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13th-century depiction of Melisende

Melisende (c. 1109 – 1161) was the queen of Jerusalem from 1131 to 1152. The eldest daughter and heir of Baldwin II, she was crowned alongside her husband, Fulk. He initially sidelined Melisende, but she forced him to share power after a baronial uprising in 1134. Together they strengthened the crusader kingdom's defenses, while Melisende became celebrated for supporting its Christian communities. When Fulk died in 1143, she assumed full power and was crowned again with their son Baldwin III. After Edessa fell to Muslims in 1144, Melisende urged European intervention, helping set the Second Crusade in motion. Her relationship with Baldwin deteriorated as she resisted sharing authority with him. After a brief division of the kingdom, Baldwin invaded her territory and forced her to abdicate. From her new seat in Nablus, she remained involved in state and church affairs. William of Tyre praised Melisende as a wise and capable ruler, while modern historians are divided in their assessment. ( Full article... )

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