Friday, July 7, 2017

Margaret de Bohun part 2/ Fulk King of Jerusalem

When Fulk King of Jerusalem was born on February 19, 1089, in Anjou, Isère, France, his father, Fulk, was 45 and his mother, Bertrade, was 19. He had a son with Ermengarde Countess of Maine in 1113. He died on November 13, 1143, in Hazafon, Israel, at the age of 54.
Fulk V was also known as Fulk the Younger, the Count of Anjou and the King of Jerusalem.   Originally, Fulk was opposed to King Henry I of England and supported King Louis VI of France.  However, sometime between 1118-1119 he changed allegiances.  With this shift his daughter, Matilda would marry Henry's son and heir, William Adelin.   His son Geoffrey of Anjou would then marry Henry's daughter, also named Matilda in 1127 or 1128.
By 1120, Fulk had gone on crusade and had become acquantainted to the Knights Templar (Orderic Vitalis).  By 1127 Fulk was ready to return home when King Baldwin II of Jerusalem sent him word of a possible match to his daughter, Melisende.  Baldwin II did not have a male heir so he had already made it that his daughter would succeed him.  However, Baldwin wanted to make sure that she would be secured in her position and the best way to do that would be to marry her to a powerful man.  Fulk fit the bill in all aspects being that he was a wealthy crusader, experienced military commander, and a widower. 
He did not agree right away because he hoped to become more than the mere consort of the Queen.  Baldwin II knew that Fulk was the best man for the sake of his daughter and kingdom and the terms were changed.  Fulk then gave his title for Anjou and all that came with it to his son, Geoffrey and left for Jerusalem.  He and Melisende married on June 2, 1129.  Baldwin II would later be able to give Melisende more standing by appointing her by the sole guardian of her son by Fulk, Baldwin III.
Upon Baldwin II's death in 1131, Fulk and Melisende became the joint rulers of Jerusalem.  From the very beginning Fulk took control of their government.   He was known to favor his own people, rather than the native nobilty.  Many of the crusader areas north of Jerusalem feared the Fulk would attempt to take control of them as well.  However, the northern territories would then refuse his authority.  Melisende's sister, Alice of Antioch, would then use this chance to take control of Antioch.  She allied with Pons of Tripoli and Joscelin II of Edessa to keep Fulk from trying to invade their lands.  Fulk and Pons fought briefly which then allowed them to make peace again.  Afterwards, Alice was once again exiled. 
Fulk didn't just have to worry about the people of the north lands.  He was resented by the second generation of Jerusalem Christians who had come to adulthood after the First Crusade.  Their loyalties were with Hugh II of Puiset, count of Jaffa, who was Melisende's cousin.  In 1134, Fulk decided to try to discover any proof against Hugh's disloyalty.  In order to do so he accused Hugh of sleeping with Melisende.  Hugh launched a rebellion in protest.  Hugh allied himself with the Muslims of Ascalon.  Eventually, peace was declared and Hugh was given the light sentence of exile for three years.
Not long after, an assassination attempt was made against Hugh.  Although it was believed to be Fulk or his supporters, no proof to support this theory was ever uncovered.  Because of this Melisende and her supporters were able to take control from 1136 onwards.  Fulk and Melisende would reconcile sometime afterwards and their second son was born.

In 1143, Fulk and Melisende went on holiday in Acre.  During their vacation, Fulk decided to go on an hunt.  At some point his horse stumbled, fell, and Fulk's skull was crushed by the saddle.  He was carried back to Acre, where he lay unconscious for three days before he died.  He was buried in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.  

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