County of Tripoli
Encyclopedia
The County of Tripoli (1109–1289) was the last Crusader state founded in the Levant
, located in what today are parts of western Syria
and northern Lebanon
, where exists the modern city of Tripoli
. The Crusader state was captured and created by Christian
forces in 1109, originally held by Bertrand of Toulouse
as a vassal of Baldwin I of Jerusalem
. The County of Tripoli later became a substate of the Principality of Antioch
in the 13th century. In the mid-13th century, its leader Bohemond VI, under the influence of his father-in-law Hetoum I of Cilician Armenia, swore vassalage to the Mongol Empire
, and contributed troops to the Mongol conquests in the region. In retaliation, the Sultan Qalawun
, of the Muslim Mamluk
s in Cairo, attacked and destroyed both Tripoli and Antioch, absorbing the territories back into the Islamic Empire in the late 13th century. The Fall of Tripoli
took place in 1289.
. Although one of the richest and most powerful of the crusading Princes, Raymond of Toulouse had failed to acquire any Eastern possessions in the aftermath of the First Crusade
. Western Lords had been installed in Edessa
, Jerusalem
and Antioch
and Raymond had little success in earning land from the Byzantines
. Desperate for a possession in the Holy Land, he decided to take Tripoli by force. In 1103, he began preparing for an attack on the rich port, accompanied by veterans of the 1101 campaign
.
The Count of Toulouse began constructing a large castle set on a ridge he named "Mount Pilgrim", a few miles from Tripoli itself. The fort is still known locally as Qal'at Sanjil, or "Saint Giles' castle
" in reference to Raymond. The castle remained in Christian hands between 1103 and 1289, longer than any other in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Even with an intimidating fortress and seasoned troops, the siege wore on, outlasting even Raymond who died on 25 February 1105. However, the various components of the siege remained united, such was the lure of the port. It was a strategic link between the French in the south, and the Normans in the north.
Raymond's cousin and companion on crusade, Count William of Cerdagne
, assumed control of the operation, although matters were soon complicated. Raymond's son Bertrand
, considered illegitimate by the church, left Toulouse after acting as regent for a decade and arrived in the Holy Land with a substantial army and a large Genoese
fleet. A succession contest quickly began and Christian in-fighting threatened the success of the entire siege. King Baldwin called a council with Bertrand, his favourite, and William, who was supported by Tancred, Prince of Galilee
. A partition treaty was accepted, whereby William would hold northern Tripoli and pay homage to Prince Tancred, and Bertrand would do the same in the south as a vassal of King Baldwin. With the animosity settled, the King assembled the Christian army for a final attack. Unable to stand against the combined forces of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Tripoli surrendered on 12 July 1109.
The final Crusader state had entered existence and with it, the Kingdom of Jerusalem controlled the entire east coast of the Mediterranean. The partition treaty agreed at the earlier council soon became immaterial, as William died of an arrow wound, amid allegations of murder. Bertrand therefore became Count of all Tripoli, making reality the dream of his father nearly a decade earlier.
in the north and the Beirut
in the south. At the height of Tripoli's power, the Count's authority reached inland to the Krac des Chevaliers fortress. The County was divided into separate Lordships, most based on coastal ports. For themselves, the Counts reserved the coastal strip around the port of Tripoli and the hostile Montferrand
region to the east. A quarter of the county was given to the Genoese, as thanks for their aid in capturing it for Bertrand. He gave the port of Jubail
to a Genoese admiral, Guglielmo Embriaco
, whose descendants remained vassals of the Count until the late 13th century.
However, in times of crisis, the King would often act as regent or guardian of the County, reflecting the close ties between Jerusalem and Tripoli.
were lost. The problem was exacerbated when the Hashshashin
established themselves in the Nosairi mountains to the north. To counter their strengthening Muslim neighbours, the Count gave the Knights Hospitaller
large stretches of frontier land in 1144. The Hospitallers held much of the Buqai'ah plain and were key to Tripoli's defence. Their fortress at Krac des Chevaliers was the most imposing feature in the County.
During the 1150s, the Knights Templar
also acquired land in Tripoli. Their fortifications at Tartus were important in bolstering the Count's defenses.
. Even after a Papal edict instructing Tripoli to fall under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Jerusalem
, it did not. This is likely due to the close political alliance formed between Tripoli and Antioch by Count Pons
.
