Joscelin I, Count of Edessa

Joscelin I or Joscelyn I, also known as Joscelin of Courtenay (French: Jocelyn or Josselin; c.1080 – August 1131) was a Frankish nobleman of the House of Courtenay who ruled as the lord of Turbessel (1101–1113), prince of Galilee (1113–1119) and count of Edessa (1118–1131). Joscelin came to the Levant in the aftermath of the 1101 Crusade, and served his cousin Baldwin of Bourcq, count of Edessa, receiving lands west of the Euphrates. By 1113, these had formed into a wealthy lordship around Turbessel, but he was dispossessed by Baldwin soon after. In light of this event, he went to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, where the king, another Baldwin, made him the Prince of Galilee.

In 1118, King Baldwin I of Jerusalem died, and Baldwin of Bourcq stood to succeed him. Joscelin supported Baldwin and was in exchange granted the County of Edessa in 1119. As count, Joscelin commanded significant support from his Armenian subjects, and fought constant wars with his neighbouring Muslim rivals in the 1120s. He was captured by Belek Ghazi in 1122, and was joined by Baldwin in 1123. He managed to break out in the Autumn, but failed to immediately secure Baldwin's release as well. Belek's death in 1124 allowed Baldwin to be ransomed from his successor, Timurtash. Joscelin clashed with Bohemond of Antioch after his arrival in 1126, though they reconciled in 1127. Bohemond's death in 1130 saw a short crisis with his widow, Alice, which ended in Joscelin becoming regent over Bohemond's young daughter.

Zengi took advantage of the succession crisis in Aleppo after the death of Aqsunqur al-Bursuqi and his son to become the master of Syria (including Aleppo) and Damascus by 1129, and began wars against the Crusader states, including Edessa. Joscelin began threatening Aleppo, but he was gravely injured during a siege. Joscelin marched his army to relieve the besieged fortress of Kaysun, and died soon after. Joscelin was the penultimate ruler of the County of Edessa before its capture by Zengi's son, Nur ad-Din. During his reign, Joscelin had dealt with religious and ethnic differences in the county, including overseeing a synod in 1129, and making grants to the Hospitallers and monasteries. He was seen as something close to an intermediary by the Muslim powers in the region.

Early career

Joscelin was the second son of Joscelin I of Courtenay and Elizabeth, daughter of Guy I of Montlhéry. Nothing is known of Joscelin's birth or early years, other than that he was from the Gâtinais, but Nicholson suggests he may have been about 20 years old by 1101. During the Crusade of 1101, Joscelin served in the army of Stephen of Blois alongside Harpin of Bourges. The crusaders were annihilated, and when Joscelin made his way to the levant, he had no patrimony, and few resources. Runciman describes him as the "younger and penniless son of the lord of Courtenay".

Lord of Turbessel

A coin depicting an armed man holding a sword

A coin of Baldwin struck in Edessa. 22 mm diameter.

Joscelin entered first into the service of his cousin Count Baldwin II of Edessa, who invested him with the lordship of Turbessel. His lordship included Cyrrhus (Coricium), Duluk, Turbessel, and Aintab. They then attacked the environs of Aleppo and seized Muslimiye, some distance north. From 1103 to 1104, Joscelin attacked Basarfuth and Kafarlatha, capturing the former. In 1104, before May, Joscelin occupied Marash. In May of 1104, Baldwin suffered an invasion from Sökmen, the ruler of Mardin and Jikirmish, the atabeg of Mosul. After sending for aid, Baldwin was joined by Joscelin, Bohemond of Antioch, and Tancred. AThe four leaders moved to attack harran, but they were lured out by a feigned retreat and ambushed. The Edessene portion routed, with Joscelin and Baldwin being captured, but the Antiochenes escaped. As Bohemond left for Europe, Tancred became ruler of Antioch, and he appointed Richard of Salerno as regent. Richard rapidly lost the loyalty of his Armenian subjects and the county's countryside was raided in 1105, 1106, and 1107, marking considerable vulnerability for the county.

