King Baldwin III of Jerusalem Was One of a Number of Kings That Ruled Jerusalem in the Twelfth Century. Ho

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Garry Hayden

King Me!

King Baldwin III of Jerusalem was one of a number of kings that ruled Jerusalem in the twelfth century. However, before he took the throne for himself, his mother Queen Melisende ruled in his place. At first this was because Baldwin was too young to rule, but as he became older the Queen refused to relinquish the throne. Although Baldwin was not as experienced as his mother in governing the kingdom, he was ready to accept his responsibility as king of

Jerusalem. It was not very common for a queen to rule a kingdom without a king in the twelfth century. Could a queen in fact rule a kingdom by herself? Perhaps for a short period of time a queen could rule in the twelfth century, but ultimately a king was needed to rule a realm. The

Second Crusade was the perfect opportunity for Baldwin to prove this point. For Baldwin the

Second Crusade was more than just a war, it was a rite of passage. Success could provide him with the backing he needed to claim the throne for himself. As a young man, he needed to prove to the people he was ready to take on ruling Jerusalem. In contrast to the Queen, Baldwin had the physical strength necessary of a ruler. A ruler needs to be able to lead his army into battle.

Furthermore, a ruler needs to be respected by the public. In the twelfth century men were generally held in higher regard than women. Through battle in the Second Crusade Baldwin would be able to establish his reputation in the eyes of the people and assert his authority over both the land and his mother.

Physical strength is a trait that most men strived for in the twelfth century and one that

Baldwin needed to prove he had. For a man must be able to defend his honor with brute force if

1 need be. During the twelfth century weapons and armor such as hauberks, or mail shirts, weighed a considerable amount due to the metal they were made of. In order to wield these weapons and armor, a man would need to be physically fit and strong. A king would need this strength to wear armor for battle. The queen on the other hand would not need to suit up for battle, because she would be seeing none of it. As a man in the twelfth century Peire Vidal writes in one of his verses, ―If only I had a good horse, my enemies would be in one hell of a fix, for as soon as they hear my name they’re more afraid of me than a quail is of a hawk.‖ i All this man needs is a good horse and his enemies are done for. Although this might be an exaggeration, it still shows the courage and valor knights of the twelfth century wished to possess. This knightly courage and ability is further exaggerated in ―Aucassin and Nicolete‖ when Aucassin suddenly slays his foes:

And he laid hand to sword, and fell a-smiting to right and left, and smote through helm

and nasal, and arm and clenched hand, making a murder about him, like a wild boar when

hounds fall on him in the forest, even till he struck down ten knights, and seven he hurt,

and straightway he hurled out of the press, and rode back again at full speed, sword in

hand.

This is the picture perfect image of a knight in the twelfth century. A man who could slay ten knights by himself would be worthy or great praise and honor. Furthermore, after this bloodbath he goes on to capture the count:

The Count Bougars de Valence heard say they were about hanging Aucassin, his enemy,

so he came into that place, and Aucassin was ware of him, and gat his sword into his

hand, and lashed at his helm with such a stroke that he drave it down on his head, and he

being stunned, fell groveling. And Aucassin laid hands on him, and caught him by the

nasal of his helmet, and gave him to his father.ii

This is the strength that people strive for, but in Aucassin’s case this seems too unrealistic.

Slaying ten knights and capturing the leader is no easy feat. Even though these are mere stories, they are stories of men, not women. Baldwin III needed to show he was not just some young boy. He was brilliant man and a great orator. He was taller than most men with refined features.

With yellowish hair and a full beard he had a florid complexion which was ―proof of innate strength.‖iii Baldwin III fit the role of king perfectly and deserved to rule without his mother’s aid. The physical prowess of man is but one aspect that favors kings as rulers.

Respect is one of the hardest virtues to gain from people, but is the most important. As St.

Augustine writes in The City of God respect can be gained in two ways, through love or fear.

The respect of a ruler’s people should be gained by love rather than fear. The respect of a ruler’s enemy should be gained by fear. An enemy should recognize that the ruler is a threat and respect his power and dominance. First a ruler must gain the trust and respect of his people. King

Baldwin III was excellent at doing this, as was his mother Queen Melisende. It was said of

Baldwin that, ―His gracious affability led him to greet even the most lowly by name, much to their surprise. He voluntarily offered an opportunity of conversing with him to anyone who wished it or whom he casually met. If an audience was requested, he did not refuse it.‖ iv By associating himself with the people so closely, Baldwin gains their trust and respect. A ruler separated from the people does not truly understand them and thus they do not truly understand him. This respect can also be gained by women who have a certain social status. However, respect is more easily obtained if one is a man. A man can obtain respect and status through battle, or even through knightly tournaments. One such example is Sir William Marshal.

