Geography and Economy of the Latin states

Edessa

The County of Edessa had local Armenians, the Euphrates river and crops and livestock.
It was the first crusader state, ruled by Baldwin I then B2.
Turkish invasion had been a threat since 1127- in 1104, B2 was captured and Tancred became regent of Edessa. He was forced to relinquish his role by B1.
When King Fulk died, the Franks were preoccupied so the Turks attacked.
It was captured in 1143, and in 1150 its castles were sold to the Byzantine Emperor by B3.
Outremer did not have natural boundaries- the Tarsus mountains in the North and Lebanese mountians in the East, and rivers such as the Jordan had gaps and fords.
Deserts were never used as natural boundaries, so land was often contested.
Edessa was vulnerable to Mosul and Aleppo.

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The Principality of Antioch had Christians and Arabs, and the St Symeon port.
It bordered Byzantium, Edessa and the sea.
1099, Bohemond of Taranto became its first ruler.
He was not initially under Jerusalem's power. The Byzantines, Turks and Franks claimed authority- they accepted the Franks to survive.
Bohemond I was captured in 1110 and replaced by his infant son Bohemond II.
Bohemond II died in 1130, and his widow Alice wanted to rule on her own.
Fulk married Alice's daughter Constance to Raymond of Poitiers.
Antioch started paying homage to the Byzantines for protection.
12th century, Saladin invaded Latakia and Antioch- Richard III negotiated its freedom after the 3rd crusade, and it survived the 12th century.

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The County of Tripoli had Christians and Arabs and the ports of Tortosa and Tripoli.
It was known for sugar cane, olives and weaving goods.
It was the last state, taken by Raymond of Toulouse, who took Tortosa then Tripoli.
As a vassal of Jerusalem, it had protection if it kept alliegence.
1109 succession crisis, BI divided it between William Jordan, count of Cerdagne, and Bertrand, son of Raymond of Toulouse.
When William died Bertrand took the whole of Tripoli with his son Pons.
Count Raymond III was imprisoned by the Turks and king Amalric raised 80k bezants to free.
The Hospitallers and Templars were given castles.It tried being independent but eventually it had to rely on Jerusalem. It was under threat by Asassins and Homs Muslims.

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The Kingdom of Jerusalem contained Christians, Jews, Arabs and Samaritans.
It had olives, wheat, fruit, and traded sugar and spices.
1100 Christmas day, Baldwin I crowned. Godfrey had been lord protector.
It comprised of the city, southern Judea, a costal area round Jaffa and Galilee.
By 1175, 10 famlies controlled 24 lordships, they were strong enough to overthrow the king.
B1 tried keeping land for the royal demense, and confiscated land from rebels.
It had churches like the Holy Sepulchre, and the most powerful Christian patriarchate.
It was the best defended state, with feifs protecting land.

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Acre and Tyre were the main ports, letting goods and people arrive easily.
They joined Outremer to trade with the West, Egypt, and Muslim and Christian cities.
They exchanged spices and sugar for cotton, metal, and food
Italians, especially from Genoese trading timber, traded from the West.
Acre, Tyre and Jaffa were close to Damascus and convenient to reach.
The most famous dyeworks at Tyre were owned by Syrians.
Muslim sea captains were offered safe conduct by the Kings of Jerusalem.
Outremer’s largest trading partner was Damascus, who they invaded in the 2nd crusade.
While some trade helped Eastern relations, most of Outremer’s trade was with the West.

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Outremer had to trade with the Muslims to make revenue.
There were mosques at Acre and Tyre, and a converted shared mosque at Acre.
BIII allowed Abu Ibn Izz-ad Din to trade with Egypt (Alexandria) and Tyre
They co-operated to raise profit for the local lords and taxes.
Sugar had a duty of 5 bezants for every 100 bezants traded.
Shoes brought by Muslims had an extra 10% duty.
Cardamon had 10 bezants and 5 karoubles for each 100 bezants.
Exports to non-Christians had an extra 1 karouble duty for each 1 bezant traded.
Trade created co-operation but not complete peace.

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This only happened after the first crusade, since in the 2nd the land was already conquered and crusaders owed loyalty to thier kings, who already had land.
PIlgrims constantly travelled to Jerusalem.
The economic state of Europe included famine, floods, taxation, and difficulties with labour service agreements which let peasants farm land for free.
In 1150, a cobbler from Chalons-sur-Marne left for Outremer to avoid tax.
PIlgrims were attracted by the unpopulated, fertile land in the East.
However, the economic risk undertaken by crusade hugely outweighted the benefits.
There were 200 colonial settlements in Outremer, with land for farming, churches and roads.

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B3 allowed settlers long term housing leases , free facilities such as mills and olive groves, and a 1/7 tax of crops to Baldwin. Migrants could also fight for Outremer.
Italian quarters from Genoa, Pisa and Venice are in Antioch and Tyre.
1/3 of Tyre was given to Venice. The Genoese had 13 houses in Antioch.
There were no forced conversions since there were diverse communities.
Acre contained Pilgrims and merchants from Alexandria, Damascus and Aleppo.
Tyre and Tripoli had large Muslim populations.
By attacking the locals, the Franks would starve so they were forced to be accepting.

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