After passing into the hands of Ilghazi, ruler of Mardin, Joscelin was ransomed for 20,000 dinars in 1107, at which point he began attempting to secure the release of his lord, in the hands of Jawali Saqawa, who demanded an alliance against Mawdud, and a ransom. After gathering 30,000 dinars, Joscelin approached Jawali and offered himself as a hostage so that Baldwin would be released to raise the remainder of the ransom (60,000 dinars). Jawali agreed, and Baldwin was released in the summer of 1108. He later released Joscelin as well, correctly trusting that he would raise the required funds.

Baldwin demanded the return of Edessa, but Tancred refused as he would not pay homage for it, and "[his] selfishness blinded him to the fact that, he and Baldwin of Le Bourcq, by taking the side of the rebel Jawali, could deal the Seljukid power a dangerous blow". Baldwin went to Turbessel and joined with Joscelin, where they then sought assistance from Jawali. After a short skirmish, Tancred, Baldwin, and Joscelin parleyed, but no agreement was met. Later, Baldwin and Joscelin, with a few hundred knights, joined Jawali's army of about 500 Turks and more Bedouins, at Manbij. When Tancred came with his own army, Joscelin, Baldwin, and Jawali were defeated. In 1109, King Baldwin I of Jerusalem reconciled the two sides.

From 1110 to 1112, Baldwin's territory east of the Euphrates was attacked by Mawdud of Mosul. In 1110, Joscelin was sent as a messenger to King Baldwin begging his aid as Mawdud besieged Edessa, a threat that was ultimately defeated. Baldwin besieged Beirut heading northwards, and was assisted by Joscelin. In 1112, Mawdud launched a siege of Edessa, but was repulsed. After the siege failed, Mawdud advanced upon Saruj, then garrisoned by Joscelin, who sallied out and routed Mawdud's army. After the Turks then returned to invest Edessa, Joscelin discovered a plot from the Armenians to overthrow Baldwin, and helped him thwart the plan.

Prince of Galilee and Tiberias

By 1113, Joscelin had carved out a semi-autonomous state around Turbessel to the west of the Euphrates, while Baldwin's lands around Edessa itself were devastated. Due to fears of another invasion, agricultural workers slackened their work, which was among multiple reasons for a famine in 1113. Perhaps because of jealousy, and also due to rumors of betrayal and impudence, Baldwin began to distrust Joscelin. Feigning sickness, he convinced Joscelin to travel to Edessa to discuss the succession, before imprisoning him and forcing him to renounce Turbessel.

Joscelin travelled to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, where he was made the prince of Galilee. Around this time, Joscelin had his son, Joscelin II. Joscelin launched frequent and successful raids towards Tyre. Toghtekin of Damascus and Mawdud invaded Jerusalem in the summer of 1113, and after failed negotiations, Baldwin and Joscelin set out to meet him in battle. The Franks were lured out, and defeated at the Battle of Al-Sannabra. However, the Turks did not advance further into Jerusalem, as Baldwin received expected reinforcements from Pons of Tripoli and Roger of Antioch.Template:Refn

Little else is known about Joscelin's rule in Galilee and Tiberias, but reportedly, he victoriously resisted the Turks at this time, and granted lands to the church. In 1118, King Baldwin I of Jerusalem died. When the nobles assembled to discuss who should succeed him, Joscelin urged them to elect Baldwin of Bourcq while reminding them that he had been dispossessed by Baldwin of Bourcq and had little reason to like him. There may have been a rapprochement with Baldwin. His voice was greatly influential, as he had become a powerful baron in Jerusalem. Baldwin II thus prevailed over Baldwin I's brother Eustace III of Boulogne and became king. In retaliation to Toghtekin's raid against Tiberias and Ascalon in May 1118, Joscelin and Baldwin counterattacked and defeated Toghtekin's son at Daraa. Joscelin then devastated Bosra, and launched a raid against a Bedouin tribe in Transjordan alongside 120 cavalry. It was unsuccessful, as Joscelin lost his way and his allies were ambushed.

