Joscelin I, Count of Edessa
Encyclopedia
Joscelin of Courtenay (died 1131), Prince of Galilee
and Lord of Turbessel (1115–1131) and Count of Edessa
(1119–1131), ruled over the County of Edessa
during its zenith, from 1118 to 1131. He maintained the large and unstable borders through his martial prowess.
He was the son of Joscelin I, Lord of Courtenay, born in 1034, and wife Isabella (or Elizabeth), daughter of Guy I of Montlhéry
. He arrived in the Holy Land during the Crusade of 1101
after the First Crusade
, and entered into the service of his relative Count Baldwin II
, who invested him with the lordship of Turbessel. In 1104 he was captured at the Battle of Harran
. By 1113, he had carved out a semi-autonomous state around Turbessel to the west of the Euphrates
, where the land was prosperous, while Baldwin II controlled the territory east of the Euphrates around Edessa itself, which was depopulated and continually harassed by the Turks. That year, Baldwin dispossessed him of Turbessel, and Joscelin travelled to Jerusalem, where he was given the title of Prince of Galilee
.
In 1118, Baldwin II succeeded Baldwin I
as king of Jerusalem. Despite their former hostility, Joscelin fully endorsed Baldwin II, over the candidacy of Baldwin I's brother Eustace III of Boulogne
. Joscelin was rewarded with the County of Edessa.
As count, he was taken prisoner along with Baldwin II in 1123. He were rescued with the help of fifty Armenia
n soldiers, who, disguised as merchants, infiltrated the fortress where the prisoners were kept, killed the guards and hoisted a Christian flag; Joscelin then left but the king stayed in the fortress which soon was besieged and after some time reclaimed by the Muslims.
After returning to Edessa he was able to enlarge the territory of the county, and in 1125 he participated in the Battle of Azaz
, a Crusader victory against the atabeg
of Mosul
, who were led by Il-Burzuki.
In 1131, during the siege of a small castle north-east of Aleppo
, a sapper
's mine collapsed and Joscelin was gravely injured. Shortly thereafter, he received word that emir
Ghazi II Danishmend was marching against the fortress town of Kaysun
. When Joscelin's own son, the future Joscelin II, refused to aid the town, he commanded that his own army should decamp and Joscelin was borne on a litter before the army. When Ghazi heard of Joscelin's approach, perhaps mistakenly believing him already dead, he lifted the siege and retreated, and thus the warrior prince won a final battle before dying shortly thereafter on the roadside.
Joscelin married an Armenian noblewoman named Beatrice, daughter of Constantine I of Armenia
. Beatrice was the mother of his son Joscelin II. In 1122, after Beatrice had died, Joscelin married Maria of Salerno, sister of Roger of Salerno
, Prince of Antioch
.
Principality of Galilee
The Principality of Galilee was one of the four major seigneuries of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, according to 13th-century commentator John of Ibelin. The direct holdings of the principality were around Tiberias, in Galilee proper, but with all its vassals, the lordship covered all Galilee...
and Lord of Turbessel (1115–1131) and Count of Edessa
County of Edessa
The County of Edessa was one of the Crusader states in the 12th century, based around Edessa, a city with an ancient history and an early tradition of Christianity....
(1119–1131), ruled over the County of Edessa
County of Edessa
The County of Edessa was one of the Crusader states in the 12th century, based around Edessa, a city with an ancient history and an early tradition of Christianity....
during its zenith, from 1118 to 1131. He maintained the large and unstable borders through his martial prowess.
He was the son of Joscelin I, Lord of Courtenay, born in 1034, and wife Isabella (or Elizabeth), daughter of Guy I of Montlhéry
Guy I of Montlhéry
Guy I was the second lord of Bray and the second lord of Montlhéry. He was probably the son of Thibaud of Montmorency, but some sources say that his father was named Milo. Thibaud may instead have been his grandfather....
. He arrived in the Holy Land during the Crusade of 1101
Crusade of 1101
The Crusade of 1101 was a minor crusade of three separate movements, organized in 1100 and 1101 in the successful aftermath of the First Crusade. It is also called the Crusade of the Faint-Hearted due to the number of participants who joined this crusade after having turned back from the First...
after the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
, and entered into the service of his relative Count Baldwin II
Baldwin II of Jerusalem
Baldwin II of Jerusalem , formerly Baldwin II of Edessa, also called Baldwin of Bourcq, born Baldwin of Rethel was the second count of Edessa from 1100 to 1118, and the third king of Jerusalem from 1118 until his death.-Ancestry:Baldwin was the son of Hugh, count of Rethel, and his wife Melisende,...
