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Reign of Baldwin II

Type Event Region Levant Time 1120–1129

The 1120s were a pivotal decade of Baldwin II's rule over the Kingdom of Jerusalem, marked by captivity and release, the Venetian alliance, the captu…

Timeline

  1. 1120–1122Jerusalem · PalestineEarly in his reign Baldwin II worked to stabilize relations between the kingdom's noble council and the church, coordinating defense with Frankish great lords and local Christian communities. Queen Melisende gradually took part in regency and domestic decision-making.
  2. 1123–1124Jerusalem · PalestineAfter Baldwin was captured fighting on the Antioch frontier, Melisende governed from Jerusalem and raised his ransom. The kingdom continued to function during the king's absence, demonstrating the resilience of the noble regency system.
  3. 1124–1125Tyre · LebanonAfter his release, Baldwin joined the Venetian fleet to capture Tyre, trading commercial privileges for naval support. This significantly extended the kingdom's coastline and strengthened Mediterranean trade links, making it the most important territorial gain of the 1120s.
  4. 1126–1129Kingdom of Jerusalem · PalestineAfter the failed 1126 expedition against Damascus, Baldwin turned to consolidating domestic affairs and ruling jointly with Melisende. By the late 1120s, the distribution of power among the crown, the nobility, the church, and the co-ruling queen had become a central political issue for the kingdom.

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