Chapter XI - The Boy King
@Luminous
Funny you should say that about Gauthier...
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Chapter Eleven
The Boy King
In the same year as Baldwin died, the men sent to Makuria returned with ambassadors from the Kingdom. In the chaotic situation that followed they were still treated with dignity, but it was not until the regency was firmly established that discussions were able to get properly underway. Trade discussions and a proposed alliance were both brought to the table and both sides went away happy that this was the beginning of a bright new future. Although a minor stir was caused when delegations began arriving from the other Christian states their neighboured Makuria, by virtue of their being the closest and the strongest Makuria was extended the warmest treatment. This relationship was further improved in 1186 when Salomo (Solomon to the Latins) arrived personally in the crusader states, having abdicated the throne and travelled north to find out more about the new arrivals in Egypt. He was treated with the privileges due to any western monarch and an alliance was concluded to extend Christian control over Upper Egypt. This would have the advantages of allowing far easier communication and cooperation between the Latins and the Makurians, would cement what promised to be a mutually beneficial alliance, extend Humphrey IV’s domains and eliminate the problems caused by having such an unstable region on the border. The Makurians were especially eager to go ahead with the plan because they had come under increasing pressure from the Moslems who fled south following the Christian conquest of Lower Egypt.
So in 1187 a campaign was launched to conquer the remnants of the Fatimid state in Egypt, with Humphrey IV leading the Latin army, whilst Joscelin and Gauthier remained behind to watch over the Kingdom and the young King. Marching south, Humphrey was successful in extending the Latin territory in that region, whilst the Makurians moved north. Although the problem of supply was somewhat mitigated as the Latin army followed the Nile, the mostly Coptic peasantry were largely hostile to them as until now the majority of the Copts who had gone south to the region were those who opposed the Latins and as such gave a biased view of what to expect. Despite this, the Coptic contingent that marched with the army provided a counter-view and evidence of Copts and Latins working together. Many of the people quickly changed their minds and the Moslems found local support for them diminishing. By 1188 the conquest of Upper Egypt was complete, with the territory split between Makuria and Jerusalem, the expedition being declared a complete success and cause for celebration in both countries. The Makurian King Georgios was eager for Humphrey and his army to proceed further south and aid in the conquest of the Blemmyes, a rival Christian kingdom in the area. Humphrey refused, saying that he could not in good faith attack a Christian nation without just cause and that he had to consolidate his gains. Although Georgios was disappointed, he remained gracious and would pursue his own invasion shortly thereafter. The Moslems in the region were scattered, having already been forced south they now found themselves pushed out once again, forced to either head west into the desert or east into the Blemmyes Kingdom from where many sailed to Mecca, destabilising the Kingdom and allowing Makuria the chance for a relatively easy conquest. Although Humphrey declined to participate in Georgios’ invasion, he did help reinforce Makuria and help secure its borders against the Moslem incursions which had become such a problem. Reports of trouble in Jerusalem reached Humphrey about this time and concerned him enough to make him cut short his stay. When Humphrey finally returned to Lower Egypt in 1189 he was hailed as a conquering hero, allowing for the regency to continue its original form, despite the problems it had faced while he was gone.
Whilst Humphrey had been campaigning in Upper Egypt with the Makurians, the Kingdom of Jerusalem faced a serious threat when Saladin once again invaded in 1188. The northern states had once again been defeated in battle, forcing Gauthier and Raymond IV to call up the army to face this grave threat. By the time they made it north, Edessa and the eastern part of Joscelin’s county had fallen, as well as the north-eastern fringes of Gauthier’s lands. Battle was joined and although the Christians only narrowly escaped defeat, neither side could claim victory. However, the next day the Latins decided to fall back despite the protests of Joscelin and Saladin took the opportunity to run down their retreating army, effectively wiping it out. Gauthier was killed in the battle, his fiefs going to his son, although Raymond and Joscelin managed to escape. Saladin, knowing that the Latins were now severely weakened, sought to capture as much territory as he could before they were able to raise another force. In short order he had taken the remaining western half of the County of Edessa, much of the County of Aleppo (including the city itself) and a portion of the Principality of Damascus. Although he planned to use this opportunity to attempt to drive deep into Outremer, Saladin ultimately offered peace to the Latins as news arrived that Humphrey had returned from his campaign in Upper Egypt and the Saracen army had become much weakened from an outbreak of dysentery outbreak that had been passed to them from the captured Christian cities which had been suffering at the time. The Fatimid remnants in Mecca had also struck into the crusader states during Saladin’s invasion, having been in contact with him, threatening the Kingdom’s southern border before Humphrey returned and defeated them. With the defeat of his allies in the south, a truce was made and Saladin was able to keep the lands he had taken so far. Joscelin was furious that peace had been made despite the loss of Edessa and became cold towards Raymond and Humphrey from then on, focusing his energies on the King, telling him stories of Edessa and how it was his duty as a Christian monarch to reconquer it, and also sending envoys to the Christian monarchs of Europe requesting help in defending the Holy Land and regaining that which had been lost. After the invasion, Raymond and Joscelin lost much of their popularity among the Latins, as they were blamed for the defeat. Humphrey became the most popular noble thanks to his victories in Egypt and in Jerusalem itself, although Godfrey was the most beloved in the Kingdom.
