The Crusader States in the 12th century faced political instability, succession disputes, and internal divisions that weakened their unity and made them vulnerable to external threats.

Problems of Succession

Baldwin II’s Death

The death of Baldwin II (1131) created the first major succession crisis in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Baldwin II had no surviving sons, only daughters. His eldest daughter, Melisende, became the heir.

To secure continuity, Baldwin II arranged for Melisende to marry Fulk of Anjou, a powerful French noble with military experience. This marriage created tension between local barons who supported Melisende’s authority and the Angevin presence introduced through Fulk.

Shared Rule

Baldwin II’s arrangement established a joint monarchy between Fulk and Melisende. This was unusual in medieval Christendom, where women were rarely recognised as political equals.

• Fulk’s dominance: Initially, Fulk attempted to exclude Melisende from authority, favouring Angevin allies.

• Baronial opposition: Local barons, notably Hugh of Jaffa, resisted Fulk’s attempts to concentrate power.

• Reconciliation: By the mid-1130s, Melisende had asserted herself as co-ruler, showing the political importance of baronial support in Outremer.

Internal Rivalries

Baldwin III and Melisende

The next crisis arose with Baldwin III, son of Melisende and Fulk. When Baldwin came of age in the 1140s, Melisende refused to relinquish her share of authority.

• Division of the kingdom (1152): A compromise initially split control: Baldwin ruled northern Palestine from Acre, while Melisende governed Jerusalem and the south.

• Conflict: Baldwin eventually marched against his mother, besieging Jerusalem and forcing her into retirement.

• Aftermath: Baldwin ruled independently until his death in 1163, though he retained a degree of respect for his mother’s position.

The Role of Noble Factions

Factionalism was constant within Outremer:

• Supporters of native-born Franks backed Melisende and her descendants.

• Pro-Western factions supported incoming crusaders or foreign dynasties.

• These rivalries weakened the unity of the Crusader States, reducing their ability to mount a coordinated defence against Islamic powers.

Events of 1183–1186

Baldwin IV’s Reign

By the 1180s, succession problems again destabilised Jerusalem. King Baldwin IV (1174–1185), known as the “Leper King”, suffered from leprosy, preventing him from producing an heir and limiting his capacity to rule effectively.

• Baldwin attempted to ensure stability by naming his sister Sibylla and her husband Guy of Lusignan as heirs.

• Many nobles distrusted Guy, criticising his lack of military skill.

Co-Rule with Baldwin V

In 1183, Baldwin IV appointed his young nephew Baldwin V as co-king, bypassing Guy of Lusignan to prevent him from taking sole control.

• Baldwin V was crowned, but as a child, he could not rule independently.

• The kingdom was effectively governed by regents, creating instability.

The Crisis after Baldwin IV’s Death

• Baldwin IV died in 1185; Baldwin V died two years later in 1186, aged around nine.

• With Baldwin V’s death, the succession passed to Sibylla, who crowned herself and her husband Guy as joint monarchs.

• This decision alienated many nobles, particularly those who had opposed Guy. Some supported Isabella, Sibylla’s half-sister, creating a rival faction.

Impact of Rivalries

These disputes fatally weakened the Kingdom of Jerusalem at the worst possible moment. The kingdom faced the rising threat of Saladin, whose leadership united much of the Islamic Near East. The factionalism between Sibylla-Guy and Isabella-Humphrey of Toron prevented a unified political or military response. Source

Muslim Disunity

Early Divisions

In the first half of the 12th century, the Crusader States benefited from significant Muslim disunity.

• The Islamic Near East was divided between the Seljuk Turks in Anatolia, the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad, and various local rulers in Syria and Egypt.

• Rivalries between Sunni and Shi‘a Muslims further prevented coordination.

• This allowed the relatively small Crusader forces to survive and even expand despite limited manpower.

Shift Towards Unity

By the 1170s and 1180s, this disunity diminished as leaders such as Nur ad-Din and later Saladin sought to unite Muslims under the cause of Jihad.

• This shift meant that while Christian internal rivalries deepened, Muslim opposition became increasingly coordinated.

• The contrast between Frankish disunity and Muslim unity directly contributed to the disastrous defeat at Hattin (1187) and the loss of Jerusalem.

Key Themes for Students

• Succession disputes plagued the Crusader States from the death of Baldwin II through to Baldwin V.

• Internal rivalries between monarchs, barons, and factions undermined stability.

• The events of 1183–1186 show how fragile Jerusalem’s leadership was on the eve of Saladin’s victories.

• The Crusaders’ survival relied partly on Muslim disunity; once unity was achieved, the internal rivalries of the Franks became fatal.