Editing Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem (section)

==Assessment==
The chief source of information about Queen Melisende's life is Archbishop William of Tyre. He was only born in 1130, however, and from the death of [[Fulcher of Chartres]] in 1127 there was no resident chronicler in the crusader states.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=144}} William was studying in Europe from 1145 to 1165 and only started writing his ''History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea'' in 1167.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=97}}{{sfn|Folda|2012|p=434}} The late reign of Baldwin II and the reigns of Fulk and Melisende are therefore poorly documented and, as noted by Barber, "subject of much speculative argument among historians".{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=145}}
[[File:William of tyre.jpg|thumb|William of Tyre, depicted here writing his ''History'', was deeply impressed by Melisende.|alt=A man writing]]
When recounting the conflict between Melisende and her son Baldwin III, William takes the queen's side. Mayer explains that William was the court historian to King Amalric, the son who had sided with the queen and succeeded Baldwin III, and that William was influenced by Melisende's lavish grants to the Church.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=98}} William wrote:
{{blockquote|She was a very wise woman, fully experienced in almost all spheres of state business, who had completely triumphed over the handicap of her sex so that she could take charge of important affairs.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=157}}}}

Barber notes that while William's description of Melisende as "wise and judicious beyond what is normal for a woman" may sound patronizing to a modern reader, it is particularly significant because the archbishop did not normally approve of the [[women in government|involvement of women]] in public affairs.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=174}}

Hamilton agrees with William's judgment that "striving to emulate the glory of the best princes... she ruled the kingdom with such ability that she was rightly considered to have equaled her predecessors in that regard". For Hamilton, Melisende was "a truly remarkable woman" because for decades she exercised power in a kingdom where no woman had previously had a public role.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=157}} Barber observes that William's opinion was not universally shared{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=174}} and that two of the greatest disasters suffered by the Franks in the Levant took place during her reign, namely the fall of Edessa in 1144 and the failure to conquer Damascus in 1148, though he concedes that the extent of Melisende's responsibility cannot be determined. Barber contrasts this poor record with Baldwin III's conquest of Ascalon the year after she was deposed.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=175}} Hamilton concludes that Melisende was both cultured and devout,{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=156}} while Folda calls her the greatest art patron in the 12th-century Kingdom of Jerusalem.{{sfn|Folda|2012|p=477}}

Mayer criticizes Melisende for not voluntarily [[abdicating]] in favor of Baldwin III, declaring that "her thirst for power was greater than her wisdom".{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=98}} He insists that "in spite of all the praise William of Tyre heaps on Melisende's abilities", her son was better suited to rule.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=164}} Hamilton does not see why she should have felt the need to resign power to her "inexperienced" son, arguing that she was not a regent but the recognized co-ruler who governed well and enjoyed broad support.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=153}} Mayer concludes that Melisende was "one of the most energetic among mediaeval queens".{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=180}}