The Crusader States: The Latin East

The Crusader States were the network of Latin Christian states established in the Eastern Mediterranean in the aftermath of the First Crusade. The standard English-language study is Joshua Prawer’s The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem: European Colonialism in the Middle Ages (1972), which is now more than half a century old but has not been replaced. The newer scholarship, especially Ronnie Ellenblum’s Frankish Rural Settlement in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem (1998), has refined the colonial reading considerably. The four principal states were the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the County of Tripoli, the Principality of Antioch, and the County of Edessa. The states were ruled by a feudal aristocracy drawn from the leading families of France and Italy, and they were governed by a unique legal system, the Assizes of Jerusalem. The states survived for nearly two centuries, and their history is a central part of the Crusades.

For the broader context, see the main article on the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Assizes of Jerusalem article, and how long the Kingdom of Jerusalem lasted.

The Four Principal Crusader States

The Crusader States were four major Latin Christian states established in the Eastern Mediterranean after the First Crusade. The most important was the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which controlled most of the interior of the Holy Land. North of it lay the County of Tripoli, which controlled the coastal region of what is now northern Lebanon. East of Antioch lay the County of Edessa, which controlled the upper Euphrates region. The Principality of Antioch, which controlled the Orontes valley and parts of Cilicia, was the northernmost of the four.

The four states were closely related, and they were often bound together by dynastic and political ties. The rulers of the four states were usually drawn from the same small group of noble families, and they were often related by marriage. The states were also closely connected to the Latin Church, and the Latin patriarchs of Jerusalem and Antioch were major political figures in the states.

The four states had different political structures. The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a feudal monarchy, with the king at the top and a hierarchy of barons and knights below. The County of Tripoli was also a feudal state, but it was ruled by the Counts of Toulouse, who were usually absent. The Principality of Antioch was ruled by the princes of the House of Hauteville, who were closely related to the Norman rulers of Sicily. The County of Edessa was the most exposed of the four, and it was the first to fall.

The Kingdom of Jerusalem

The Kingdom of Jerusalem was the most important of the Crusader States. The Kingdom was founded in 1100, in the aftermath of the First Crusade, and it survived until 1291. The Kingdom was a feudal monarchy, with the king at the top and a hierarchy of barons and knights below. The Kingdom’s legal system, the Assizes of Jerusalem, was a major contribution to European law.

The Kingdom reached its maximum extent in the mid-12th century, under King Baldwin III. The Kingdom was reduced to a strip of coastline after the Battle of Hattin in 1187, and its capital was moved to Acre. The Kingdom survived for another century, but it was a much smaller and weaker state than it had been before Hattin. The Kingdom finally fell in 1291, with the fall of Acre. The history of the Kingdom is examined in detail in the main article on the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

The County of Tripoli

The County of Tripoli was the second most important of the Crusader States. The County was founded by Raymond of Saint-Giles, Count of Toulouse, in 1102, and it survived until 1289, when it was captured by the Mamluk Sultan Qalawun. The County controlled the coastal region of what is now northern Lebanon, including the major cities of Tripoli, Byblos, and Botrys.

The County of Tripoli was closely associated with the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the counts of Tripoli were often important figures in the Kingdom’s politics. The most famous of the counts was Raymond III of Tripoli, who was regent of the Kingdom during the minority of Baldwin V and who was a major figure in the events leading up to the Battle of Hattin. The County’s relationship with the Kingdom was complex: the counts were often rivals of the kings, but they were also important allies in the defense of the Holy Land.

The County of Tripoli was the longest-surviving of the Crusader States, after the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The County was finally captured by the Mamluks in 1289, only two years before the fall of Acre. The fall of the County was a major blow to the Latin East, and it set the stage for the final collapse of the Crusader States.

The Principality of Antioch

The Principality of Antioch was founded by Bohemond of Taranto in 1098, after the capture of the city of Antioch during the First Crusade. The Principality was the northernmost of the Crusader States, and it controlled the Orontes valley and parts of Cilicia. The Principality was closely connected to the Norman rulers of Sicily, and the House of Hauteville provided a series of able princes.

The Principality of Antioch was a major center of the Crusading movement, and it was the base for several important Crusades. The Principality was also a major center of trade, and it was connected to the major trading networks of the Eastern Mediterranean. The Principality’s location made it a major target for the Muslim powers, and it was constantly under pressure.

The Principality of Antioch finally fell in 1268, when it was captured by the Mamluk Sultan Baibars. The fall of the Principality was a major blow to the Latin East, and it was one of the events that led to the final collapse of the Crusader States. The Principality was one of the most important of the Crusader States, and its history is examined in detail in a number of modern works, including those by Jonathan Riley-Smith and by Steven Runciman.

The County of Edessa

The County of Edessa was the first of the Crusader States to be founded, established in 1098 by Baldwin of Boulogne during the First Crusade. The County controlled the upper Euphrates region, including the major cities of Edessa, Turbessel, and Ravendan. The County was the most exposed of the four Crusader States, and it was the first to fall.

The County of Edessa was captured by the Turkish atabeg Zengi in 1144, an event that triggered the Second Crusade. The fall of Edessa was a major shock to the Latin West, and it marked the beginning of the end of the Crusader States. The County was briefly recovered by the Crusaders, but it was finally lost in 1151, when the last remnants of the County were absorbed by the Zengid dynasty.

The County of Edessa was a major center of the Crusading movement, and it was the base for several important military campaigns. The County was also a major center of trade, and it was connected to the major trading networks of the Eastern Mediterranean. The County’s history is examined in detail in a number of modern works, including those by Steven Runciman and by Jonathan Riley-Smith.

The Other Crusader States

In addition to the four principal Crusader States, there were a number of smaller Latin Christian territories in the Eastern Mediterranean. These included the Lordship of Sidon, the Lordship of Beirut, the Lordship of Oultrejordain, and the Lordship of Caesarea. These smaller territories were usually held by the great barons of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and they were closely tied to the Kingdom.

The other Crusader States also included the Kingdom of Cyprus, which had been conquered by Richard the Lionheart in 1191 and which was ruled by the Lusignan dynasty. Cyprus was a major source of support for the Crusader States, and it played an important role in the defense of the Latin East. Cyprus was also a major base for the Italian maritime republics, especially Venice and Genoa.

The Crusader States also included a number of important military religious orders, including the Knights Templar, the Knights Hospitaller, and the Teutonic Knights. These orders were major political and economic powers, and they played a central role in the defense of the Latin East. The orders’ role in the Crusader States is examined in detail in the dedicated pillar articles on each order.

The Legacy of the Crusader States

The Crusader States were a major political and cultural phenomenon of the medieval period, and their legacy continues to shape the modern world. The states were the first example of European colonial expansion in the Middle East, and they were the first sustained encounter between the Latin West and the Muslim world. The states’ legal system, the Assizes of Jerusalem, was a major contribution to European law, and the states’ architectural and artistic achievements are still visible in the Holy Land.

The most important modern works on the Crusader States include Joshua Prawer’s The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem (1972) and R. C. Smail’s Crusading Warfare, 1097-1193 (1956). Prawer’s work is the most comprehensive and the most authoritative, and it has helped to refine our understanding of the states’ history. Smail’s work is a major study of the military aspects of the Crusader States, and it has shaped the modern understanding of the military history of the Crusades.