Baldwin I.

Baldwin I., king of Jerusalem, 1100-18, was born in 1058. He was the youngest brother of Godfrey (q. v.) de Bouillon, with whom he took part in the first Crusade; but having quarrelled with Tancred, he retired to Edessa, of which he was soon after elected prince. After the death of his brother Godfrey, in 1100, he became Protector of the Holy Sepulchre, and Baron of Jerusalem, and immediately assumed the regal title, which his brother had refused. He conquered Cæsarea, Ashdod, and Tripolis, and, with the assistance of a Genoese fleet, made himself master also of Acre, and subsequently of Sidon, but failed to reduce Ascalon. He died in 1118.—BALDWIN II., cousin and successor of Baldwin I., reigned from 1118-31. During his reign Tyre was taken, and the order of the Templars was instituted. He died in 1131, having resigned the crown in favour of his son-in-law, Foulques of Anjou, who reigned till 1134.—BALDWIN III., king of Jerusalem, 1143-62, the son and successor of Foulques of Anjou, was born in 1129. He was regarded as a model of knighthood, and his authority and influence were great. He died in 1162, and with his death the Christian power in the East began to decline. He was succeeded in the government by his brother Amalric, who died in 1173.—BALDWIN IV., the son and successor of Amalric, surnamed the Leper, reigned till 1184, when he caused BALDWIN V., a child of six years old, the son of his sister Sybilla, to be crowned. The child died in 1186.