, the new Count Bertrand was drawn into the Christian
war with the Seljuk Turks. In 1111, Mawdud bin Altuntash lead an invasion force of Muslims against the Crusader states of Antioch
and Edessa
. Bertrand and the King
marched to defend the Christians in the north. At the Battle of Shaizar
, accompanied by Tancred, Prince of Galilee
and the Count of Edessa
, they held back the Seljuk forces and kept the Crusader states intact.
. With Antioch's army obliterated, Count Pons of Tripoli
and King Baldwin II of Jerusalem
rushed north to defend the Christian possessions. The two armies met at the Battle of Hab
, with the Count and his knights from Tripoli composing the right flank of the Christian forces. Fighting was heavy and the result seemed to turn in the Turks' favour. Many Christians fled the field, but the Count managed to battle through the Muslim ranks and find the King. Together with their remaining troops, they continued to battle the Turks and eventually forced a full retreat. Antioch was again kept from Muslim control.
, besieging the town of Azaz
. Count Pons, with the King
and the Count of Edessa
, lured the besieging forces away from the town and onto dry plains. By the time the Turks realised it was a trap, they were surrounded. After long and bloody fighting, the Islamic army was completely defeated.
, Count Raymond's son, Bertrand, became Count. However, in the late 1140s, Alfonso arrived with the Second Crusade
, determined to press his claim on the County of Tripoli. When he mysteriously died in Palestine
in 1148, his own illegitimate son, Bertrand, became head of the movement to take Tripoli.
He challenged the authority of Count Raymond II
, grandson of the original Count Bertrand and prepared to invade. Accompanied by a force of Toulousian troops, he attacked and seized the fortress at Arimah, on the road to Tortosa. Raymond was keen to avoid confronting his relative directly and so sent messengers to Nur al-Din and Unur of Damascus. Just months before these Muslim lords had been Raymond's foes at the Siege of Damascus
, but now he invited them to attack his rival. They obliged, taking Arimah and capturing Bertrand, who spend the next decade in Muslim prisons. After its fortifications had been destroyed, Arimah was returned to the Count.
The Templars sought to unsettle the Count by receiving Guy II Embriaco, Bohemond's former vassal in Jubail
. The two had once been friends but were now enemies after personal grievances. The Grandmaster pledged his support to Guy and, fearing a coup, the Count attacked the Templar house in Tripoli and ordered their lands destroyed, including forests at Montroque. The Templars quickly retaliated, torching Botron and laying siege to Nephin
. Bohemond and Guy faced each other near Botron, Guy supported by 30 Templar knights, but fighting was indecisive.
Throughout the next year, battles were waged at sea along the length of Tripoli's coastline. Templar galleys disrupted trade at Tripoli and the Count's ships attacked the Templar's castle at Sidon
. The final confrontation came in 1282, when Guy and the Templars planned a final assault on Tripoli. They planned to base themselves at the Templar house, but arrived to find the Spanish preceptor, Reddecoeur, was not there. Fearing a set-up, they fled to the Hospitallers, but were forced to surrender. The Count showed no mercy with his captives, having all the Templars immediately executed. Guy's other followers were blinded. Guy himself, along with his brothers and cousins, were detained in the castle moat at Nephin
and left to starve to death.
was assassinated by the Hashashin. He was the first recorded non-Muslim victim of the sect and his death had serious repercussions:
The savage killings in the wake of Raymond's death did nothing to quell tensions between the Christian and Muslim populations in Tripoli.
was determined to destroy the last Christian possessions and turned his attention on Tripoli. Although he had a peace treaty with the County, he attacked it in March 1289. Despite desperate defense operations, the County fell and was merged with Qalawun's empire. The last crusader state to be created, out-lived only by Jerusalem itself, had been destroyed.
Tripoli is lost to Egyptian forces
passes to the Kings of Cyprus and Jerusalem
Tripoli's administration was controlled by officers in several important posts.
Levant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
, located in what today are parts of western Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and northern Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, where exists the modern city of Tripoli
Tripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
. The Crusader state was captured and created by Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
forces in 1109, originally held by Bertrand of Toulouse
Bertrand of Toulouse
Bertrand of Toulouse was count of Toulouse, and was the first count of Tripoli to rule in Tripoli itself....
as a vassal of Baldwin I of Jerusalem
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...
