Explain why the crusader state of Edessa collapsed in 1144
Introduction
On 24 December 1144 Imad ad-Din
Zengi, the Muslim ruler of Aleppo and
Mosul, captured the Frankish city of
Edessa, leading to the fall of the oldest of
the Crusader states.
short-term reasons for collapse
The loss of the county of Edessa, the most
exposed and isolated of the crusader states
was the result of a power vacuum, a lack of
powerful allies, and a weakness of leadership.
Emperor John of Byzantium and King Fulk of Jerusalem and had
died in 1142 and 1143 respectively, the new Emperor Manuel
was busy securing his throne.
Jerusalem’s regency government was led by a woman,
Queen Melisende – a relief army was sent north from
Jerusalem but it arrived too late, the city had fallen.
Count Joscelin was to blame
Edessa was also lost because of the behaviour of its Count, Joscelin
He was actually absent on a raiding party
when Zengi attacked, leaving the city short of
troops, also he had quarrelled with both his
neighbours, Raymond, Prince of Antioch, so
no help was forthcoming from there.
Joscelin had also quarreled with Raymond II
of Tripoli, leaving Edessa with no powerful
allies or local support.
Long-term, structural weaknesses
The crusader states, especially those in the north,
also faced long term structural weaknesses of
geography and manpower.
Edessa lacked
defendable borders and
was short of manpower –
especially after the battle
of the field of blood in
1119.
Muslim unity
Another long-term weakness was the rise of muslim unity in northern syria
Zengi, the Emir of Mosul was an able and ambitious warrior, but he also used
the religious concept of Jihad to unite Syria under the banner of Islam.
He was the first
Muslim leader ruthless
and able enough to
combine the disparate
forces of Syria. In
doing so he broke the
mould of Frankish
invincibility.
By 1128 he had secured
control of the city of
Aleppo
During the 1130s he attempted to capture Damascus, but when
that city allied itself with the Kingdom of Jerusalem he turned his
attention northwards...to Edessa.
Conclusion
Finally, Edessa was lost in the 1144 because it was isolated, the most northerly and least populated
of the crusader states.
It was doomed above all by Count Joscelin’s absence in December 1144 and Raymond, prince of Antioch’s
refusal to help defend the city.
“The consequences of Thomas Becket's death were a victory for King Henry II.” Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1170 to 1179. (45 marks)