AHC/WI: Edessa and Antioch under the same ruler by 1101

[DarkKayder]

One of the main problems faced by the Crusade States was the shitty relationship between the Principality of Antioch and the effective eastern border of Outremer, the County of Edessa.
Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to get both states under the control of the same man by 1101, just in time to take advantage of the crusade of that year, which should have a fair shot at making it through central Anatolia provided that a not captured/kept elsewhere/dead Bohemond is part of the POD.

What would be the possible long term effects for the region?
Who could be the ruler to unite both realms?
Would it get along better or worse with its Christian neighbors?

 

[Evil Crusader]

The easiest way to do it is to have one simply prevail over the other, thus consolidating in a slightly bigger entity; or have Alexius not receive the rumors that the Crusaders had failed and press onwards, where he'll manage to actually change... a lot of things, overall contributing to the Christian cause in the Middle East.

Long-term effects for a 'simple' conquest are actually negative; the bigger state will be antagonized by other Crusader states even more. If Alexius manages to get southwards, he'll act as a (Byzantine) beacon of stability and it's possible his heirs, John and Michael, will be able to provide far more support to Outremer and have a better disposition to do so. Relations... eh, Crusaders were a quarrelsome bunch. Expect them to feud as long as there is no Byzantine Emperor or Muslim ruler breathing down their necks.