Queen Melisende

With Fulk of Anjou dead from a riding accident in 1143, Melisende now had full control over the Kingdom of Jerusalem with her son Baldwin III still only 13 years old. (The illustration is of their dual coronation.)

Her first changes were to replace appointees to government that Fulk had chosen. Not allowed as a woman to be head of the army, she chose Manasses of Hierges, her recently arrived cousin, as constable in control of the military. Manasses was a loyal supporter whom she could trust completely.

Her inner circle also included Philip of Milly (who would be connected to the Templars), Elinand of Tiberias whom Melisende helped become Prince of Galilee, and Rohard the Elder (whom she had been angry with earlier, for good reason).

In 1144, Baldwin asserted himself. The residents of Wadi Musa in southern Jordan decided to rebel against Merlisende's rule and called Muslim forces to help them. Baldwin acted by cutting down all their olive trees, their livelihood, and offered to pardon them for their rebellion. Wadi Musa dismissed the Muslims.

Melisende was not ready for Baldwin to be seen as the ruler, so the next time military action was needed—later in 1144, in fact, when Edessa came under siege by Zinged dynasty Muslims—an appeal to Baldwin by the Edessans was intercepted by his mother who had Manasses go to Edessa without Baldwin's involvement.

Then, in 1147, another opportunity for a military action created a chaotic situation.

The governor of Bosra, Altuntash, wanted to secede from the ruler of Damascus, the Mamluk Mu'in ad-Din Unur. He asked for help from the Franks, offering them his towns and territories if they would help him rule the Hauran (a region that spans parts of southern Syria and northern Jordan). This was risky for more than one reason. Bosra was farther east than the Franks had tried to exert any influence, and until that time Unur had been a peaceful neighbor.

Hauran had a Christian population, and Melisende's councilors thought the idea was sound, so they assembled an army. The Franks also sent a messenger to Unur to inform him that they intended to support Altuntash's claim. Unur sent the word back that he did not wish them to proceed, and would even compensate them financially for their expenses if only they would call off the plan. The messenger, Bernard Vacher, who had served Baldwin's father and later stayed with Baldwin, informed the young king of Unur's intent.

Baldwin saw the wisdom of not going any further. The assembled army, however, saw it differently. They had been looking forward to the opportunity for plunder, and loudly expressed their disappointment in the king's decision. The still-teenaged king acquiesced, and the army headed east.

How big a mistake that was will be the subject for tomorrow's post. See you then.