. The County of Tripoli later became a substate of the Principality 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:...
in the 13th century. In the mid-13th century, its leader Bohemond VI, under the influence of his father-in-law Hetoum I of Cilician Armenia, swore vassalage to the Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
, and contributed troops to the Mongol conquests in the region. In retaliation, the Sultan Qalawun
Qalawun
Saif ad-Dīn Qalawun aṣ-Ṣāliḥī was the seventh Mamluk sultan of Egypt...
, of the Muslim Mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
s in Cairo, attacked and destroyed both Tripoli and Antioch, absorbing the territories back into the Islamic Empire in the late 13th century. The Fall of Tripoli
Fall of Tripoli
The Fall of Tripoli was the capture and destruction of the Crusader state, the County of Tripoli , by the Muslim Mamluks...
took place in 1289.
Capture by Christian forces
The existence of the County of Tripoli was due primarily to the determination of Raymond IV of ToulouseRaymond IV of Toulouse
Raymond IV of Toulouse , sometimes called Raymond of St Gilles, was Count of Toulouse, Duke of Narbonne, and Margrave of Provence and one of the leaders of the First Crusade. He was a son of Pons of Toulouse and Almodis de La Marche...
. Although one of the richest and most powerful of the crusading Princes, Raymond of Toulouse had failed to acquire any Eastern possessions in the aftermath of 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...
. Western Lords had been installed in 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....
, Jerusalem
Kingdom of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Catholic kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 after the First Crusade. The kingdom lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291 when the last remaining possession, Acre, was destroyed by the Mamluks, but its history is divided into two distinct periods....
and 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:...
and Raymond had little success in earning land from the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. Desperate for a possession in the Holy Land, he decided to take Tripoli by force. In 1103, he began preparing for an attack on the rich port, accompanied by veterans of the 1101 campaign
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...
.
The Count of Toulouse began constructing a large castle set on a ridge he named "Mount Pilgrim", a few miles from Tripoli itself. The fort is still known locally as Qal'at Sanjil, or "Saint Giles' castle
Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles
The Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles, also known as Qala'at Sanjil in Arabic, is a citadel and fort in Tripoli, Lebanon. It takes its name from Raymond de Saint-Gilles, the Count of Toulouse and Crusader commander who started its construction on a hilltop outside Tripoli in 1103 in order to lay...
" in reference to Raymond. The castle remained in Christian hands between 1103 and 1289, longer than any other in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Even with an intimidating fortress and seasoned troops, the siege wore on, outlasting even Raymond who died on 25 February 1105. However, the various components of the siege remained united, such was the lure of the port. It was a strategic link between the French in the south, and the Normans in the north.
Raymond's cousin and companion on crusade, Count William of Cerdagne
William-Jordan
William II Jordan was the Count of Berga beginning in 1094, the Count of Cerdanya beginning in 1095, and Regent of the County of Tripoli beginning in 1105....
, assumed control of the operation, although matters were soon complicated. Raymond's son Bertrand
Bertrand of Toulouse
Bertrand of Toulouse was count of Toulouse, and was the first count of Tripoli to rule in Tripoli itself....
, considered illegitimate by the church, left Toulouse after acting as regent for a decade and arrived in the Holy Land with a substantial army and a large Genoese
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
fleet. A succession contest quickly began and Christian in-fighting threatened the success of the entire siege. King Baldwin called a council with Bertrand, his favourite, and William, who was supported by Tancred, Prince of Galilee
Tancred, Prince of Galilee
Tancred was a Norman leader of the First Crusade who later became Prince of Galilee and regent of the Principality of Antioch...
. A partition treaty was accepted, whereby William would hold northern Tripoli and pay homage to Prince Tancred, and Bertrand would do the same in the south as a vassal of King Baldwin. With the animosity settled, the King assembled the Christian army for a final attack. Unable to stand against the combined forces of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Tripoli surrendered on 12 July 1109.
The final Crusader state had entered existence and with it, the Kingdom of Jerusalem controlled the entire east coast of the Mediterranean. The partition treaty agreed at the earlier council soon became immaterial, as William died of an arrow wound, amid allegations of murder. Bertrand therefore became Count of all Tripoli, making reality the dream of his father nearly a decade earlier.
