RAYMUND OF TRIPOLI, the most famous of the de scendants of Raymund of Toulouse, was a great-grandson of his eldest son Bertrand : his mother was Hodierna, a daughter of Baldwin II., and through her he was closely connected with the kings of Jerusalem. He became count of Tripoli in 1152, on the assassination of his father. In 1164 he was captured by Nured din, and was only released in 1172 after a captivity of eight years. In 1174 he claimed the regency on behalf of Baldwin IV. (at once a minor and a leper) , in virtue of his close relationship, and the claim was acknowledged. After two years the regency seems to have passed to Reginald of Chatillon; but Raymund, who had married the heiress of the county of Tiberias, continued to figure in the affairs of the kingdom. His great ability pro cured him enemies; for two years, 118o-1182, Baldwin IV. was induced by evil advisers to exclude him from his territories, But as Saladin grew more threatening, Raymund grew more indis pensable; and in 1184 he became regent for Baldwin V., on con dition that, if the king died before his majority, his successor should be determined by the great powers of the West. Raymund
conducted the regency with skill, securing a truce from Saladin in 1185; but when Baldwin V. died, in 1186, the supporters of Guy de Lusignan (the husband of Baldwin IV.'s sister, Sibylla) had him crowned, in defiance of the stipulation under which Ray mund had become regent. Raymund, left in isolation, retired to Tiberias, and negotiated a truce for himself with Saladin. His ambiguous position led contemporaries to accuse him of treason able correspondence with Saladin ; but his loyalty to the Chris tian cause was nobly shown in 1187, when he reconciled himself to Guy, and aided him in the battle of Hattin, which was engaged. however, in the teeth of his earnest advice. He escaped from the battle wounded, and ultimately retired to Tripoli, where he died (1187). Raymund was as free from venality as any other man of his period and more capable than most of his contem poraries.