Foundation
Edessa County is the first Christian state founded by the Crusaders during the 1st Crusade. It existed from 1098 to 1146. After the capture of Nicaea one of the leaders – Baldwin separated himself from the army of the Crusaders, which was heading south towards Antioch and Jerusalem, and then he proceeded to Cilicia, from there he went east to Edessa. There existed an Armenian principality, the basis of which economy was transit trade.
In general, the 90s of the 11th century were the most difficult for the Edessa principality, which became the object of struggle for the rulers of Antioch, Aleppo, Hisn Kaifa and Samosata. The instability of the foreign policy position and the lack of a strong army forced the Ishkhans to seek a powerful patron on the side. The Armenian population initially considered the participants of the crusade if not as liberators, then as allies capable of resisting the Seljuk Turks. That is why with the advent of Baldwin with 200 knights in Priufrat with the prince Thoros, under the pressure of twelve Armenian Ishkhans of Edessa, invites and adopts him, thereby agreeing to a division with Baldwin of power and income.
Some time later in March 1098 , the council of twelve Ishkhans, with the support of Balduin of Jerusalem, the adopted son of Thoros of Edessa, arranged a coup. Baldwin I of Jerusalem, who swore on holy relics, promised to save the life of the prince. Thoros, believing the promises, opened the gate of the castle, and then was executed. Thus, after the coup, the “transformation of the Armenian state into a Franco-Armenian” led by Baldwin. The Christian rulers of Edessa were in close contact with their nearest neighbor, the Cilician kingdom, and often married Armenian princesses to maintain this union.
In 1100, after the death of his brother, Godfrey of Bouillon , Baldwin inherited the throne of the Kingdom of Jerusalem , and his former lands passed to his cousin, Baldwin de Burk, known as Baldwin II.
Baldwin II
Stepping on the throne of Edessa under the name of Baldwin II, Baldwin de Burke was involved in conflicts in Northern Syria and Asia Minor. Edessa was attacked and sacked by Mosul in 1104, and Baldwin and Jocelyn were captured by the Seljuks during the Battle of Harran. Between 1104-1108 the county of Edessa was annexed to the Antiochian principality, until he was released.
In 1110, all the territories east of the Euphrates were conquered by Mavdud. While in 1116 – 1117 due to the seizure of the possessions of the Armenian princes, the county’s territory was significantly increased.
After the death of Baldwin I in 1118, Baldwin II was proclaimed King of Jerusalem, despite the fact that Baldwin’s brother Eostache III of Boulogne was the closest relative who was supposed to inherit power in the kingdom. In 1119, the title of Earl of Edessa was given to Josselin de Courtenay. In 1122, Josselin again fell into captivity to the Muslims. To ensure the security of Edessa, Baldwin moved north, but while traveling around the county, he was also captivated. Both of them, however, were soon released – Josselin in 1123 , and Baldwin a year later.
Decline of Power and Fall
In 1137, the troops of the Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus approached the walls of Antioch. He decided to receive from Raymund confirmation of the Devon Treaty of 1108, according to which the city was an imperial flax, and the prince promised military assistance and subordination of the local church to Constantinople. The Romans quickly broke the resistance, and the city opened the gate to them. At the end of March 1138, John went on a campaign against the main enemy of the Crusaders – Emir Mosul Imad ad-Din Zangi. Reimund and the Earl of Edessa Joselin II joined the emperor, as well as a group of Templars. The Emperor was satisfied with the oath of allegiance from the Edessa county and the Antioch princedom.
In 1131, Josselin de Courtenay fell on the battlefield. He was succeeded by his son, Jocelyn II. By that time, over the county, there was a threat from Zengi, who united under their authority Aleppo and Mosul. Josselin II did not give proper attention to the security of the county’s borders, since he was too busy with strife with Tripoli , and therefore did not get help from his neighbors when such a necessity arose. In 1144 Zengi surrounded Edessa. The siege of Edessa lasted only a month, and on December 24 of the same year the city fell. Josselin continued formally to remain the Earl of Edessa and even managed the remains of his county from the city of Turbessel. After the death of Zanga by the hands of a slave in 1146, he attempted to recover the lost possessions, but in November 1146 he was defeated by Nur al-Din Mahmud and barely escaped captivity. In 1150, however, he was captured by the Muslims and held in Aleppo until his death in 1159. His wife sold Turbessel and the surrounding lands to the Emperor of Byzantium Manuel Comnenus, but a year later they were conquered by Nour ad-Din.
Sources:
Matvey Edessky. Confirmation of the Crusaders in Edessa
Michael the Syrian. The Chronicle
Albert of Aachen. Confirmation of the Crusaders in Edessa