, who invested him with the lordship of Turbessel. In 1104 he was captured at the Battle of Harran
Battle of Harran
The Battle of Harran took place on May 7, 1104 between the Crusader states of the Principality of Antioch and the County of Edessa, and the Seljuk Turks. It was the first major battle against the newfound Crusader states in the aftermath of the First Crusade marking a key turning point against...
. By 1113, he had carved out a semi-autonomous state around Turbessel to the west of the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
, where the land was prosperous, while Baldwin II controlled the territory east of the Euphrates around Edessa itself, which was depopulated and continually harassed by the Turks. That year, Baldwin dispossessed him of Turbessel, and Joscelin travelled to Jerusalem, where he was given the title of Prince of Galilee
Principality of Galilee
The Principality of Galilee was one of the four major seigneuries of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, according to 13th-century commentator John of Ibelin. The direct holdings of the principality were around Tiberias, in Galilee proper, but with all its vassals, the lordship covered all Galilee...
.
In 1118, Baldwin II succeeded Baldwin I
Baldwin I of Jerusalem
Baldwin I of Jerusalem, formerly Baldwin I of Edessa, born Baldwin of Boulogne , 1058? – 2 April 1118, was one of the leaders of the First Crusade, who became the first Count of Edessa and then the second ruler and first titled King of Jerusalem...
as king of Jerusalem. Despite their former hostility, Joscelin fully endorsed Baldwin II, over the candidacy of Baldwin I's brother Eustace III of Boulogne
Eustace III of Boulogne
Eustace III, was a count of Boulogne, successor to his father Count Eustace II of Boulogne. His mother was Ida of Lorraine.His father Eustace II appeared at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 as an ally of William the Conqueror, and is listed as a possible killer of Harold II; he is also believed to...
. Joscelin was rewarded with the County of Edessa.
As count, he was taken prisoner along with Baldwin II in 1123. He were rescued with the help of fifty Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n soldiers, who, disguised as merchants, infiltrated the fortress where the prisoners were kept, killed the guards and hoisted a Christian flag; Joscelin then left but the king stayed in the fortress which soon was besieged and after some time reclaimed by the Muslims.
After returning to Edessa he was able to enlarge the territory of the county, and in 1125 he participated in the Battle of Azaz
Battle of Azaz
In the Battle of Azaz forces of the Crusader States commanded by King Baldwin II of Jerusalem defeated Aq-Sunqur il-Bursuqi's army of Seljuk Turks on June 11, 1125 and raised the siege of the town....
, a Crusader victory against the atabeg
Atabeg
Atabeg, Atabek, or Atabey is a hereditary title of nobility of Turkic origin, indicating a governor of a nation or province who was subordinate to a monarch and charged with raising the crown prince...
of Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, who were led by Il-Burzuki.
In 1131, during the siege of a small castle north-east of Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, a sapper
Sapper
A sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
's mine collapsed and Joscelin was gravely injured. Shortly thereafter, he received word that emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
Ghazi II Danishmend was marching against the fortress town of Kaysun
Kaysun
The Fortress of Kaysun is located near the town of Çakırhüyük in the Adıyaman Province of rural southeastern Turkey. The fortress was a stronghold of the crusader County of Edessa. In 1131, the Danishmend Gümüshtigin besieged the place. Joscelin I, Count of Edessa, hastened to relieve the...
. When Joscelin's own son, the future Joscelin II, refused to aid the town, he commanded that his own army should decamp and Joscelin was borne on a litter before the army. When Ghazi heard of Joscelin's approach, perhaps mistakenly believing him already dead, he lifted the siege and retreated, and thus the warrior prince won a final battle before dying shortly thereafter on the roadside.
Joscelin married an Armenian noblewoman named Beatrice, daughter of Constantine I of Armenia
Constantine I of Armenia
Constantine I or Kostandin I was the second lord of Armenian Cilicia or “Lord of the Mountains”...
. Beatrice was the mother of his son Joscelin II. In 1122, after Beatrice had died, Joscelin married Maria of Salerno, sister of Roger of Salerno
Roger of Salerno
Roger of Salerno was regent of the Principality of Antioch from 1112 to 1119.He was the son of Richard of the Principate and the 2nd cousin of Tancred, Prince of Galilee, both participants on the First Crusade. He became regent of Antioch when Tancred died in 1112; the actual prince, Bohemund II,...
, Prince of Antioch
Principality of Antioch
The Principality of Antioch, including parts of modern-day Turkey and Syria, was one of the crusader states created during the First Crusade.-Foundation:...
.