Godfrey was still young at this time, but was acknowledged to be a friendly and energetic boy who won the love of many who met him, although some found his lack of interest for academic matters to be infuriating and became annoyed with his constant activity. During his childhood, the three figures who had the greatest influence over the King were Humphrey (from whom he gained a kind manner), Joscelin (who instilled a sense of duty) and his sister Isabella who he was to remain very close to throughout their lives. When the war with Saladin came to an end, Joscelin, Humphrey and Raymond decided it was high time that Godfrey be found a suitable wife. Joscelin suggested his own daughters, whilst Humphrey and Raymond suggested a Byzantine to renew the old alliance. As the marriage discussions went on, Beatrix the daughter and heiress of the late Gauthier III arrived in Jerusalem arrived in the Holy City. A child herself, Joscelin had been given the regency over her lands by Raymond and Humphrey by way of compensation for the loss of Edessa. Joscelin now changed tack and suggested the girl as fit for the role of Queen, adding that it would incorporate Damascus directly into the royal domains, strengthening the throne and the Kingdom. Humphrey had himself hoped to marry one of his two sons to the girl and opposed the plan, but Raymond was won over by the intervention of William of Aleppo who was friendly to Joscelin as he too had had much of his lands taken from him by Saladin. Humphrey reluctantly agreed to the proposal when Raymond suggested that he be allowed to keep the territories in Upper Egypt he had conquered and that one of his sons marry Joscelin’s eldest daughter and heiress. This led to the betrothal of Godfrey and Beatrix in 1190 when he was 13 and she was 10. This was also the last success of Joscelin’s career as he passed away in the same year. The Ibelins had also tried to be heard on the issue of the King’s marriage, but were blocked from participating by Humphrey and Joscelin, although Raymond did pressure for them to be allowed to marry Ida of Cyprus, widowed heiress to the aged Matthew of Cyprus, into their family, a request which was grant in return for their agreement on the King’s marriage.
Funny you should say that about Gauthier...
---
Chapter Eleven
The Boy King
In the same year as Baldwin died, the men sent to Makuria returned with ambassadors from the Kingdom. In the chaotic situation that followed they were still treated with dignity, but it was not until the regency was firmly established that discussions were able to get properly underway. Trade discussions and a proposed alliance were both brought to the table and both sides went away happy that this was the beginning of a bright new future. Although a minor stir was caused when delegations began arriving from the other Christian states their neighboured Makuria, by virtue of their being the closest and the strongest Makuria was extended the warmest treatment. This relationship was further improved in 1186 when Salomo (Solomon to the Latins) arrived personally in the crusader states, having abdicated the throne and travelled north to find out more about the new arrivals in Egypt. He was treated with the privileges due to any western monarch and an alliance was concluded to extend Christian control over Upper Egypt. This would have the advantages of allowing far easier communication and cooperation between the Latins and the Makurians, would cement what promised to be a mutually beneficial alliance, extend Humphrey IV’s domains and eliminate the problems caused by having such an unstable region on the border. The Makurians were especially eager to go ahead with the plan because they had come under increasing pressure from the Moslems who fled south following the Christian conquest of Lower Egypt.
So in 1187 a campaign was launched to conquer the remnants of the Fatimid state in Egypt, with Humphrey IV leading the Latin army, whilst Joscelin and Gauthier remained behind to watch over the Kingdom and the young King. Marching south, Humphrey was successful in extending the Latin territory in that region, whilst the Makurians moved north. Although the problem of supply was somewhat mitigated as the Latin army followed the Nile, the mostly Coptic peasantry were largely hostile to them as until now the majority of the Copts who had gone south to the region were those who opposed the Latins and as such gave a biased view of what to expect. Despite this, the Coptic contingent that marched with the army provided a counter-view and evidence of Copts and Latins working together. Many of the people quickly changed their minds and the Moslems found local support for them diminishing. By 1188 the conquest of Upper Egypt was complete, with the territory split between Makuria and Jerusalem, the expedition being declared a complete success and cause for celebration in both countries. The Makurian King Georgios was eager for Humphrey and his army to proceed further south and aid in the conquest of the Blemmyes, a rival Christian kingdom in the area. Humphrey refused, saying that he could not in good faith attack a Christian nation without just cause and that he had to consolidate his gains. Although Georgios was disappointed, he remained gracious and would pursue his own invasion shortly thereafter. The Moslems in the region were scattered, having already been forced south they now found themselves pushed out once again, forced to either head west into the desert or east into the Blemmyes Kingdom from where many sailed to Mecca, destabilising the Kingdom and allowing Makuria the chance for a relatively easy conquest. Although Humphrey declined to participate in Georgios’ invasion, he did help reinforce Makuria and help secure its borders against the Moslem incursions which had become such a problem. Reports of trouble in Jerusalem reached Humphrey about this time and concerned him enough to make him cut short his stay. When Humphrey finally returned to Lower Egypt in 1189 he was hailed as a conquering hero, allowing for the regency to continue its original form, despite the problems it had faced while he was gone.
