Revision Topic Sheet 7a: Baldwin I & the Latin East Flashcards
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What were the four new states that upset the Muslim political balance in the east?
The Kingdom of Jerusalem, the County of Tripoli, the Principality of Antioch and the County of Edessa.
How were the Muslim forces split?
- The Sunni Seljuks controlled Anatolia and Syria after its conquest by Alp-Arslan and Malik-Shah while the Shi’ite Fatamids controlled the south, with their capital city being Cairo in Egypt.
- Also, the death of Malik-Shah politically split the Muslims into four states: the Sultanate of Rum, under Kilij Arslan and the Emirate under Malik-Ghazi which covered eastern Anatolia, while Syria was divided between Ridwan of Aleppo and Duqaq of Damascus.
- None of these princes were prepared to support each other which strengthened Muslim disunity by a large extent..
What was Baldwin’s first goal as King of Jerusalem?
He wanted to continue the work of his predecessor Godfrey of Bouillon by making the coast secure.
How did he first gain a relationship with the Genoese?
A Genoese fleet was enlisted to help capture Acre in 1104 in exchange for 1/3 of the loot, which gave the kingdom a secure harbour.
How was his failure to push the Egyptians back into the desert a significant problem?
It allowed for the Egyptians to use Ascalon and Tyre as bases to attack the Franks, leading to Arab raids damaging the kingdom as a result.
What was the 1108 Muslim coalition and why did it stop?
- Crusader successes encouraged sultan Muhammad Ibn Malik-Shah to take action as he appointed Mawd as the ataberg of Mosul, who then tried to start an alliance with Toghtekin of Damascus.
- When Mawd was assassinated, Toghtekin feared a threat from the sultan and was prepared to ally with the Franks against his appointed ataberg.
- He then changed sides in 1116 when the threat of a Muslim coalition was removed after he was defeated at the Battle of Danith by Bursuq ibn Bursuq in 1115.
What happened after Baldwin’s death in 1118?
He died childless due to his bigamous marriage: he put his first wife in a nunnery due to claims of adultery with Muslims and then rejected his second wife in 1117 after his vassals forced him to reject her, even though she allowed for an alliance to be created with Sicily due to being a widow of Roger of Sicily.
What was Baldwin II’s first goal as King of Jerusalem and how did it backfire?
He wanted to capture Aleppo as it was a key city in Syria, but a unified Muslim opposition made this difficult as an alliance between Toghtekin of Damascus and Il Ghazi of Aleppo defeated and killed Roger of Antioch at the Battle of the Field of Blood. Baldwin II was later captured by Balak, Il Ghazi’s successor, in 1122 and 1123.
How did Muslim splits enable Baldwin II to recover from the disasters he was facing?
- The threat of Il Ghazi was removed after a rebellion from his son Sulaiman in 1121.
- Also, the threat of Balak was removed after his death in 1124 and his replacement with Aksungur of Bursuqui, which Baldwin used to encourage a Muslim ally known as Dubais to attack Aleppo in 1125.
- However, Aleppo was relieved in 1126 by an alliance of Aksungur and Toghtekin. Although, Toghtekin died as Aksungur was killed by assassins.
What are some historian interpretations on why the Kingdom of Jerusalem was successfully established?
- H.Mayer suggested that both Baldwins were good diplomats and military leaders which contributed to their success, as they were able to draw resources from the Italians to increase their manpower. Although, he suggested that Muslim disunity was the main reason.
- S.Runciman suggested that the Egyptians were unable to develop a clear military strategy and their soldiers were no match for the Franks, which suggests that Baldwin was successful because of the divisions between the Syrian Muslims.