The Count's holdings and vassals
The Count presided over the entire coastline from MaracleaMaraclea
Maraclea, also known as Khrab Marqiya or Maraqîya, was a small coastal Crusader town and a castle in the Levant, between Tortosa and Baniyas . During the middle of the 13th century, the possession of the castle was a matter of dispute between the Principality of Antioch and the Hospitallers. In...
in the north and the Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
in the south. At the height of Tripoli's power, the Count's authority reached inland to the Krac des Chevaliers fortress. The County was divided into separate Lordships, most based on coastal ports. For themselves, the Counts reserved the coastal strip around the port of Tripoli and the hostile Montferrand
Montferrand
Montferrand may refer to the following places in France:* Montferrand, Puy-de-Dôme, a former town, now part of Clermont-Ferrand* Montferrand, Aude, a commune in the department of Aude* Montferrand-du-Périgord, a commune in the department of Dordogne...
region to the east. A quarter of the county was given to the Genoese, as thanks for their aid in capturing it for Bertrand. He gave the port of Jubail
Byblos
Byblos is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal . It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jubayl and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades...
to a Genoese admiral, Guglielmo Embriaco
Guglielmo Embriaco
Guglielmo Embriaco , was a Genoese merchant and military leader who came to the assistance of the Crusader States in the aftermath of the First Crusade....
, whose descendants remained vassals of the Count until the late 13th century.
Homage to the King
Baldwin I had been vital in creating the last Crusader state. He had backed Bertrand since he arrived in the Levant and organised the forces that eventually broke the Muslim resistance in the area. However, like the Lordship of Galilee, Tripoli remained outside of direct Royal control. The Counts still owed fealty and homage to the monarchy in Jerusalem, but the King "held no direct tenurial, legal or patronage rights over the Count".However, in times of crisis, the King would often act as regent or guardian of the County, reflecting the close ties between Jerusalem and Tripoli.
The Military Orders
Tripoli's exposed but vital position made it a target for Muslim forces along the length of its borders. In 1137, the Count's personal holdings in MontferrandMontferrand
Montferrand may refer to the following places in France:* Montferrand, Puy-de-Dôme, a former town, now part of Clermont-Ferrand* Montferrand, Aude, a commune in the department of Aude* Montferrand-du-Périgord, a commune in the department of Dordogne...
were lost. The problem was exacerbated when the Hashshashin
Hashshashin
The Assassins were an order of Nizari Ismailis, particularly those of Persia that existed from around 1092 to 1265...
established themselves in the Nosairi mountains to the north. To counter their strengthening Muslim neighbours, the Count gave the Knights Hospitaller
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
large stretches of frontier land in 1144. The Hospitallers held much of the Buqai'ah plain and were key to Tripoli's defence. Their fortress at Krac des Chevaliers was the most imposing feature in the County.
During the 1150s, the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
also acquired land in Tripoli. Their fortifications at Tartus were important in bolstering the Count's defenses.
Religion
As the seat of the Kingdom, Jerusalem's religious figures were supposed to give the lead for the other states. However, the religious hierarchy in Tripoli gave its allegiance to the Patriarch of AntiochPatriarch of Antioch
Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title held by the Bishop of Antioch. As the traditional "overseer" of the first gentile Christian community, the position has been of prime importance in the church from its earliest period...
. Even after a Papal edict instructing Tripoli to fall under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Jerusalem
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem is the head bishop of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, ranking fourth of nine Patriarchs in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since 2005, the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem has been Theophilos III...
, it did not. This is likely due to the close political alliance formed between Tripoli and Antioch by Count Pons
Pons of Tripoli
Pons of Tripoli was the son of Bertrand of Tripoli, and was count of Tripoli from 1112 to 1137.Pons married Cecile of France, the widow of his mentor Tancred, Prince of Galilee and daughter of Philip I of France...
.
Shaizar
As a vassal of the Kings of JerusalemKingdom of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Catholic kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 after the First Crusade. The kingdom lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291 when the last remaining possession, Acre, was destroyed by the Mamluks, but its history is divided into two distinct periods....
, the new Count Bertrand was drawn into the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
war with the Seljuk Turks. In 1111, Mawdud bin Altuntash lead an invasion force of Muslims against the Crusader states 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:...
and 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....
