Charles' Jerusalem

After Maria of Antioch "sold" her claim to Queen of Jerusalem to Charles of Anjou, however illegal it was to the High Court of Jerusalem, he intended to take it over. 

Charles might have been emboldened by a few things. It was understood that Maria had the better claim than Hugh III of Cyprus, Pope Gregory X had felt her claim strong enough to authorize an investigation into the situation, and Gregory apparently had a low opinion of Hugh. Also, Gregory wanted a new Crusade, and Charles had a strong military at his command.

Also, the Knights Templar supported Maria for whatever reason (suggestions are that they thought she would not be a strong military-oriented ruler and the Knights would be able to do as they liked, or that they knew of her interest in selling her claim to Charles and they wanted his military might to fight Muslims).

Gregory X was succeeded by Pope John XXI, who supported Charles.

Charles sent an emissary, Roger of San Severino, to Acre (the capital) to declare Charles' rule. The bailiff of Acre, Balian of Ibelin, Lord of Arsuf, refused to let him enter the citadel. Roger produced documents signed by Charles, Maria, and Pope John XXI authorizing Roger to enter Jerusalem. The Knights Templar and the Venetians also spoke on Roger's behalf. The Knights Hospitaller and the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem would not get involved.

Roger flew Charles' standard above the city and started demanding goths of loyalty to Charles. The High Court was called upon to determine the propriety of this change. The barons wanted to be released from their oaths of loyalty to Hugh. The kingdom was thrown into chaos at the abrupt change. Roger of San Severino became bailiff of Jerusalem until 1282.

One important point to note is that the reason the position of King of Jerusalem needed to be filled in the first place was because of the death of the young previous king, Conradin, who had ben beheaded in battle a few years before (see illustration). Who beheaded him, you should ask? It was Charles of Anjou, the man who was now declaring himself King of Jerusalem!

What? How? Why was Charles like this? We owe it to ourselves to take a closer look at this man and his effect on Europe and the Holy Land. We'll start that journey next time.