Count of Edessa

First years

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The crusader states around 1135

With Baldwin tied up in Jerusalem, Joscelin was rewarded with the County of Edessa in late August or early September of 1119, but he delayed his travel to Edessa to defend Galilee, as Edessa was governed by Waleran, Lord of Birejik. To receive the county, Joscelin swore an oath of fealty to the new king.

Joscelin's new crusader state was arranged in a manner similar to feudalism, with lordships in Marash, Saruj, Aintab, Birejik, the noble Waleran (or Galeran) of le Puiset, or other lords established by his predecessors. Throughout his reign, he would align himself with the Armenian population of the county, winning their support and aid. Joscelin's accession to the county came in the immediate aftermath the decisive Christian defeat at the Battle of Ager Sanguinis, in which the entire Antiochene army was destroyed. Antioch's prince Roger had sent a distress signal, but he had not waited for their arrival and was defeated and killed without their aid.Template:Refn

Joscelin devastated the Dhahab valley, Manbij, and the territory to the east of Aleppo, before being repulsed before Ravenden. Ilghazi of Aleppo launched an opportunistic invasion of the county in light of this defeat in May of 1120. Joscelin raised an army at Behesni and attacked the Muslim convoy, dealing heavy casualties, but could not prevent Ilghazi from continuing towards Antioch, where he besieged Zardana. Toghtekin of Damascus arrived with reinforcements for the Turks, but Baldwin raised an army and rushed north, joining with Joscelin's forces, and signing a truce with Ilghazi.

Believing that he was not obligated by the truce, Joscelin ravaged Naqirah and the Dhahab valley once again, before attacking Bizaah and burning a section of its walls. The citizens paid him off. The Frankish offensive continued in the Summer of 1121 and eventually threatened Aleppo itself so severely that Ilghazi offered a truce, sending his son to negotiate for him. With Joscelin present in the parley and Baldwin leading the crusader coalition, had Ilghazi relinquish his claims to castles within the Principality of Antioch that he had seized following Ager Sanguinis, including Sarmin, Zardana, and Atarib. In June of 1122, Joscelin and Baldwin repulsed another attempted siege of Zardana from Ilghazi. Around this time, Joscelin married Maria of Salerno, sister of the late Roger of Salerno. Ilghazi died on November 8, 1122.

Second Captivity

Belek Ghazi besieged Edessa in late 1122 but was unsuccessful, finding the resistance too stout. As he began to retreat, Waleran requested to Joscelin that they ambush Belek, as he was concerned over his presence in the county. With a hundred knights, the two set out, but Belek lead them to marshy territory near Saruj. The Franks were mired in the bog, and Joscelin was taken prisoner alongside Waleran and between 25 and 60 knights on September 18. Despite his imprisonment, the Edessene knights were able to continue raiding Aleppo.

Baldwin II was concerned by these developments, and after assuming government in Edessa, launched a counterattack, seizing Bizaah. However, Baldwin himself was captured on April 18 1123 while on a campaign against Belek, and joined Joscelin at Kharput. They were rescued by fifty Armenian soldiers hired by Queen Morphia; they disguised themselves as merchants and infiltrated the fortress where the prisoners were kept. The Armenians killed the guards and freed the hostages. However, the castle was soon besieged by a large Artuqid force and it was decided that Joscelin should seek assistance.

Return

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The Castle of Edessa (Urfa), built by the Romans. It had to withstand multiple sieges during the county's lifetime.

Joscelin was accompanied by three servants when he made his escape, having to slip past Belek's lines and then cross the Euphrates. With an Armenian guide, he made his way to Turbessel, then leaving in August of 1123 to hurry towards Jerusalem. Once there, he made a fervent and successful appeal for aid, but once an army was assembled, Kharput had already been reclaimed by the Artuqids. Baldwin was moved to Harran.