. Bertrand and the King
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...
marched to defend the Christians in the north. At the Battle of Shaizar
Battle of Shaizar (1111)
In the Battle of Shaizar in 1111, a Crusader army commanded by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem and a Seljuk army led by Mawdud ibn Altuntash of Mosul fought to tactical draw but a withdrawal of Crusader forces.-Background:...
, accompanied by Tancred, Prince of Galilee
Tancred, Prince of Galilee
Tancred was a Norman leader of the First Crusade who later became Prince of Galilee and regent of the Principality of Antioch...
and the Count of Edessa
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,...
, they held back the Seljuk forces and kept the Crusader states intact.
Hab
In 1119, the Seljuk Empire again descended on Antioch, scoring several victories, including the crushing of Christian forces at the Battle of Ager SanguinisBattle of Ager Sanguinis
In the Battle of Ager Sanguinis, also known as the Battle of the Field of Blood, the Battle of Sarmada, or the Battle of Balat, Roger of Salerno's Crusader army of the Principality of Antioch was annihilated by the army of Ilghazi of Mardin, the Artuqid ruler of Aleppo on June 28,...
. With Antioch's army obliterated, Count Pons of Tripoli
Pons of Tripoli
Pons of Tripoli was the son of Bertrand of Tripoli, and was count of Tripoli from 1112 to 1137.Pons married Cecile of France, the widow of his mentor Tancred, Prince of Galilee and daughter of Philip I of France...
and King Baldwin II of Jerusalem
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,...
rushed north to defend the Christian possessions. The two armies met at the Battle of Hab
Battle of Hab
In the Battle of Hab on August 14, 1119, a Crusader army commanded by King Baldwin II of Jerusalem won a disputed victory over a Muslim army led by Ilghazi of Mardin since the Muslim army claimed it as a victory...
, with the Count and his knights from Tripoli composing the right flank of the Christian forces. Fighting was heavy and the result seemed to turn in the Turks' favour. Many Christians fled the field, but the Count managed to battle through the Muslim ranks and find the King. Together with their remaining troops, they continued to battle the Turks and eventually forced a full retreat. Antioch was again kept from Muslim control.
Azaz
Count Pons again marched out of Tripoli against the Turks in 1125. Islamic troops had invaded the County of EdessaCounty 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....
, besieging the town 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....
. Count Pons, with the King
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,...
and the Count of Edessa
Joscelin I, Count of Edessa
Joscelin of Courtenay , Prince of Galilee and Lord of Turbessel and Count of Edessa , ruled over the County of Edessa during its zenith, from 1118 to 1131...
, lured the besieging forces away from the town and onto dry plains. By the time the Turks realised it was a trap, they were surrounded. After long and bloody fighting, the Islamic army was completely defeated.
Bertrand of Toulouse (1149)
When the County was created in 1109, Alfonso-JordanAlphonse I of Toulouse
Alfonso Jordan was the Count of Tripoli from 1105 until 1109 and thereafter Count of Toulouse until his death. He was the son of Raymond IV of Toulouse by his third wife, Elvira of Castile, was born in the castle of Mont-Pelerin, Tripoli, in today's Lebanon...
, Count Raymond's son, Bertrand, became Count. However, in the late 1140s, Alfonso arrived with the Second Crusade
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098...
, determined to press his claim on the County of Tripoli. When he mysteriously died in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
in 1148, his own illegitimate son, Bertrand, became head of the movement to take Tripoli.
He challenged the authority of Count Raymond II
Raymond II of Tripoli
Raymond II of Tripoli was Count of Tripoli from 1137 to 1152.He was the son of Pons of Tripoli and Cecile of France. In 1137, he married Hodierna of Rethel, daughter of Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem. Later that year, he succeeded his father, after Pons was killed in a battle with the army of...
, grandson of the original Count Bertrand and prepared to invade. Accompanied by a force of Toulousian troops, he attacked and seized the fortress at Arimah, on the road to Tortosa. Raymond was keen to avoid confronting his relative directly and so sent messengers to Nur al-Din and Unur of Damascus. Just months before these Muslim lords had been Raymond's foes at the Siege of Damascus
Siege of Damascus
The Siege of Damascus took place over four days in July 1148, during the Second Crusade. It ended in a decisive crusader defeat and led to the disintegration of the crusade. The two main Christian forces that marched to the Holy Land in response to Pope Eugenius III and Bernard of Clairvaux's call...
