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===Rise of the Ayyubids=== ====Franco-Byzantine invasion of Egypt==== [[File:BN MS FR 2628 Folio205 Amalric and Manuel.png|thumb|right|Amalric's envoys convinced Emperor Manuel to despatch a large force for a joint invasion Egypt.]] The death of Bertrand of Blancfort in January 1169 paved the way for a master of the Templars who would be more compliant with Amalric's desire to subjugate Egypt. In August 1169 Philip of Milly was elected the new master. Barber considers it obvious that King Amalric influenced the election, for he and Philip had been associated since the 1150s, when both supported Amalric's mother, Queen Melisende, against his brother, King Baldwin III.{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=253-254}} In the same month Amalric confirmed his earlier deal with the Hospitallers and also recruited the Templars. In late 1169 Emperor Manuel sent a formidable force led by experienced men, and a large fleet.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=253}} Amalric was served by the animosity of the Egyptians for their new, foreign rulers, and by the unexpected death of Shirkuh. On 16 October the king left Ascalon, shortly after the Byzantine fleet set out from Acre. Sea floods hindered him, but he reached [[Damietta]] on 27 October.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=254}} The Nile was blocked north of the city, and William of Tyre is confident that Damietta could have been taken by a quick attack. The siege of the city drew out, however, because the city was reinforced by boats from the south and [[siege engine]]s had to be constructed. The defenders launched a [[fire ship]] towards the Byzantine fleet, burning six ships; the king averted a greater loss by rousing the crews.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=557}} As their food ran out and the [[torrential rain]]s poured, the attackers became desperate.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=557}} William's informants insisted that Manuel had not sent enough supplies, whereas the Byzantine chroniclers [[John Kinnamos]] and [[Niketas Choniates]] accuse the Franks of procrastinating.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=255}} The Byzantine general [[Andronikos Kontostephanos]] proposed an all-out assault, but Amalric believed that the city walls had not been battered enough by the siege engines. Kontostephanos had been instructed to obey Amalric, but made preparations to attack without him.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=557}} According to Choniates, Kontostephanos had grown tired of "talking into the ear of the dead".{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=255}} Before Kontostephanos could act, Amalric began peace negotiations.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|pp=557-558}} Patriarch [[Michael the Syrian]], ever disdainful of the Greek Orthodox, writes that the Byzantines intended to deceive Amalric and seize Egypt for themselves, and that the king took the Egyptians' offer of gold and left after he realized the Byzantines' treachery.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=255}} Nur ad-Din, meanwhile, again used Amalric's absence to plunder the kingdom.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=255}} Amalric and his army returned on 21 December.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=254}} ====Earthquake==== [[File:Coin of King Amalric.jpg|thumb|Amalric's coins depicted the Holy Sepulchre.]] On 29 June 1170 [[1170 Syria earthquake|a devastating earthquake]] hit the Levant, affecting Christians and Muslims alike. Amalric and Nur ad-Din made a temporary peace to allow their lands to recover; yet both were wary that the other would attack while the damage was being repaired. Amalric informed Louis VII of France and expressed concern that the enemy would seize [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]], [[Arqa]], [[Gibelet]], [[Latakia]], [[Marqab]], and Antioch. As administrator of the County of Tripoli, Amalric granted Arqa and [[Gibelacar]] to the Hospitallers to hold independently of the count on the condition that they repair the castles.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=256}} In December 1170 Saladin suddenly brought a vast host to besiege [[Darum]], a simple fortress built by Amalric in the south of the kingdom for collecting taxes and tolls. Barber proposes that Saladin was emboldened by Amalric's preoccupation with the damage suffered by the County of Tripoli. Amalric was shocked by the size of Saladin's force, but Saladin left Darum half-destroyed without giving a major battle. Amalric rebuilt the fortress to be stronger. Later that month the Franks were unable to prevent Saladin from plundering [[Ailah]]. For the first time in half a century the kingdom was seriously threatened from Egypt.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=257}} ====Visit to Constantinople==== [[File:Amaury1A.jpg|thumb|Amalric desired Byzantine help in defeating Shirkuh (up) and was lavishly welcomed in Constantinople (down).]] In early 1171 Amalric held a general council to discuss the state of the kingdom{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=257}} and its future military policy.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=258}} It was agreed that embassies and letters seeking help should be sent to all major Latin rulers and to Emperor Manuel. The king shocked the attending barons by suggesting that he himself should visit Manuel. No king of Jerusalem had ever traveled to Constantinople, and Barber believes that the idea betrayed a lack of confidence in western help. Amalric set out on 10 March, having sent Philip of Milly ahead. Philip had resigned as master of the Templars for this purpose, and the butler, Odo of Saint Amand, succeeded him.