingdoms

Christian Counts of Edessa
AD 1098 - 1144

The county of Edessa was different from the other Crusader states in that it was landlocked. Half of the county, including its capital, was located to the east of the Euphrates and therefore was positioned far to the east of the other states. The section west of the Euphrates was controlled from the stronghold of Turbessel, an important outpost in fending off the Seljuq Turks. Neighbouring Edessa to the west was the kingdom of Armenia, while to the north was the Seljuq sultanate of Rum.

In 1098, Baldwin of Boulogne left the main Crusading army which was travelling south towards Antioch and Jerusalem, and went first south into Cilicia, then east to Edessa. There, he convinced its lord, Thoros, to adopt him as a son and heir. Thoros was a Greek Orthodox, and was disliked by his Armenian Orthodox subjects. He was soon assassinated, although it is unknown if Baldwin had any part in this. In any case, Baldwin became the new ruler, taking the title of count (as he had been called in Boulogne).

1098 - 1100

King of Jerusalem (1100-1118).

1099

Jerusalem is seized from the Seljuq Turks in a bloody fight. An independent Christian kingdom is formed, which is soon headed by Baldwin.

1100

Emir Duqaq of Damascus manages to ambush Baldwin I and his bodyguard at Nahr al-Kalb (just outside Beirut). Baldwin is travelling to Jerusalem to succeed his brother, Godfrey de Bouillon, as king. The Crusaders are caught in a narrow pass which they hold successfully, and Baldwin is soon able to continue his journey.

1100 - 1118

Cousin. King of Jerusalem (1118-1131).

1110

All lands east of the Euphrates are lost to the Zangids of Mosul.

1118 - 1131

Lord of Turbessel. Killed in battle.

1131 - 1146

Son. Captured and imprisoned. Died 1159.

1137 - 1138

An Eastern Roman army attacks Aleppo after forcing Raymond II, prince of Antioch, to pay homage and having allied both with Raymond and Count Joscelin II of Edessa. Raymond is to give up Antioch to Constantinople in exchange for assuming control over a different fief to be conquered from the territory of Imad ad Din of Mosul and Aleppo.

A combined Roman and Crusader force (with John II leading the Romans) besieges Shaizar as part of the effort to carve out this new fief. After a month of effort they are driven off by Imad ad Din.

John demands the surrender of the citadel of Antioch, something which Raymond refuses to do. Meanwhile, Joscelin exploits local sentiment against the Romans to instigate riots which drive home Emperor John II.

1144

Imad ad Din Aleppo and Mosul besieges the county of Edessa during a border war. Antioch is unable to respond to calls for help as as its army is preoccupied in battling the Eastern Roman empire in Lesser Armenia. Mosul conquers Edessa (now Urfa in Turkey), ending its independence and leaving only a remnant survivor around Turbessel.

The loss provokes Pope Eugenius into calling upon Louis VII of France to play his part in defending the Holy Land. The king embarks for Jerusalem in 1147, taking part in the Second Crusade.

1146

Upon the death of Zangî of Aleppo, Joscelin briefly recaptures Edessa - for just two months.

1147 - 1149

The Second Crusade fails to recapture Edessa.

1150 - 1159

Baldwin III of Jerusalem in Palestine has been unable to defend Turbessel, the last remnant of the county of Edessa. He has to cede Turbessel to Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel in August 1150.

Baldwin evacuates Turbessel's Latin Christian residents despite an attack by Nureddin of Aleppo and Mosul at the battle of Aintab. Count Joscelin II of Edessa is captured and imprisoned in Aleppo until his death in 1159.

Nur ad-Din then conquers the final remnants of the Christian county. Joscelin III de Courtenay, son of the now-dead Joscelin II and heir to Edessa, remains titular count while he serves the kings of Jerusalem until 1200.