In late 1123 and early 1124, Joscelin made little headway; he laid waste to Aleppo's hinterlands, and suffered a counterattack at Azaz, but repulsed that. Belek defeated a Frankish force later on. Despite not being able to force Baldwin's release, the Christian pressure convinced Belek to move Baldwin from Harran to Aleppo in February or March of 1124. When Hassan, the governor of Manbij, was captured by Belek's kinsmen in April 1124, Joscelin feared the prospect of the powerful Belek becoming his direct neighbour, and launched an attack against Manbij. A battle took place with Belek where Joscelin was decidedly defeated, and he was forced to flee for Turbessel.

Belek executed his prisoners from the battle near Manbij and left his cousin Timurtash to besiege the town, but he was killed on May 6 1124 when attempting to relieve Tyre (attacked by the Venetian Crusade), and Timurtash took over his lands. Timurtash then released Baldwin on June 24 on the promise that he would surrender Atarib, Zardana, Azaz, Kafartab, and Jasr, a promise that Baldwin broke in September. On the other hand, Waleran received no ransom, and was executed. Baldwin then formed an alliance with Dubais, the Bedouin emir, and besieged Aleppo. After devastating Bizaah, Joscelin and Dubais joined with Baldwin. The siege lasted four months, but was lifted by Aqsunqur al-Bursuqi, Atabeg of Mosul.

He returned to Jerusalem, but Aqsunqur al-Bursuqi, Atabeg of Mosul besieged Azaz, forcing the king to respond. A coalition between Baldwin, Pons, Joscelin, and Mahuis of Duluk was assembled. Baldwin managed to execute a feigned retreat to draw Aqsunqur away from Aleppo and into an ambush, which was decidedly successful in the ensuing Battle of Azaz, a Christian victory. Joscelin was "the terror of the enemy". In the ensuing peace treaty, the crusaders secured the release of Joscelin's only son, Joscelin II, who had been surrendered as a hostage for Baldwin's release.

Fresh conflict

During the 1120s, the religious framework of the County of Edessa developed, with grants to the Hospitallers. Joscelin made a grant to the Abbey of Saint Mary of Jehoshaphat and its Abbot Gilduin in 1126, granting the estates of Waleran of Le Puiset, now dead, with the instruction that it should be used for the salvation of his soul. Gilduin was Waleran's brother. Also in 1126, the Franks launched a campaign against Homs and Damascus. The forces of Edessa, Tripoli, and Jerusalem besieged Rafaniya on March 31, and devastated Homs' environs in May. Aqsunqur attempted to besiege Atarib, but Baldwin and Joscelin compelled him to retreat. Aqsunqur was killed by the Assassins on November 26 1126 and his son was poisoned soon after, causing a succession crisis in Aleppo.

Fresh conflict broke out in September 1126 when Prince Bohemond II, the son of Bohemond I, sailed to Antioch in September 1126 when the intention of taking up rule, arriving at the Port of St. Simeon in September or November. He had come in response to an invitation sent to him by the Antiochenes during Baldwin's imprisonment, but relations rapidly declined between Bohemond and Joscelin, to the point that Joscelin, with Turkish allies, devastated Antioch in the summer of 1127 and attained their submission. Baldwin rushed towards Antioch to arrange a reconciliation. Joscelin fell severely ill, and seeing it as divine punishment, agreed surrender all his booty before swearing fealty to Bohemond. With recognition of his supremacy from Joscelin and Pons, Bohemond married Alice, Baldwin's daughter, and entered Antioch with an army in late September of 1127.

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Small cross coin of Joscelin I, Count of Edessa

Taking advantage of the unrest, Joscelin attacked Aleppo in October 1127, hoping to seize the city, but was bought off by the Aleppans. A new Muslim threat arose in Imad al-Din Zengi, who was already Atabeg of Mosul, and who for the time maintained a policy of peace with the Franks that allowed him to accumulate great power virtually unopposed. He seized Nisibin, Sinjar, Harran, and even Aleppo by January 1128, and captured Manbij and Bizaah the next year. By 1129, when Zengi was repulsed before Homs, he had established effective rule over muslim Syria. Zengi's rise was also aided by Frankish disunity from the conflict between Joscelin and Bohemond and internal discontentment within the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Baldwin capitalised on Toghtekin's death in February 1128 to launch an invasion of Damascus in 1129 alongside Joscelin, Pons, Bohemond, and Baldwin. They obtained the surrender of Baniyas, but soon afterwards became disorganized and were defeated by Taj al-Muluk Buri, Toghtekin's son, at Marj al-Suffar.