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=258}} Amalric traveled with a large party, including the [[bishop of Acre]], [[William (bishop of Acre)|William]], and the [[marshal of Jerusalem|marshal]], {{ill|Gerard of Pugi|fr|Gérard de Pougy}}. The king set sail from Tripoli. He was met at [[Gallipoli]] by his father-in-law, [[John Doukas Komnenos]], who was a nephew of the emperor, and taken to [[Perinthus|Heraclea]]. There he embarked again in order to enter the [[Great Palace of Constantinople]] through the Boukoleon gate, which was an honor reserved for rulers.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=391}} Manuel arranged a lavish welcome for the royal party: Amalric was seated on a throne next to the emperor's, albeit slightly lower; given access to private imperial suites; shown the most precious [[relics]]; treated to music and theater shows; given a guided tour of the city; and taken by ship to view the mouth of the [[Black Sea]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=258}} Manuel took a liking to Amalric and the imperial family, especially Amalric's father-in-law, were eager to show hospitality.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=391}} Conferences were held daily,{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=559}} but the topics and eventual agreement went unrecorded.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=391}} The Franks apparently convinced the emperor that they should once again join forces to conquer Egypt. Kinnamos writes that, in return, Amalric had to accept "his subjection" to the empire.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=258}} Historian Marshall Baldwin is not certain that Amalric regarded himself as a vassal of Manuel.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=559}} The king returned on 15 June, landing at [[Sidon]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=258}} Amalric had to deal with new Muslim attacks immediately upon his return from Constantinople. He assembled a force at the [[Springs of Saffuriya]] to respond to Nur ad-Din's attack in the north while simultaneously Saladin attacked [[Montreal (castle)|Montreal]] in the south. Ibn al-Athir relates that Saladin came close to capturing Montreal, but was advised that Nur ad-Din might turn his attention to him if he defeated Amalric at the same time. In 1172 the king travelled north once again to prevent Cilicia from falling into the hands of the Armenian lord [[Mleh, Prince of Armenia|Mleh]], who had expelled the Templars from their Cilician fortresses and allied with Nur ad-Din. Amalric obtained Mleh's submission, but had to return south when Nur ad-Din launched another diversion by attacking [[Kerak]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=259}} ====Unmaterialized alliances==== [[File:Amaurydeath-BaldwinIVcrowned.jpg|thumb|Amalric's sole son, Baldwin IV, was crowned after Amalric's death despite concerns about his health.]] In 1173 Amalric attempted to ally with the [[Order of Assassins]]. According to the agreement reached between the king and the order's leader, [[Rashid al-Din Sinan]], the king would cancel the tribute which the order paid to the Templars and the Assassins would in turn convert from [[Shi'ite]] Islam to Christianity. The order's envoy was returning from the negotiations with the king's guarantee of safe conduct when he was killed by a group of Templars led by Walter of Mesnil.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=259}} Amalric's rage increased when the Templar's master, Odo of Saint Armand, refused to hand over Walter. Odo said that he had given a penance to Walter, who was held in Sidon, and that he would be sent to the pope. Amalric went to Sidon, however, took Walter, and imprisoned him in Tyre, intending to discuss the matter with other rulers. William of Tyre and [[Walter Map]], the sources who recorded the murder, both lament the loss of this opportunity. Map writes that the Templars feared that conversions of Muslims to Christianity would make the Templars redundant.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=260}} With the help of Amalric, who helped raise the ransom, Raymond III of Tripoli was released from Nur ad-Din's prison in late 1173 or early 1174. Amalric welcomed Raymond and handed the government of Tripoli back to him.{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=561}} In 1174 King Amalric agreed on a joint attack on Egypt with King [[William II of Sicily]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=263}} Nur ad-Din died on 15 May.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=260}} Amalric tried to take advantage. He attacked Banias, but could not capture it and accepted money to retreat.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=261}} On his way back he complained that he felt unwell. When he arrived in [[Tiberias]] it was clear that he had contracted [[dysentery]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=32}} He reached Jerusalem, where he was treated by Greek, Syrian, and Frankish physicians, but they failed to save him.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=261}} He died on 11 July.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=260}} After some deliberation the High Court accepted Amalric's sickly son, Baldwin IV, as the new king.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=264}}
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