William, a knight of the twelfth century, became well known for his skill and courage. He gained quite a following when he ―went on crusade, during which he somehow managed to greatly magnify his reputation.‖v Upon his return to England he became married to a wealthy heiress. He was originally a landless knight but became a land owner. He also made his name well known in tournaments where he once ―discovered with his head on the blacksmith’s anvil having the dents hammered out of his helmet.‖vi A woman cannot do these same things and thus is left with only status, given to her by her father or husband, as a means of obtaining respect.

Along with the respect that comes with status, kings can gain the trust of their soldiers on the battlefield. King Baldwin was truly dedicated to his people and showed it during the march to

Bostrum. The march to Bostrum was through the territory of Damascus. Due to a misunderstanding between Jerusalem and the Governor of Damascus, an army of Muslim soldiers attacked Baldwin’s troops at every turn. The Governor of Damascus felt that Jerusalem was dishonoring a truce that had been in place for a few years. Baldwin on the other hand was simply escorting a noble back to Damascus. A perilous journey that ended in failure forced the army led by King Baldwin to retreat back to Jerusalem. The superior size of the Muslim army constantly harassed Baldwin and his troops. The situation looked bleak and the advisors to the

King suggested, ―The king to mount the horse of John Gomani…with the Cross of Salvation in his hand, to look out for his own safety alone.‖ Baldwin refused this advice and responded with,

―He would scorn to save his own life if a people consecrated to God were to perish so wretchedly.‖vii The loyalty he showed to his people was remarkable, and he no doubt was elevated in the eyes of his people because of this event. The Second Crusade itself was a way for

Baldwin to prove himself to his people and gain their unwavering trust. If Baldwin could lead

Jerusalem to victory in the crusade, he would not only gain the loving respect of his followers, but also strike fear into the Turks and gain a certain respect from them as well.

A king is not only a ruler; he is a leader. He is supposed to lead his army into battle. The presence of the king on the battlefield boosts the morale for his own troops and creates intimidation of the enemy. Medieval kings were essential parts of the army, while the queen did not participate in battle. Baldwin who was seeking to become the sole ruler of Jerusalem was aiming to prove himself in battle. Queen Melisende would only be able to appoint an officer in his place to fight for her. This is not to say that Queen Melisende was a bad ruler because she could not participate in battle, but implies she was not fit to rule alone for a long period of time.

As Phillips says, ―The fact that the prime function of a medieval ruler was as a warrior, she overcame her inability to participate in warfare by her formidable political skills and her position as the carrier of the blood-line of the royal house of Jerusalem.‖viii But exactly how long could the army last without a ruler n the battlefield? The army of Nur-al-Din that the Crusaders faced was led by Nur-al-Din himself. Baldwin was waiting for the opportunity to lead his army in battle. The Second Crusade can almost be seen as a rite of passage for Baldwin. Success in the crusade provided strong backing for his goal to become sole King of Jerusalem. He needed to lead a successful campaign against the Turks and show Jerusalem exactly why he should be in charge instead of Melisende. A king will show true dedication to his people and put his life on the line for them. An officer appointed to lead cannot possibly show the same kind of dedication that a king can. He is not emotionally attached to the people and would most likely rather see himself survive than preserve the lives of others. The king belongs on the battlefield and that is where Baldwin longed to be.

The place of a queen in medieval government was next to the king. The king was the

5 more important figure in the eyes of the public and of the army. A queen can have a say in ruling the kingdom, but she should not have the final or only say. Ultimately a king needed to sit on the throne and rule the realm. King Baldwin III wished to prove this during the Second Crusade. He was presented with the opportunity to protect his people and their home from the Muslim forces.

If he could successfully accomplish this he would be seen as a hero in the eyes of his people.

This was Baldwin’s first real war that he could lead himself. He had a role to fill for the well being of Jerusalem. This role could not have been filled by a queen. Melisende could not have fought in the crusade herself. With no king leading the army it fails and then the kingdom will fall in time. Baldwin’s transition from child to adult was made in the Second Crusade. His goal, however, was to transition from secondary ruler to sole king of Jerusalem.