Whilst Humphrey had been campaigning in Upper Egypt with the Makurians, the Kingdom of Jerusalem faced a serious threat when Saladin once again invaded in 1188. The northern states had once again been defeated in battle, forcing Gauthier and Raymond IV to call up the army to face this grave threat. By the time they made it north, Edessa and the eastern part of Joscelin’s county had fallen, as well as the north-eastern fringes of Gauthier’s lands. Battle was joined and although the Christians only narrowly escaped defeat, neither side could claim victory. However, the next day the Latins decided to fall back despite the protests of Joscelin and Saladin took the opportunity to run down their retreating army, effectively wiping it out. Gauthier was killed in the battle, his fiefs going to his son, although Raymond and Joscelin managed to escape. Saladin, knowing that the Latins were now severely weakened, sought to capture as much territory as he could before they were able to raise another force. In short order he had taken the remaining western half of the County of Edessa, much of the County of Aleppo (including the city itself) and a portion of the Principality of Damascus. Although he planned to use this opportunity to attempt to drive deep into Outremer, Saladin ultimately offered peace to the Latins as news arrived that Humphrey had returned from his campaign in Upper Egypt and the Saracen army had become much weakened from an outbreak of dysentery outbreak that had been passed to them from the captured Christian cities which had been suffering at the time. The Fatimid remnants in Mecca had also struck into the crusader states during Saladin’s invasion, having been in contact with him, threatening the Kingdom’s southern border before Humphrey returned and defeated them. With the defeat of his allies in the south, a truce was made and Saladin was able to keep the lands he had taken so far. Joscelin was furious that peace had been made despite the loss of Edessa and became cold towards Raymond and Humphrey from then on, focusing his energies on the King, telling him stories of Edessa and how it was his duty as a Christian monarch to reconquer it, and also sending envoys to the Christian monarchs of Europe requesting help in defending the Holy Land and regaining that which had been lost. After the invasion, Raymond and Joscelin lost much of their popularity among the Latins, as they were blamed for the defeat. Humphrey became the most popular noble thanks to his victories in Egypt and in Jerusalem itself, although Godfrey was the most beloved in the Kingdom.
Godfrey was still young at this time, but was acknowledged to be a friendly and energetic boy who won the love of many who met him, although some found his lack of interest for academic matters to be infuriating and became annoyed with his constant activity. During his childhood, the three figures who had the greatest influence over the King were Humphrey (from whom he gained a kind manner), Joscelin (who instilled a sense of duty) and his sister Isabella who he was to remain very close to throughout their lives. When the war with Saladin came to an end, Joscelin, Humphrey and Raymond decided it was high time that Godfrey be found a suitable wife. Joscelin suggested his own daughters, whilst Humphrey and Raymond suggested a Byzantine to renew the old alliance. As the marriage discussions went on, Beatrix the daughter and heiress of the late Gauthier III arrived in Jerusalem arrived in the Holy City. A child herself, Joscelin had been given the regency over her lands by Raymond and Humphrey by way of compensation for the loss of Edessa. Joscelin now changed tack and suggested the girl as fit for the role of Queen, adding that it would incorporate Damascus directly into the royal domains, strengthening the throne and the Kingdom. Humphrey had himself hoped to marry one of his two sons to the girl and opposed the plan, but Raymond was won over by the intervention of William of Aleppo who was friendly to Joscelin as he too had had much of his lands taken from him by Saladin. Humphrey reluctantly agreed to the proposal when Raymond suggested that he be allowed to keep the territories in Upper Egypt he had conquered and that one of his sons marry Joscelin’s eldest daughter and heiress. This led to the betrothal of Godfrey and Beatrix in 1190 when he was 13 and she was 10. This was also the last success of Joscelin’s career as he passed away in the same year. The Ibelins had also tried to be heard on the issue of the King’s marriage, but were blocked from participating by Humphrey and Joscelin, although Raymond did pressure for them to be allowed to marry Ida of Cyprus, widowed heiress to the aged Matthew of Cyprus, into their family, a request which was grant in return for their agreement on the King’s marriage.
