Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 01:50, 5 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 Armenian princess Morphia of Melitene. Jerusalem had recently been conquered by Christian Franks in 1099 during the First Crusade, and was ruled by a dynasty from the County of Boulogne in France. Melisende was the heir of this dynasty.

Inheritance

Melisende was designated as the successor of her father before 1128. Though few women inherited a throne in their own right; Melisende's contemparies included Empress Maud and Eleanor of Aquitaine. During her father's reign Melisende was styled filia regis et regni Jerosolimitani haeres and took precedence above other nobles and Christian clergy in ceremonial occasions. Increasingly she was associated with her father on official documents, including in the minting of money, granting of fiefdoms and other forms of patronage, and in diplomatic correspondance. 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 clergy of the realm.

However, Baldwin also recognized that he would have to marry Melisende to a powerful ally, one who would protect and safeguard Melisende's inheritance as Queen and her future heirs. His intention was for a consort for his daughter. Baldwin chose Fulk V of Anjou, a renowned crusader and military commander, and the paternal grandfather of Henry Plantagent (Fulk's son Geoffrey was married to Empress Maud, Henry I of England's designated heir as England's next Queen regnant). Throughout the negotiations Fulk insisted on being joint ruler with Melisende. Baldwin aquiesced to these demands as Fulk was relatively rich (even for a crusader) and would bring much military expierence with him in defense of Jerusalem. Melisende and Fulk soon had a son and heir in 1130, the future Baldwin III. As an indication of Baldwin II's intentions to make Melisende sole queen and to strengthen her position, he designated Melisende as guardian for the future Baldwin III, excluding Fulk altogether.

After Baldwin II's death in 1131, Melisende and Fulk ascended 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 publicly dismissed her authority. This treatment of their Queen irritated the members of the Haute Cour, whose own positions would be eroded if Fulk countinued to dominate the realm.

Palace Intrigue

The estrangement between husband and wife was a convenient political tool that Fulk used in 1134 when he accused Hugh II of Le Puiset, Count of Jaffa, of having an affair with Melisende. Hugh was the most powerful baron in the kingdom, and devotedly loyal to the memory of Baldwin II. This loyalty now extended to Milsende, though Hugh, by strict salic law, held a better claim to the throne. Hugh was a cousin of Melisende, and also a member of the Royal Family. Contemporary sources, such as William of Tyre, discount the infidelity of Melisende and instead point out that Fulk overly favoured newly arrived Frankish crusaders from Anjou over the native nobility of the kingdom. Had Melisende been guilty the church and nobility would not later have rallied to her cause.

In desperation Hugh allied himself with the Muslim city of Ascalon, but was soon defeated by Fulk's military prowess. The Patriarch negotiated lenient terms for peace, and Hugh was exiled for three years. Soon thereafter an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Hugh was attributed to Fulk or his suporters. This was reason enough for the queen's party to openly challenge Fulk, as Fulk's unfounded assertions at infeldility was a public affront that would damage Melisende's position entirily.

Through what amounted to a palace coup, the queen's supporters overcame Fulk, and from 1135 onwards Fulk's influence rapidly deteriorated. One historian wrote that Fulk's suporters "went in terror of their lives" in the palace. William of Tyre wrote that Fulk "did not attempt to take the initiative, even in trivial matters, without (Melisende's) knowledge". Husband and wife reconciled by 1136 and a second son, Amalric, was born. When Fulk was killed in a hunting accident in 1143 and Melisende publically and privatly morned for her him.

Melisende's victory was complete. Again she is seen in the historical record granting titles of nobility, fiefdoms, appointments and offices, granting royal favours and pardons and holding court. Of Melisende, William of Tyre wrote "reseditque reginam regni potestas penes dominam Melisendem, Deo amabilem reginam, cui jure hereditario competebate." Melisende was no mere regent-queen for her son Baldwin III, but a Queen Regnant, reigning by right of heriditary and civil law.

Patroness of the Church and Arts

Melisende enjoyed the suport of the church throughout her lifetime; from her appointment as Baldwin II's successor, throughout the conflict with Fulk, and later when Baldwin III would come of age. In 1138 she founded a large convent in Bethany where her younger sister Yveta would rule as abess. In keeping with a Royal Abby, Melisende granted the convent the fertal plains of Jericho. Additionally the queen also supplied rich furnishings and liturgal vessels, so that it would not be in any way inferior to religeous houses for men. Acording to aurthor and historian Benard Hamilton, Melisende also gave large "endowments to the Holy Sepulchre, our Lady of Josaphat, the Templum Domini, the order of the Hospital, the leper hospital of Saint Lazarus, and the Praemonstratensians of Saint Samuel's."

In 1135, the queen commissioned the Melisande Psalter. Though influenced by Byzantine and Italian traditions in the illuminations, the artists which contributed to it had a unique and decidedly Jerusalem style. Historian Bucher wrote "Jerusalem during the second quarter of the twelf cenurty possesed a flourishing and well-established scriptorium which could, without difficulty, undertake a commission for a royal manuscript de grand luxe ". Melisende must be given credit for sponsoring the artists in her realm, wrote Benard Hamilton.