Last years

Sometime in 1129, conflicts between Mar Athanasius VII, patriarch of the Jacobite Church, and Bar Cabouni, metropolitan of Edessa, came to a head when he went into voluntary exile at Diyarbakır. Mar Athanasius came to regret his decision and Joscelin strong-armed the emir of Diyarbakr to release the patriarch, who died soon afterwards. At a synod, Bar Cabouni and the bishop of Sijistan, both excommunicated by Mar Athanasius, received absolution.

Bohemond died in February of 1130 in an ambush against the Danishmendids, and his Alice soon began plotting to take over the regency of their daughter, Constance. To enact her plan, she sought aid from Zengi, but her messenger was captured, and when interrogated by the king, confessed completely. Baldwin rushed to Antioch, and the citizens broke Alice's orders to forbid him entry, with Baldwin entering alongside Fulk, who was the king's son-in-law, and Joscelin. Alice was expunged from Antioch and Joscelin was granted rule of the principality until Constance married.

Zengi launched a campaign in the spring of 1130 in which he besieged Atarib, and the crusaders' relief effort was soundly defeated. After capturing the fortress, he progressed towards Harim, but was bought off by the citizens of the town, who offered him half of their revenue. Joscelin launched attacks against the territory north of Aleppo, and successfully battled against Sevar, Zengi's commander. When his Muslim ally Dubais fell out of the Seljuk sultan's favour, he refused him asylum, possibly hoping for the sultan's aid against Zengi.

In 1131, during the siege of a small castle north-east of Aleppo, a sapper's mine collapsed and Joscelin was gravely injured. Following this he received word that emir Gazi Gümüshtigin was besieging the fortress town of Kaysun. When his own son, Joscelin II, refused to attack Gazi, he commanded that his own army should march to Kaysun. Joscelin was borne on a litter, and when Gazi heard that Joscelin's army was approaching, he lifted the siege and retreated. Joscelin won his final battle and died soon after.

Aftermath

A map showing five phases of the expansion of the county, especially to the north and east

The expansion of the County of Edessa from 1098 to 1131 (the territory conquered by Joscelin is depicted with the lightest color)

Joscelin was strongly liked by the Armenian community under his rule, and he was less difficult with them than Baldwin had been. Matthew of Edessa calls Joscelin "a brave and mighty warrior." He comments on Joscelin's reconciliation with the Armenians in Edessa, attributing to him a "very humane and compassionate attitude". William of Tyre attributed to Joscelin temperance, prudence, and care, and called him "a man well endowed with worldy wisdom, circumspect in all he did".Template:Refn

Nicholson calls his death a "disaster, indeed, for a state facing the readily waxing ambitions of Zengi," and characterizes his son, Joscelin II, as "markedly inferior." The County of Edessa would be conquered by the Zengids in 1146, less than a generation after his death.

Much of Matthew's enmity towards the Franks disappeared upon the rise of Joscelin to the county. Although it's apparent that both Baldwin and Joscelin pursued personal relationships with the Armenian populace of the county, Joscelin was evidently more successful. He is displayed positively in Arabic and Armenian sources as a capable warrior and ruler and Muslims seem to have seen him as an intermediary for the rest of the Franks. In 1129, it was Joscelin that Zengi made peace with.

Marriage and issue

Joscelin married an Armenian noblewoman named Beatrice, daughter of Prince Constantine I of Armenia. They had a son, Joscelin II of Edessa. She died in 1119.

In 1122, Joscelin married Maria, daughter of Richard of Salerno and sister of Roger, regent of the Principality of Antioch. They had a daughter, Stephanie.

Sources

• Template:Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition
• Template:Setton-A History of the Crusades
• Template:Setton-A History of the Crusades
• Template:Runciman-A History of the Crusades
• Template:Runciman-A History of the Crusades