LATIN KINGDOM OF JERUSALEM. The kingdom established by the Crusaders in 1099. which lasted until 1187. When on July 15. 1099. .Terusalem was taken, it became necessary for the Christian conquerors to establish some permanent rule. Naturally the only system of government well known to them, the feudal. was adopted. The written code known as the 'Assize I if ( q.v. ) belongs to a later period. Godfrey de Bouillon (q.v.) was elected 'Baron and Defender of the Holy Sepulchre.' Godfrey (lied in 1100. and was succeeded by Baldwin 1., who took the title of King, and ruled until 1118. Ile was in turn succeeded by his nephew, Baldwin IL ( 30), who was followed by his son-in-law, Fulk, Count of Anjou (1130-43). Under him the King dom rent-lied its highest development, and nearly time whole of Syria was in the hands of the Chris tians. Meanwhile, however, the dissensions which had gone on among the infidels ceased, and a con solidated :Mohammedan State was arising in Syria. The Second Crusade gave a breathing-spell to the Christians in the East, and the reign of Baldwin III. (1143-63) was marked by some co operation between the Creeks and the Latins, clue to the marriage of Baldwin with the daughter of the Emperor Alanuel. The brother and suc
cessor of Baldwin III., Amalrie I. (1163-74) also married a Byzantine princess. His son and suc cessor, Baldwin IV. I174-55). was a leper. Ile was succeeded by a child, Baldwin V.. who ruled only a year. The climate also exerted its in fluence, and the brave crusading lords gradually disappeared, to be succeeded by refugee criminals from the West. The last monarch was Guy of Lusignan (1185-8;). On .Tul• 9, 1157, Saladin (q.v.) defeated King Guy at Ilattin and took him prisoner. On October 2, 11:47, Jerusalem fell, and the Kingdom practieall• ceased to exist. Various attempts were made to recapture Syria and restore the Latin rule. There were also tem porary Christian successes, as for example when Frederick IL in 1229 obtained possession of Jeru salem. All hope, however, of a permanent Chris tian Kingdom in Syria was really over. Consult Riffirieht. Gesehichle des Kunigreichs Jerusalem (Berlin, 1898). See CRUSADE.