LATIN KINGDOM OF JERUSALEM, kingdom established and maintained by the Crusaders in Jerusalem in 1099-1187, and after ward re-established around Saint-Jean d'Acre and maintained until 1291. The kingdom was the common property of Christendom and dur ing its two centuries of existence its character was international. The French, however, were strongest among the ruling officials, while the Italians attained a considerable economic in fluence. The kingdom reached its greatest di mensions toward the middle of the 12th cen tury when it extended on the Syrian coast from Beirut to Raphia, from the Lebanon district on the northeast to beyond the Dead Sea on the southeast, extending along the Jordan to the Arabian Desert and including the port of Aila on the Red Sea. The kingdom was organized on the feudal system and the sovereignty was vested in the body of feudatories who composed the high court rather than in the king whose authority was chiefly military. The court's au thority governed the succession to the throne, made the laws and constituted the high tribunal from whose decisions there was no appeal. The "Assizes of Jerusalem" was compiled by the court. Later in the 12th century a court of burgesses was organized, this having power over the burgesses, sentence of either exile or death being vested in it, a power withheld from the king and at first non-existent in the kingdom. The great feudal chiefs, however, really maintained inedpendent kingdoms within the limits of the greater kingdom, and on occasion even waged war without consent of the king. However, the royal authority had ample financial resources, derived from customs, caravan taxes and the monopoly of special industries. The right to coin money was vested within the king's authority, and with the consent of the high court he could levy additional taxes in case of threatened invasion. On the occasion
of Saladin's arming against the kingdotn in 1182 a tax of 2 per cent was levied on all revenues, even those of the Church. The vassals owed military service but received payment for it. Godfrey de Bouillon was elected Lord of Jerusalem, 22 July 1099, but did not assume the crown. He was succeeded by his brother, Baldwin of Odessa, who was crowned king of Jerusalem, 25 Dec. 1100. Baldwin I (q.v.) reigned until 1118 and was the real founder of the kingdom, greatly extending its territory and effectively organizing its power. He was succeeded by his son Baldwin II, 1118-31, who was followed by his son-in-law, Fulk, Count de Anjou. He also succeeded in increasing the importance of the kingdom, reigning in 1131-41, and succeeded by his son, Baldwin III, 1143-62, under whom the kingdom reached its zenith, although the principality of Edessa was wrested from it in 1144. He was succeeded by his brother Amaury I, 1162-74, who aroused Saladin by his attempted subjugation of Egypt. His son Baldwin IV, 1174-85, ruled through a regent, owing to his illness from leprosy, and was succeeded by a nephew, Baldwin V, a child who was supposed to have been poisoned a year later. Dissensions among the barons had by this time weakened the royal power and Jerusalem fell to Saladin in 1187 under the reign of Guy de Lusignan and his wife, Sibylla, mother of Baldwin V. The siege of Saint Jean d'Acre was then begun and upon its sur render, 13 July 1191, the kingdom of Jerusalem was re-established there. It continued in exist ence until 1291, Jerusalem itself being within its jurisdiction in 1229-44. •