568258
Description
Mind Map by Alan Thomson, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Alan Thomson
about 10 years ago
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Explain why the crusader state of Edessa collapsed in 1144
- Introduction
- On 24 December 1144 Imad ad-Din
Zengi, the Muslim ruler of Aleppo and
Mosul, captured the Frankish city of
Edessa, leading to the fall of the oldest of
the Crusader states.
- On 24 December 1144 Imad ad-Din
Zengi, the Muslim ruler of Aleppo and
Mosul, captured the Frankish city of
Edessa, leading to the fall of the oldest of
the Crusader states.
- short-term reasons for collapse
- The loss of the county of Edessa, the most
exposed and isolated of the crusader states
was the result of a power vacuum, a lack of
powerful allies, and a weakness of leadership.
- Emperor John of Byzantium and King Fulk of Jerusalem and had
died in 1142 and 1143 respectively, the new Emperor Manuel
was busy securing his throne.
- Jerusalem’s regency government was led by a woman,
Queen Melisende – a relief army was sent north from
Jerusalem but it arrived too late, the city had fallen.
- Jerusalem’s regency government was led by a woman,
Queen Melisende – a relief army was sent north from
Jerusalem but it arrived too late, the city had fallen.
- Emperor John of Byzantium and King Fulk of Jerusalem and had
died in 1142 and 1143 respectively, the new Emperor Manuel
was busy securing his throne.
- The loss of the county of Edessa, the most
exposed and isolated of the crusader states
was the result of a power vacuum, a lack of
powerful allies, and a weakness of leadership.
- Count Joscelin was to blame
- Edessa was also lost because of the behaviour of its Count, Joscelin
- He was actually absent on a raiding party
when Zengi attacked, leaving the city short of
troops, also he had quarrelled with both his
neighbours, Raymond, Prince of Antioch, so
no help was forthcoming from there.
- Joscelin had also quarreled with Raymond II
of Tripoli, leaving Edessa with no powerful
allies or local support.
- Joscelin had also quarreled with Raymond II
of Tripoli, leaving Edessa with no powerful
allies or local support.
- He was actually absent on a raiding party
when Zengi attacked, leaving the city short of
troops, also he had quarrelled with both his
neighbours, Raymond, Prince of Antioch, so
no help was forthcoming from there.
- Edessa was also lost because of the behaviour of its Count, Joscelin
- Long-term, structural weaknesses
- The crusader states, especially those in the north,
also faced long term structural weaknesses of
geography and manpower.
- Edessa lacked
defendable borders and
was short of manpower –
especially after the battle
of the field of blood in
1119.
- Edessa lacked
defendable borders and
was short of manpower –
especially after the battle
of the field of blood in
1119.
- The crusader states, especially those in the north,
also faced long term structural weaknesses of
geography and manpower.
- Muslim unity
- Another long-term weakness was the rise of muslim unity in northern syria
- Zengi, the Emir of Mosul was an able and ambitious warrior, but he also used
the religious concept of Jihad to unite Syria under the banner of Islam.
- He was the first
Muslim leader ruthless
and able enough to
combine the disparate
forces of Syria. In
doing so he broke the
mould of Frankish
invincibility.
- By 1128 he had secured
control of the city of
Aleppo
- During the 1130s he attempted to capture Damascus, but when
that city allied itself with the Kingdom of Jerusalem he turned his
attention northwards...to Edessa.
- During the 1130s he attempted to capture Damascus, but when
that city allied itself with the Kingdom of Jerusalem he turned his
attention northwards...to Edessa.
- By 1128 he had secured
control of the city of
Aleppo
- He was the first
Muslim leader ruthless
and able enough to
combine the disparate
forces of Syria. In
doing so he broke the
mould of Frankish
invincibility.
- Zengi, the Emir of Mosul was an able and ambitious warrior, but he also used
the religious concept of Jihad to unite Syria under the banner of Islam.
- Another long-term weakness was the rise of muslim unity in northern syria
- Conclusion
- Finally, Edessa was lost in the 1144 because it was isolated, the most northerly and least populated
of the crusader states.
- It was doomed above all by Count Joscelin’s absence in December 1144 and Raymond, prince of Antioch’s
refusal to help defend the city.
- It was doomed above all by Count Joscelin’s absence in December 1144 and Raymond, prince of Antioch’s
refusal to help defend the city.
- Finally, Edessa was lost in the 1144 because it was isolated, the most northerly and least populated
of the crusader states.
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