To what extent had the crusader states overcome their problems by the end of 1144?
Having succeeded in taking Jerusalem in 1099 the crusaders’ problems were just beginning. Despite some turning back home, many stayed facing problems such as geographical situation, climate, unification under Zengi, internal divisions, military threats, lack of manpower and a different culture. However the period 1097 to late 1144 was, in general, a successful time for the Franks. They consolidated the achievements of the First Crusade and founded four fully viable Latin States, although the loss of Edessa to Zengi in December 1144 was a most serious setback. Two particular features stand out when reading contemporary narratives of this time. First, the huge energy and effort required to establish the Frankish hold on the Holy Land is immediately apparent. The need for almost ceaseless campaigning – against a series of enemies – and exhausting marches and counter – marches is striking; the energy of King Baldwin II is especially worthy of note. Secondly, there were only four appeals to the West for the crusades compared to at least fifteen for the period 1149 – 1186. This emphasises the Franks strength in this first phase of settlement and also reflects the relative weaknesses of their enemies. One of the main problems that the crusaders had to face up was the difficulty of terrain and climate as well as their new geographical location. The region settled by the crusaders, which soon became Outremer consisting of Jerusalem, Antioch, Tripoli and Edessa, had a geographical unity nearly 600 miles from north to south. With these problems also came disease and low life expectancy meaning that there were many short reigns in Outremer. Often there would be a greater frequency of unstable successions and regencies making it hard for any person to make a real impact. However one could argue that reigns were not significantly shorter as the successions of Baldwin II and Fulk were relatively peaceful. There was also serious agricultural inexperience of settlers as the countryside was very different to that of the West and there were uncooperative levels of poverty of cultivation in Palestine. The views of historians Prawer and Smail emerged in the 1950s as they claimed the Latin East was ‘highly segregated society in which the ruling Franks, separated by religion and language, lived in their castles and cities, aloof from contact with an untrustworthy local populace and fearful of external attack from the neighbouring Muslim powers’. However in contrast there is the view that ‘the Franks became highly assimilated with the indigenous population of the Levant and adopted many of their customs and practices, thus becoming “orientalised”.’ So therefore one could argue that there was actually relatively successful colonisation and integration into local Palestinian society despite obvious religious difficulties. As the Fulcher of Chartres said ‘we who were occidentals have become Orientals’. To summarise the problems of ‘geography’ although obviously the climate and terrain had not changed by 1144, the crusaders had overcome such problems in many ways. By living there they gathered different agricultural techniques which were effective and in many cases they actually cooperated with the Muslims. Living in the East meant people learnt to wash more frequently to prevent various diseases and with geographical situation some leaders had more power enabling to make decisions on Outremers’ behalf. Another significant problem that the crusaders had to face was military threat; mainly from the Muslims but also from the Greeks and the Byzantines. Ultimately is seems that the crusaders were largely dependent on the disunity of their opponents as well as the beginnings of the unification under Zengi. Zengi had been beginning to build up his power-base (Mosul and Aleppo) and assert his authority as well as preach jihad. Some have argued that the only reason Outremer was able to succeed was because of rivalries such as the one between Aleppo, Mosul and Damascus that vitally aided the survival of Antioch and Edessa despite defeats and captivities of rulers. The Franks were surrounded in a hostile world amongst the Arabs and Muslims with only a tenuous link back to the West. However with the Fatimid’s versus the Abbasids and the Sunni versus the Shiite Damascus prepared to form alliance with Jerusalem against the threat of Zengi. There were agreements between the Franks and Muslims in the form of templar’s and the crusaders were also able to take over many castles which ultimately were key points for protection. Baldwin I was able to initiate a policy of coexistence and cooperation between the Christians and Muslims and during his reign he was also required to resist constant Egyptian attacks despite his campaigns into in Egypt in 1117/1118. Ultimately the unification under Zengi was too great and after various errors were made by the Franks, on 24 December 1144 the Muslim ruler of Aleppo and Mosul captured the Frankish city of Edessa. Although this suggests that the problems were not overcome by the crusaders by 1144 there is a strong argument that most of these had been but Edessa was a special case. All in all although the Muslims did pose some threat to Outremer the ‘fragmented nature of this danger did much to dilute its menace.’ One of the main problems that the crusaders faced was certainly internal divisions and rivalries as well as Frankish factionalism which can strongly lead to government and politics. Although the rivalry between Antioch and Edessa limited cooperation, and Baldwin I and II had many difficulties asserting their sovereignty over the two northern states there were no serious problems when Baldwin II was captured with his regency of Antioch after Roger’s death at the Field of Blood. There was also rivalry between Bohemond II of Antioch and Joscelin of Edessa at the time of the Aleppo succession dispute, and Raymond of Antioch’s refusal to help Joscelin when Zengi attacked in 1144. However there were also times when the different leaders in the Outremer region were able to cooperate like Count Hugh of Jaffa’s revolt of 1134 being resolved without any serious political repercussions. Linked with this point we can look at the lack of political leadership in government as the crusaders had begun to form a feudal system. Ultimately Baldwin I and Baldwin II had much military and religious strength amongst many of their achievements and although at many stages there were disagreements amongst the Frankish leaders, the ultimate mission was achieved. Finally the crusaders also had problems to overcome with manpower and a shortage of troops as it seemed as though there was a lack of subsequent crusades to combat these shortages. For example there was a considerable amount of loss of life after the Field of Blood of 1119 and Harran 1104. Despite the failure of further crusades Calixtus II was able to persuade the Venetians the besiege Tyre for the Franks which proved to be important. After the success of the First Crusade in 1099 it needed to be decided who would be the head of all states, and whoever this would be was going to face the challenge of being surrounded and outnumbered. In Outremer the Franks were also faced with many strategic difficulties as they were outnumbered and surrounded by enemy. However the construction of castles was effective, particularly so the Krak des Chevaliers and Fulk’s ring of forts around Asclon. The leaders throughout Outremer also used the formation and the promotion of Military Orders (Templars and Hospitallers) to overcome military and tactical difficulties. Therefore to sum up by 1144 the crusaders did manage to overcome these problems as they gradually had more people out in Outremer and there were many leaders for each of the different regions. In conclusion by 1144 the crusader states had largely managed to overcome their problems. Before the events of Zengi taking Edessa, which was a special case, the crusaders had somewhat defeated the problems of climate and terrain, government and politics, internal divisions, manpower and military threat. After the successes of the First Crusade four viable Latin States were founded and the fact that the crusaders only appealed to the West four times proves that the crusaders had overcome many of their problems by 1144.

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[ 1 ]. The Crusades, Jonathan Phillips, Pearson Education 2002, ch. 4, p.g 43
[ 2 ]. As above
[ 3 ]. The Crusades, Jonathan Phillips, Pearson Education 2002, chapter 3, p.g 30