1119-1144

Question 1

Castles (1119-1044)

Answer 1

1. Bethgibelin (1136)
2. Ibelin (1141)
3. Blanchegarde (1142)
4. Expensive to keep, and many Lords had to donate their castles to the military orders as a result
5. Protected pilgrims
6. Defended borders
7. Acquired and defended territory
8. Protected trade routes
9. At least 29 castles were re-fortified between 1099-1114
10. Krak des Chevaliers was built in 1142, to look over the Homs valley in Tripoli

Question 2

Military skill of Baldwin ii

Answer 2

1. Artah (1105)
2. Led 19 campaigns against the Muslims during his 13-year reign over Jerusalem
3. The Battle of Azaz (1125)
4. The Battle of Raphania (1126)

Question 3

External aid from 1119-1144

Answer 3

1. Genoa, Venice and Pisa sent supplies to the East
2. The Venetian Crusade of 1124 helped to gain the port of Tyre
3. Donations to the orders, however this led to a lack of manpower in the East
4. Fulk married Melisende (Baldwin ii’s daughter)

Question 4

Byzantine support from 1119-1144

Answer 4

1. John ii Komnenos became the Byzantine Emperor in 1118, and he was strongly anti-Latin
2. John ii attacked Antioch twice, in 1137 and 1142
3. John ii died in 1142, leaving Manuel i on the Byzantine throne
4. There was an overall lack of Byzantine aid in this period

Question 5

The Military Orders from 1119-1144

Answer 5

1. Present in the Siege of Damascus in 1126
2. Protected pilgrims, and on some occasions, defended entire towns and settlements
3. Alfonso i of Aragon donated his entire kingdom to the Templars in his will, in 1134
4. Relied on donations from the West
5. “In Praise of a New Knighthood” was written by Bernard of Clairvaux in the 1120’s
6. Joined the Siege of Damascus in 1148
7. Helped to capture Ascalon in 1153
8. Gave food and supplies to the crusaders on the Second Crusade, as well as providing a banking service for Louis vii

Question 6

Why did Edessa fall in 1144?
(Geography)

Answer 6

1. Surrounded by Muslim lands, and far from the main settlements of Outremer
2. The oldest and wealthiest crusader state made it an attractive target
3. Little back-up from the other crusader states

Question 7

Why did Edessa fall in 1144?
(Muslim unity)

Answer 7

1. Zengi has been growing in power
2. Zengi had began to utilise jihad and used it as a veneer for his expansion
3. Zengi was a cruel and harsh leader who was feared throughout Christendom

Question 8

Why did Edessa fall in 1144?
(Christian Weaknesses)

Answer 8

1. Joscelin ii of Edessa and Raymond of Antioch were squabbling, so Raymond did not send troops to Joscelin
2. Baldwin iii was fighting a civil war against his mother, Melisende
3. Joscelin ii left his lands relatively unguarded, as he visited Turbessel for Christmas
4. The death of John ii Komnenos meant that there would be no Byzantine aid

Question 9

How did Zengi use jihad?

Answer 9

1. As a veneer for his expansion
2. Built at least 40 madrasas
3. However, much of his time was spent fighting and persecuting his fellow Muslims

Question 10

Examples (and counter-examples) of Zengi’s military skill

Answer 10

1. Edessa (1144)
2. Failed attempts on Damascus (1132) (1139)
3. Was a ruthless leader who was renowned for his violence, even against his own men
4. Homs (1138)
5. Hama (1130)
6. Ba’rin (1137)

Question 11

Christian divisions from 1119-1144

Answer 11

1. Joscelin ii of Edessa vs. Raymond of Antioch
2. Baldwin iii and his mother, Melisende
3. Hugh of Jaffa’s revolt against Fulk
4. John ii Komnenos was anti-Latin, and attacked Antioch twice in 1137 and 1142