Monarchy and nobility in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, 1099-113: establishment and origins

[摘要] The starting-point of this thesis is the question of the origin of thenobility in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem up to 1131. This is discussed inparallel with the question of the origins of the monarchy itself and thatof relations between the two institutions.Chapter 1 discusses the European origins of the monarchy which derivedfrom two distinct dynastic traditions, the House of Ardennes-Verdun whosepower had declined in the later eleventh century and was extinguished on theeve of the crusade, and the House of Boulogne which was in an ascendant.Chapter 2 examines Godfrey of Bouillon's crusading army between 1096and 1099. Originally almost exclusively Lotharingian in composition, thearmy absorbed numerous elements from other contingents in the course ofthe march. The minority who remained in Outremer after 1099 were ofdiverse origin and had developed strong ties to the Ardennes-Boulognefamily.Chapter 3 re-assesses the generally accepted nature of the stateestablished in Palestine by the First Crusade, arguing that this was asecular monarchy headed by a princeps whose authority derived from God.Chapter 4 deals with the origins of the nobility and is an analysis ofprosopographical material presented in the Appendix, while Chapter 5 is achronologically-based analysis of relations between monarchy and nobility.The nobility comprised four main groups: Lotharingians and Germans;Normans; Flemings, and Picards; and men from the Ile-de-France and thesurrounding areas. The last group increased in numbers and influence afterthe accession of a new dynasty in the person of Baldwin II. Resentmentagainst his policies, and a growing factionalism based on dynasticloyalties and geographical origins enabled sections of the nobilty tothreaten the monarchy in this and the next reign.

[发布机构] University:University of St Andrews;Department:History (School of)

[效力级别] Kings and rulers--Jerusalem (Latin Kingdom)--Biography

[关键词] Nobility--Jerusalem--History--Latin Kingdom, 1099-1244;Kings and rulers--Jerusalem (Latin Kingdom)--Biography