, but now he invited them to attack his rival. They obliged, taking Arimah and capturing Bertrand, who spend the next decade in Muslim prisons. After its fortifications had been destroyed, Arimah was returned to the Count.
Guy II Embriaco (1277–82)
Between 1275 and 1277, Count Bohemond VII was too young to rule and so Bishop Bartholomew of Tortosa acted as regent. However, he was opposed by Bishop Paul of Tripoli, a personal friend of Templar Grandmaster William of Beaujeu. When Bohemond came of age in 1277 and took control of the County, he had inherited the opposition of Beaujeu's Templars;The Templars sought to unsettle the Count by receiving Guy II Embriaco, Bohemond's former vassal in Jubail
Jubail
Jubail , is a city in the Eastern province on the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. It consists of the Old Town of Al Jubail, which was originally a small fishing village, up to 1975 and the new industrial area....
. The two had once been friends but were now enemies after personal grievances. The Grandmaster pledged his support to Guy and, fearing a coup, the Count attacked the Templar house in Tripoli and ordered their lands destroyed, including forests at Montroque. The Templars quickly retaliated, torching Botron and laying siege to Nephin
Nephin
Nephin or Nefin , at 806 metres , is the second highest peak in County Mayo and the second highest in Connacht, in Ireland...
. Bohemond and Guy faced each other near Botron, Guy supported by 30 Templar knights, but fighting was indecisive.
Throughout the next year, battles were waged at sea along the length of Tripoli's coastline. Templar galleys disrupted trade at Tripoli and the Count's ships attacked the Templar's castle at Sidon
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
. The final confrontation came in 1282, when Guy and the Templars planned a final assault on Tripoli. They planned to base themselves at the Templar house, but arrived to find the Spanish preceptor, Reddecoeur, was not there. Fearing a set-up, they fled to the Hospitallers, but were forced to surrender. The Count showed no mercy with his captives, having all the Templars immediately executed. Guy's other followers were blinded. Guy himself, along with his brothers and cousins, were detained in the castle moat at Nephin
Nephin
Nephin or Nefin , at 806 metres , is the second highest peak in County Mayo and the second highest in Connacht, in Ireland...
and left to starve to death.
Eastern massacre
In 1152, Count Raymond IIRaymond II of Tripoli
Raymond II of Tripoli was Count of Tripoli from 1137 to 1152.He was the son of Pons of Tripoli and Cecile of France. In 1137, he married Hodierna of Rethel, daughter of Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem. Later that year, he succeeded his father, after Pons was killed in a battle with the army of...
was assassinated by the Hashashin. He was the first recorded non-Muslim victim of the sect and his death had serious repercussions:
The savage killings in the wake of Raymond's death did nothing to quell tensions between the Christian and Muslim populations in Tripoli.
Fall to the Muslims
Inevitably, constant infighting, lack of resources and Muslim military pressure took its toll on the Kingdom. By the 1280s, only two crusader states remained, the remnants of Jerusalem and Tripoli. The Egyptian Sultan QalawunQalawun
Saif ad-Dīn Qalawun aṣ-Ṣāliḥī was the seventh Mamluk sultan of Egypt...
was determined to destroy the last Christian possessions and turned his attention on Tripoli. Although he had a peace treaty with the County, he attacked it in March 1289. Despite desperate defense operations, the County fell and was merged with Qalawun's empire. The last crusader state to be created, out-lived only by Jerusalem itself, had been destroyed.
Counts of Tripoli
- Raymond IV of ToulouseRaymond IV of ToulouseRaymond IV of Toulouse , sometimes called Raymond of St Gilles, was Count of Toulouse, Duke of Narbonne, and Margrave of Provence and one of the leaders of the First Crusade. He was a son of Pons of Toulouse and Almodis de La Marche...
(1102–1105) - Alfonso-JordanAlphonse I of ToulouseAlfonso Jordan was the Count of Tripoli from 1105 until 1109 and thereafter Count of Toulouse until his death. He was the son of Raymond IV of Toulouse by his third wife, Elvira of Castile, was born in the castle of Mont-Pelerin, Tripoli, in today's Lebanon...
(1105–1109) - William-JordanWilliam-JordanWilliam II Jordan was the Count of Berga beginning in 1094, the Count of Cerdanya beginning in 1095, and Regent of the County of Tripoli beginning in 1105....