Works Cited

―Aucassin and Nicolete.‖ In Medieval Romances. Ed. Roger Sherman Loomis and Laura Hibbam Loomis. NY: Raudom House, 1957.

Goldin, Frederick. Lyrics of the Troubadours and Trouveres. Gloucester, Mass.: Peter Smith, 1983. 248-61. Print.

Jones, Terry, and Alan Ereira. Medieval Lives. London: BBC Books, 2005. 139-65. Print.

Phillips, Jonathan. The Crusades 1095-1197. Harlow UK: Pearson Education Limited, 2002. Print.

William of Tyre. A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea. 2 vols. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1943. Print.

The Siege Of Jerusalem, 1099 But files of knights turned, prepared for Our heads are full of notions from battle, the ringing bells of memory recalling erecting siege machinery north and south places never known except as song: ―Christian soldiers marching to Zion‖ that hurled huge rocks through the air. or the cantor’s chant on holy days – or cast fat balls of oily fire to fly New York, Paris, London, Egypt, over walls like burning birds of prey! Auschwitz, even, but ah! – tomorrow Amazed, the Muslim leaders watched ―Tomorrow in Jerusalem the Golden.‖ from the eight-sided Tower of David. Take the Holy City from the Arabs! while knights burned Jews in their The tomb of Christ must be regained! synagogue. Cross, or Covenant’s Ark, the very bones tortured Greek Christians to learn of faith demand to rest in peace! where the Holy Cross was hidden, and then In 1099 rumors of the Pontiff’s urgent call killed all who remained, showing no mercy traveled from cathedral to court to town. even for children. Thus was Jerusalem lost. His Grace himself took to the road. News of the sacrilege and cruelty spread. Cities and villages offered up treasure. In August, Muslims, fasting for Ramadan Some Arabs did not believe the wild tales. far away in a Baghdad mosque, saw their Others feared not to believe, and many qadi fled the towns. Gathering multitudes stuffing his mouth with cakes and meat. filled the roads with credulous mobs. Offended and shocked, the people screamed. Rumors arrived first on lips of merchants. But he silenced them, saying: ―Al Quds was Jerusalem shivered. Preparing to flee in outrage! fear, What hypocrite now dares to protest people who had alternatives deserted, such a minor thing as a little lapse in diet?‖ hoping to survive in neighboring places. Yet even outrage did not force the Muslims Most of those who stayed — Muslims, into unity. Factions remained, and officials Jews , Christians, Turks and Greeks – were reluctant to enter a holy war. were stupefied when throngs of knights Thousands approached between the crags of stony hills of settlers from Europe followed the knights. or stirred the desert floor to clouds of dust. Merchants plied the coast, trade flourished, Advancing toward the Mosque of Samuel, and though there were small outbreaks they raised their tents outside the city walls, of violent fighting, yet for many years yet they did not charge. Muslim archers a tentative, cool tolerance prevailed. held their breath, but the Christian horde But Jerusalem was not forgotten. formed a processions around the city walls. Muslim hearts Led by black-robed monks singing songs were filled with secret rage and vowed in they beat upon the stones with bare fists. silence What was this? What man of common sense to take back their treasured Al Aqsa would bloody his bare hands against rocks? Mosque, Was it evidence of their strange, mad fever, face Mecca and pray again within their Holy proof of deep devotion to their Jesus? City. Or to al-Quds, site of Mohammed’s ascent, home of the Jews, holy to all of Abraham’s tribes? Source: http://jeangerard.com/?p=792

King Baldwin III’s march to the city of Bosra. This was about a 50 mile march east of the Jordan River. Baldwin set out with knights from Jerusalem to escort a noble back to the city of Bosra. This city was in the territory of Damascus, which sent out troops to prevent the advance of Baldwin.

Endnotes

i Goldin, Frederick, Lyrics of the Troubadours and Trouveres. (Frederick Goldin , Gloucester,

MA): 1983. 248-61. Print. ii ―Aucassin and Nicolete,‖ in Medieval Romances, ed. By Roger Sherman Loome’s and Laura

Hibbam Loome’s (NY: Raudom House, 1957), pp. 242-283 iii William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea. 2 vols. (New York, NY: Columbia

University Press, 1943.) Print.

iv William of Tyre 138 v Terry, Jone, and Alan Ereira. Medieval Lives. ( London BBC Books, 2005) 139-65. Print. vi Jones 144 vii William of Tyre 152 viii Jonathan, Phillips. The Crusades 1095-1197. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Limited, 2002.

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