Second Crusade

With the fall of Edessa in 1145, Melisende and the Catholic Pope called for a Second Crusade. The Crusader expidition was led by French King Louis and the German Emperor Conrad. In their ranks was Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of King Louis. Though many women went on crusade with their husbands, Eleanor was unique. Eleanor led her own host as Duchess of Aqutaine, with all her own vassel lords in tow. Eleanor had herself been designated by her father, William X, to succede in her own right. Simular in circumstances to Melisende. Even though she was married to the French king, by a prenuptual treaty Aquitaine maintained independace, more like an allied nation by marrage then a vassel state of France.

The Second Crusade was a compleate military and diplomatic disaster, plagued by in-fighting and poor planning, all of which would directly lead to the eventual fall of Jerusalem. Conrad had badly advised 16-year old Baldwin III to attack the muslim city-state of Damascus. The other Crusaders wanted to take Aleppo, which would aid them in retaking Edessa. Damascus and Jerusalem were on very good diplomatic terms and held a peace treaty between them. The result of this break in treaty was that Damascus would never trust the Crusader states again, and the loss of a sympathic muslim state was a blow that later monarchs of Jerusalem could not recover from.

Dispite the military and diplomatic set-backs caused by the Second Crusade, in Jerusalem the meeting with Melisende and Eleanor must have had an impact on the two women. Melisende was undisputed queen by right, head of a nation and subject to no man. The palace was well appointed with all the Oriental splendor and comforts western Europe's drafty castles and poor sanitation lacked. From fine quality Persian carpts and wall tapestries, fine silk sheets and clothing, mosaics floors, to bathing and goorming habits, the Jerusalem of Melisende must have seemed a kind of paradise to western Europeans. Eleanor, sure of herself and with the nerve of her youth and renowned beauty, must have been influenced by this. This meeting between the two queens and their simular expierenceses may have engendered a 'kindred spirit' friendship between them. Eleanor may have seen Melisende's successes as inspiration, influenceing her dealings with her husbands and sons, and Melisende may have influced Eleanor's governing style when she went home to Potiou.

Melisende and Baldwin III

Melisende's relationship with her son was a complex one. As a mother she would know her son and his capabilities, she is known to have been particulary close to her children. As a ruler she may have been reluctant to entrust decision making powers to an untried youth. Either way there was no political or social presure to grant Baldwin any authority before 1152, even though Baldwin reached majority in 1145. Baldwin III and Melisende were jointly crowned as co-rulers on Christmas Day, 1143. This joint crowning was simular to when Mlisende herself was crowned with her father in 1128, and may have reflected a growing trend to crown one's heir in the present monarch's lifetime, as demonstrated in other realms of this perode.

Baldwin grew up to be a capable military commander and asset to the kingdom. By age 24 however, he felt he could take some responsibility in governance. Melisende had hetherto only partially associated Baldwin in her rulership. Tension between mother and son mounted between 1150 and 1152, with Baldwin blaming the constable Manassas for alienating his mother from him. Crisis rached a boiling point early 1152 when Baldwin demanded the patriarch Fulcher to crown him in the Holy Sepelchur, without Melisende present. The Patriarch refused. Baldwin, in protest, stagged a prosession in the city streets wearing laurel wreefs, a kind of self crowning.

Baldwin and Melisende agreed to put the decision to the Haute Cour. The Haute Cour decided that Baldwin would rule the north of the kingdom and Melisende the richer Judea and Samaria, and Jerusalem itself. Melisende aquiesed, though with misgivings. This dicision would prevent a civil war but also divide the kingdoms resources. Though later historians critized Melisende for not abdicating in favor of her son, there was little imputas for her to do so. She was universially recognized as an exceptional steward for her kingdom, and her rule had been characterized as a wise one by church leaders and other contemparies. Baldwin had not shown any interest in governance prior to 1152, and had resisted responsibilty in this arena. The Church clearly suported Melisende, as did the barons of Judea and Samaria.

Dispite putting the matter before the Haute Cour, Baldwin was not happy with the partition any more the Melisende. But instead of reaching further comprimise, within weeks of the decision he launched an invasion of his mothers realms. Baldwin showed he was Faulk's son by quickly taking the field, Nablus and Jerusalem fell swiftly. Melisende, her younger son Almaric, count of Jaffa, and others sought refuge in the Tower of David. Church mediation between mother and son resulted with Melisende ganted the city of Nablas and adjunt lands for life, and a solem oath by Baldwin III not to disturb her peace. This peace settelment demonstrated that though Melisende lost the 'civil war' to her son, she still maintained great infuence and avoided total obsurity in a convent.

Retirement

William of Tyre, writing on Melisende's 30-year reign, wrote that "she was a very wise woman, fully exprienced in almost all affairs of state buisness, who comepletely triumphed over the handicap of her sex so she could take charge of important affairs...", and " striving to emulate the glory of the best princes, (Melisende) ruled the kingdom with such ability that she was rightly considered to have equalled her predecessors in that reguard."

Sources

• Medieval Women, edited by Derek Baker, Ecclesiatical Hostory Society, 1978

• 1105 births
• 1160 deaths
• Kings of Jerusalem