Editing Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem (section)

====Accession and consolidation====
{{multiple image
 | width = 150
 | image1 = FoulquesofAnjou-death.jpg
 | alt1= People riding, a man thrown under a horse 
 | image2 = Fulko melisenda plac.jpg
 | alt2 = A woman crying over a lying man
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 | alt3 = Mother and son crowned, surrounded by people
 | footer = Fulk hunting with Melisende and being thrown from his horse (left), Melisende mourning Fulk (center), and Melisende's coronation with Baldwin III (right)
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In late 1143 the court was at Acre, enjoying a period of peace. On 7 November Melisende expressed a wish to have a picnic. While they were riding in the countryside, Fulk galloped off in pursuit of a hare. His horse stumbled and threw him off, and the heavy saddle struck him on the head. He was carried unconscious to Acre, where he died on 10 November.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=233}} Melisende made a public demonstration of grief and then proceeded to take full charge of the government.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=152}} There was no [[royal election]] because the joint reign initiated in 1131 continued with Melisende and her son, Baldwin III.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=113}}

Melisende, who had been [[consecrated]], [[anointed]], and crowned in 1131, underwent a second coronation on [[Christmas]] 1143, this time together with Baldwin III, who was also consecrated and anointed on this occasion.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=114}} The rites were performed by the patriarch, [[William of Messines]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=174}} All power was in Melisende's hands;{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=152}} Baldwin was 13 at the time and Melisende became his guardian.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=114}} The queen is commonly said to have acted as her son's [[regent]], but neither she nor the chronicler William of Tyre saw her rule as a regency. Citing William's statement that royal power came to Melisende through hereditary right, Hamilton concludes that she was "not a regent but the [[queen regnant]]".{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=152}} Baldwin started issuing charters in 1144 at the latest, when he issued one without reference to Melisende; henceforth all were issued jointly by the mother and son, leading Mayer to believe that Melisende forbade that any charters be issued in her son's name only.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=115}}

Melisende's first action, as had been her husband's or of any contemporary ruler, was to appoint supporters to [[officers of the Kingdom of Jerusalem|the kingdom's offices]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=176}} As a woman, Melisende could not command the army.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=152}} She appointed her first cousin [[Manasses of Hierges]], who had recently arrived in the kingdom, to conduct military affairs in her name as [[constable of Jerusalem|constable]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=176}} By choosing Manasses rather than empowering one of her subjects, Melisende ensured the preservation of royal authority.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=152}} Besides Manasses, the queen's inner circle comprised the [[lord of Nablus]], [[Philip of Milly]]; the prince of Galilee, [[Elinand of Tiberias]]; and the viscount, Rohard the Elder.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=176}} Philip's family had been undermined early in Fulk's reign, and Barber believes that this may explain Philip's loyalty to Melisende. Elinand commanded more knights than any other lord in the kingdom. Rohard had incurred the queen's wrath in the early 1130s by supporting her husband's attempt to exclude her, but he was a key figure in the city of Jerusalem and, apparently, both were content to make peace. Through the support of Philip, Elinand, and Rohard, Melisende controlled Jerusalem and the regions of [[Samaria]] and [[Galilee]], all of which contained parts of the royal domain.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=177}}