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| Melisende proved reluctant to let go of power. She worked to keep her son out of positions of influence, and largely ignored the date of his majority in ]. Baldwin desired a second coronation, but the request was denied by his mother, which triggered a full-blown rift in ]. Complaining to the '']'' (High Court) of the kingdom that his mother would not let him rule, Baldwin demanded that the realm be divided between mother and son. In the subsequent agreement between them, Melisende ruled ] and ] and Baldwin the north. This arrangement, however, proved unstable. The nobility withdrew their support from Melisende, who eventually yielded her territories (except ]) to her son. Surprisingly, the two became close afterwards, with Melisende acting as Baldwin's closest advisor, and even as his regent in his absence. Melisende also retained ecclesiastical patronage over the church in the Kingdom of Jerusalem till her death at the convent of Bethany in 1160 or 1161. | Melisende proved reluctant to let go of power. She worked to keep her son out of positions of influence, and largely ignored the date of his majority in ]. Baldwin desired a second coronation, but the request was denied by his mother, which triggered a full-blown rift in ]. Complaining to the '']'' (High Court) of the kingdom that his mother would not let him rule, Baldwin demanded that the realm be divided between mother and son. In the subsequent agreement between them, Melisende ruled ] and ] and Baldwin the north. This arrangement, however, proved unstable. The nobility withdrew their support from Melisende, who eventually yielded her territories (except ]) to her son. Surprisingly, the two became close afterwards, with Melisende acting as Baldwin's closest advisor, and even as his regent in his absence. Melisende also retained ecclesiastical patronage over the church in the Kingdom of Jerusalem till her death at the convent of Bethany in 1160 or 1161. | ||
| == Retirement == | |||
| William of Tyre, noting Melisande's 30 year reign, wrote "she was a very wise woman, fully expierenced in almost all affairs of state buisness..." | |||
Revision as of 05:00, 3 March 2005
Melisende (1105 - c. 1160) was Queen of Jerusalem from 1131 to 1153.
Melisende was the eldest daughter of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and the Armenia princess Morphia. Jerusalem had been recently conquered by Christian Franks in 1099 during the First Crusade and ruled by the Bouillon dynasty, themselves origionally Counts of Bouillon in France. Melisande was the heir of this dynasty.
Inheritance
Melisende was designated as the successor of her father in 1128. She would join her contemparies Empress Maud and Eleanor of Aqutaine, themselves both designated by their father's to rule in their own right. During her father's reign Melisande was was styled filia regis et regni Jerosolimitani haeres and took presidence above other nobility and Christian cleargy in ceremonial occasions. Increasingly she was associated with her father the King on official documents, including in the minting of money, granting of thiefdoms and other forms of patronage, and in diplomatic coorspondance. Baldwin raised his daughter as a capable successor to himself and Melisende enjoyed the suport of the Haute Cour, a kind of royal council comprising the nobility and cleargy of the realm.
However, Baldwin also recognized he needed to have Melisende married to a powerful ally that would protect her inheritance as Queen and her future heirs. Baldwin chose Fulk V of Anjou, a renowned crusader and military commander and the paternal grandfather to Henry II Plantagent (Fulk's son Geoffery was married to Empress Maud, Henry I's designated heir as England's next Queen Regnant). Through-out the negotiations Fulk insisted on being joint ruler with Melisende, and Baldwin aquiesenced. Melisande and Fulk soon had a son and heir in Baldwin (Baldwin III) in 1130. An indication of Baldwin II's intentions to make Melisade sole queen can be surmized in that he designated Melisande as guaridian for the future Baldwin III, excluding Fulk altogether. This would strenghen Melisande's influence in the kingdom.
After Baldwin II's death in 1131 Melisande and Fulk accended to the throne as joint rulers. However, with the aid of his crusader knights Fulk excluded Melisende from granting titles and other forms of patronage, and publically dismissed her authority. This treatment of their Queen irritated the Haute Cour, who's own positions would be eroded if Fulk countinued to dominate the realm.
Palace Intrigue
The estrangement between husband and wife was a convient political tool that Fulk used when he accused Hugh II of Le Puiset, Count of Jaffa, of having an affair with Melisande. Hugh was the most powerful baron in the kingdom and was devotedly loyal to the memory of Baldwin II and now to his daughter Melisande. He was a a member of the Blood Royal and cousin to Melisande and, according to strict salic law, would himself become king. Contemporary sources, such as William of Tyre , discount the infieldity of Melisande amd instead point out that Fulk favored newly arrived Frankish crusaders to power over the origionally nobility. In desperation Hugh aillied himself with the muslim state of Ascalon, but was soon defeated by Fulk's military powess. The Patriarch negotiated lenient terms for for peace and the rebels were exiled for three years. However an unsuccessful assination atempt against Hugh was attribited to Fulk or his suporters, and this breach in the peace was excuse enough for Melisande's suporters to openly challange Fulk. The queen's suporters overcam Fulk's and from 1136 onwards Fulk's influence rapidly deterorited. One historian wrote his suporters "went interror of their lives". William of Tyre wrote that Fulk "did not attemp to take the initive, even in trivial matters, without (Milisande's) knowladge". However, Melisande reconciled with Fulk and a second son, Amalric was born.
Melisande's victory was compleate. Again she is seen in the historical record granting titles of nobility, feifdoms, appointments and offices, granting royal favors and pardons and holding court. Of Melisande, William of Tyre wrote "reseditque reginam regni potestas penes dominam Melisendem, Deo amabilem reginam, cui jure hereditario competebate". Melisande was no mere regent-queen (for son Baldwin III ) but a Queen Regnant- reigning by right of law and as first born of her father.
Queen's Reign
In the years afterwards she became known as a great patron of the arts and founded a large abbey at Bethany. She and Fulk commissioned the Melisende Psalter, the greatest example of the tradition of manuscript illumination in the kingdom. She gave political support to her sister Alice in a regency question, and was present at her sister Hodierna's marriage to Count Raymond II of Tripoli in 1137. Fulk died in a hunting accident in 1143. When Balwin III came of age, she had him crowed as her successor in the same manner as her father designated her has heir, with a coronation ceremony.
Baldwin III comes of age
Melisende proved reluctant to let go of power. She worked to keep her son out of positions of influence, and largely ignored the date of his majority in 1145. Baldwin desired a second coronation, but the request was denied by his mother, which triggered a full-blown rift in 1152. Complaining to the Haute Cour (High Court) of the kingdom that his mother would not let him rule, Baldwin demanded that the realm be divided between mother and son. In the subsequent agreement between them, Melisende ruled Judea and Samaria and Baldwin the north. This arrangement, however, proved unstable. The nobility withdrew their support from Melisende, who eventually yielded her territories (except Nablus) to her son. Surprisingly, the two became close afterwards, with Melisende acting as Baldwin's closest advisor, and even as his regent in his absence. Melisende also retained ecclesiastical patronage over the church in the Kingdom of Jerusalem till her death at the convent of Bethany in 1160 or 1161.
Retirement
William of Tyre, noting Melisande's 30 year reign, wrote "she was a very wise woman, fully expierenced in almost all affairs of state buisness..."
sources
Medieval Women, edited by Derek Baker, Ecclesiatical Hostory Society, 1978
| Preceded by: Baldwin II |
Queen of Jerusalem with Fulk |
Succeeded by: Baldwin III |