, as regent (1105–1109) - Bertrand of ToulouseBertrand of ToulouseBertrand of Toulouse was count of Toulouse, and was the first count of Tripoli to rule in Tripoli itself....
(1109–1112) - Pons of TripoliPons of TripoliPons of Tripoli was the son of Bertrand of Tripoli, and was count of Tripoli from 1112 to 1137.Pons married Cecile of France, the widow of his mentor Tancred, Prince of Galilee and daughter of Philip I of France...
(1112–1137) - Raymond II of TripoliRaymond II of TripoliRaymond II of Tripoli was Count of Tripoli from 1137 to 1152.He was the son of Pons of Tripoli and Cecile of France. In 1137, he married Hodierna of Rethel, daughter of Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem. Later that year, he succeeded his father, after Pons was killed in a battle with the army of...
(1137–1152) - Raymond III of TripoliRaymond III of TripoliRaymond III of Tripoli was Count of Tripoli from 1152 to 1187 and Prince of Galilee and Tiberias in right of his wife Eschiva.-Early life:...
(1152–1187) - Raymond IV of TripoliRaymond IV of TripoliRaymond IV of Tripoli was the count of Tripoli and prince regent of Antioch . He was the son of Bohemond III of Antioch and Orgueilleuse d'Harenc....
(1187–1189), son of Bohemond III of Antioch. - Bohemond IV of Antioch-Tripoli (1189–1233, also Prince of AntiochPrincipality of AntiochThe Principality of Antioch, including parts of modern-day Turkey and Syria, was one of the crusader states created during the First Crusade.-Foundation:...
1201–1216 and 1219–1233) - Bohemond V of Antioch-Tripoli (1233–1252, also Prince of Antioch)
- Bohemond VI of Antioch-Tripoli (1252–1275, also Prince of Antioch 1252–1268)
- Bohemond VII of Antioch-Tripoli (1275–1287)
- Lucia of TripoliLucia of TripoliLucia was the last countess of Tripoli.She was the daughter of Bohemund VI, Prince of Antioch and Sibylla of Armenia. Her brother was Bohemund VII of Tripoli. When Bohemund VII died in 1287, their mother appointed as regent Bertrand of Gibelet. He proved to be very unpopular with the commune of...
(1287–1289)
Tripoli is lost to Egyptian forces
- Lucia of TripoliLucia of TripoliLucia was the last countess of Tripoli.She was the daughter of Bohemund VI, Prince of Antioch and Sibylla of Armenia. Her brother was Bohemund VII of Tripoli. When Bohemund VII died in 1287, their mother appointed as regent Bertrand of Gibelet. He proved to be very unpopular with the commune of...
(1289 – c. 1299) - Philip of Toucy (c.1299 – 1300)
passes to the Kings of Cyprus and Jerusalem
- Peter I of CyprusPeter I of CyprusPeter I of Cyprus or Pierre I de Lusignan was King of Cyprus, and Titular King of Jerusalem from his father's abdication on 24 November 1358 until his own death in 1369. He was also Latin King of Armenia from either 1361 or 1368...
(1345–1359) - Peter II of CyprusPeter II of CyprusPeter II of Cyprus or Pierre II le Gros de Lusignan , called The Fat, was king of Cyprus from 17 January 1369 until his death.-Biography:...
(1359–1369) - James of Lusignan (? – c. 1396), cousin
- John of Lusignan (c. 1396 – c. 1430), son
- Peter of Lusignan (c. 1430 – 1451), brother, Regent of Cyprus
- Juan TafuresJuan TafuresJuan Tafures or Tafurer was a Catalan adventurer in the mid fifteenth century.Owner of a merchant ship, Juan landed at Larnaca in Cyprus in July 1457 when James de Lusignan, bastard son of John II of Cyprus and Archbishop of Nicosia, was fleeing his father, for he had murdered the royal...
(1469 – 1473)
Great Officers of Tripoli
- Main article: Officers of the County of TripoliOfficers of the County of TripoliAs in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the County of Tripoli had a smattering of offices: seneschal, constable, marshal, Chamberlain, and chancellor.These were the Great Officers of the County of Tripoli by office:-Constable:...
Tripoli's administration was controlled by officers in several important posts.