Editing Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem (section)

==Retirement==
Melisende's initiative did not cease in her retirement.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=154}} Baldwin summoned a general assembly of the crusader states at Tripoli in mid-1152 intending to induce his widowed cousin Constance, princess of Antioch, to remarry and so relieve him of the responsibility for the principality.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=154}}{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=171}} The attendees included the princess and her vassals and clergy as well as the count and countess of Tripoli. Though she was apparently neither summoned nor invited, Melisende also participated.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=171}} Ostensibly she was there to help settle the marital problems of her sister Countess Hodierna and brother-in-law Count Raymond of Tripoli. Hamilton considers this a clever move because she could not be prevented from paying a visit to her sister, and once in Tripoli had to be invited to discuss her niece's marriage.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=154}} Neither goal was achieved.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=171}} The sisters set out for Jerusalem, and were escorted for a while by Hodierna's husband. As he was returning to Tripoli, he was killed by [[Order of Assassins|Assassins]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=199}} The sisters returned to Tripoli for the funeral, after which Baldwin escorted Melisende home.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=172}} Hodierna assumed rule over Tripoli as regent for her young son, [[Raymond III of Tripoli|Raymond III]]. Hamilton believes that from then on Baldwin's control over Antioch and Tripoli, ruled by Melisende's niece and sister respectively, depended on him treating his mother with respect.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=155}}

Mayer presumes that in the aftermath of their conflict, Melisende and Baldwin hated each other intensely, yet took care to appear as a happy family.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|pp=172–173}} The mother made certain to mention her son's consent in all her acts, and the son honored her in return and allowed her to advise him. By sparing her public humiliation, Baldwin avoided goading her into challenging him.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=173}} In 1153 he [[siege of Ascalon|conquered Ascalon]], proving himself as a military leader, and made peace with Melisende.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=155}} He distributed the lands around Ascalon following her advice.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=175}} From 1154 Melisende was associated in her son's public acts and he confirmed the grants she had made during their estrangement.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=155}} Most of these were merely a matter of courtesy according to Mayer, but he did on occasion genuinely seek her counsel.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=173}} From 1156 the queen regained a measure of political influence, taking part in Baldwin's negotiation of a treaty with the [[Republic of Pisa]] in November.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=174}} In 1157 she took a military initiative while the king was in Antioch:{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=155}} it is thanks to her insistence that the cave-fortress of el-Hablis, significant for controlling the territory of [[Gilead]] beyond the [[River Jordan]], was attacked and recovered from the Muslims.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=155}}{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=174}}

Melisende maintained her interest in the matters of religion. Barber believes that she continued her patronage of the Church as before her retirement.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=216}} In 1157 Amalric married [[Agnes of Courtenay|Agnes]], daughter of the dispossessed Count Joscelin II of Edessa. Patriarch Fulcher protested that Amalric and Agnes were related within the [[prohibited degrees]], but despite her piety Melisende did not object.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=159}} The same year her stepdaughter Countess [[Sibylla of Flanders]], Fulk's daughter from his first marriage, arrived in Jerusalem on a pilgrimage and entered the convent of Bethany.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=160}} Fulcher died on 20 November, and though clergy assembled to elect his successor, Melisende intervened with Sibylla and Hodierna to secure the appointment of [[Amalric of Nesle]] as the next patriarch.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=216}} The following year Baldwin married too; his wife, [[Theodora Komnene, Queen of Jerusalem|Theodora Komnene]], became the new queen. Hamilton speculates that Melisende's forceful character made her sons reluctant to allow their wives to take part in state affairs.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=158}} In 1160 Queen Melisende joined her sister Hodierna in commissioning luxurious jewelry, gold tiaras, and silver utensils for the dowry of Hodierna's daughter, [[Melisende of Tripoli]]; this example of Melisende's art patronage demonstrates, in Folda's opinion, the queen's continued activity and the Franks' resolve to impress her niece's betrothed, Emperor [[Manuel I Komnenos]].{{sfn|Folda|2012|pp=446–447}} 
[[File:Mary's tomb,Melisende IMG 0251c.jpg|thumb|Melisende's commissions concluded with her tomb, which surpassed the tombs of the kings.|alt=A tomb in a church]]
Queen Melisende's last public act was to assent with King Baldwin to Count Amalric's donation to the Holy Sepulchre on 30 November 1160. In 1161 she fell ill, with her [[memory impaired]]; she may have had a stroke.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=216}}{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=156}} Hodierna and Ioveta nursed her for several months,{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=156}} permitting few people to see her.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=216}} In the last weeks of her life Baldwin moved into Nablus, acquiring the land Philip of Milly held there. This was in breach of his agreement with his mother, but she was by then unaware of the outside world.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=179}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=217}} She died on 11 September 1161.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=179}} Barber estimates that she was probably in her early fifties.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=216}} William of Tyre records that Baldwin was inconsolable; Mayer calls this "a fine public show of grief".{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=179}} Melisende was buried, like her mother, in the Abbey of Saint Mary of the Valley of Jehosaphat, which had always been dear to her.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=169}} Folda considers her tomb to have been her last major commission in Jerusalem and "more magnificent than any king of Jerusalem ever received".{{sfn|Folda|2012|p=440}} In her last will and testament she left property to, among others, the Orthodox Monastery of Saint Sabas.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=156}} Baldwin barely outlived her, dying on 10 February 1163.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=217}}