Editing John of Brienne (section)

== King of Jerusalem ==

=== Co-ruler ===
[[File:Map Crusader states 1197-en.svg|right|thumb|alt=Multi-coloured map|The [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]] and the other crusader states in the early 13th century]]
John landed at [[Acre, Israel|Acre]] on 13 September 1210;{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=133}} the following day, Patriarch of Jerusalem [[Albert Avogadro|Albert of Vercelli]] married him to Queen Maria.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=133}} John and Maria were crowned in the [[Crusader Cathedral of Tyre|Cathedral of Tyre]] on 3 October.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=133}} The truce concluded by Maria's predecessor [[Aimery of Cyprus|Aimery]] and the [[Ayyubid dynasty|Ayyubid sultan]] [[Al-Adil I]] had ended by John's arrival.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|pp=103, 133}} Although Al-Adil was willing to renew it, Jerusalemite lords did not want to sign a new treaty without John's consent.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=133}} During John and Maria's coronation, Al-Adil's son [[Al-Mu'azzam Isa]] pillaged the area around Acre but did not attack the city.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=133}} After returning to Acre, John raided nearby Muslim settlements in retaliation.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=56}}

Although about 300 French knights accompanied him to the Holy Land,{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=55}} no influential noblemen joined him; they preferred participating in the French [[Albigensian Crusade]] or did not see him as sufficiently eminent.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=49}} John's cousin, [[Walter of Montbéliard]], joined him only after he was expelled from Cyprus.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=49}} Montbéliard led a naval expedition to Egypt to plunder the [[Nile Delta]].{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=56}} After most of the French crusaders left the Holy Land, John forged a new truce with Al-Adil by the middle of 1211{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=56}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=133}} and sent envoys to Innocent III urging him to preach a new crusade.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=133}}

=== Conflicts ===
Maria died shortly after giving birth to their daughter, [[Isabella II of Jerusalem|Isabella]], in late 1212.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=134}}{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=68}} Her death triggered a legal dispute, with [[John, Old Lord of Beirut|John of Ibelin]] (who administered Jerusalem before John's coronation) questioning the widowed king's right to rule.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=134}}{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=68–70}} The king sent [[Raoul of Merencourt]], the [[bishop of Sidon]], to Rome for assistance from the [[Holy See]].{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=73}} Innocent III confirmed John as lawful ruler of the Holy Land in early 1213, urging the prelates to support him with ecclesiastical sanctions if needed.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=74}} Most of the Jerusalemite lords remained loyal to the king, acknowledging his right to administer the kingdom on behalf of his infant daughter;{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=70–71}} John of Ibelin left the Holy Land and settled in Cyprus.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=70}}

The relationship between John of Brienne and [[Hugh I of Cyprus]] was tense.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=77}} Hugh ordered the imprisonment of John's supporters in Cyprus, releasing them only at Innocent's command.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=77}} During the [[War of the Antiochene Succession]] John sided with [[Bohemond IV of Antioch]] and the Templars against [[Raymond-Roupen of Antioch]] and [[Leo I, King of Armenia|Leo I of Armenia]], who were supported by Hugh and the Hospitallers.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=77}} However, John sent only 50 knights to fight the Armenians in Antiochia in 1213.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=78}} Leo I concluded a peace treaty with the Knights Templar late that year,{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=79}} and he and John reconciled.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=79}} John married Leo's oldest daughter, [[Stephanie of Armenia|Stephanie]] (also known as Rita), in 1214{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=79}} and Stephanie received a dowry of 30,000 [[bezant]]s.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=80}} Quarrels among John, Leo I, Hugh I and Bohemond IV are documented by Innocent III's letters urging them to reconcile their differences before the [[Fifth Crusade]] reached the Holy Land.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=80}}

=== Fifth Crusade ===
{{Main|Fifth Crusade}}
Innocent proclaimed the Fifth Crusade in 1213, with the "liberation of the Holy Land" (the reconquest of [[Jerusalem]]) its principal object.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=90}}{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|pp=378–379}} The first crusader troops, commanded by [[Leopold VI of Austria]], landed at Acre in early September 1217.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=147}} [[Andrew II of Hungary]] and his army followed that month,{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=147}} and Hugh I of Cyprus and Bohemond IV of Antioch soon joined the crusaders.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=80}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=148}} However, hundreds of crusaders soon returned to Europe because of a famine following the previous year's poor harvest.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=389}} A war council was held in the tent of Andrew II, who considered himself the supreme commander of the crusader army.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=91}} Other leaders, particularly John, did not acknowledge Andrew's leadership.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=148}} The crusaders raided nearby territory ruled by Al-Adil I for food and fodder, forcing the sultan to retreat in November 1217.{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=91–92}}{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=390}} In December John besieged the [[Ayyubid dynasty|Ayyubid]] fortress on [[Mount Tabor]], joined only by Bohemond IV of Antioch.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=148}}{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|pp=391–392}} He was unable to capture it, which "encouraged the infidel", according to the contemporary [[Jacques de Vitry]].{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=148}}{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=92}}

[[File:Friezen vallen de toren van Damiate aan.jpg|left|thumb|alt=Illumination of soldiers firing arrows from a boat|[[Frisian participation in the Crusades|Frisian crusaders]] attack a tower near [[Damietta]] during the Fifth Crusade (from [[Matthew Paris]]' 13th-century ''[[Chronica Majora]]'').]]

Andrew II decided to return home, leaving the crusaders' camp with Hugh I and Bohemond IV in early 1218.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=393}} Although military action was suspended after their departure, the crusaders restored fortifications at [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]] and [[Château Pèlerin|Atlit]].{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=394}} After new troops arrived from the [[Holy Roman Empire]] in April, they decided to invade Egypt.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=395}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=150}} They elected John supreme commander, giving him the right to rule the land they would conquer.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=99}} His leadership was primarily nominal,{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=398}} since he could rarely impose his authority on an army of troops from many countries.{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=99–100}}

The crusaders laid siege to [[Damietta]], on the Nile, in May 1218.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=397}} Although they seized a strategically important tower on a nearby island on 24 August,{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=398}}{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=99}} [[Al-Kamil]] (who had succeeded Al-Adil I in Egypt) controlled traffic on the Nile.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=404}} In September, reinforcements commanded by [[Pope Honorius III]]'s legate [[Pelagio Galvani|Cardinal Pelagius]] (who considered himself the crusade's supreme commander) arrived from Italy.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|pp=402–403}}

Egyptian forces attempted a surprise attack on the crusaders' camp on 9 October, but John discovered their movements.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=404}} He and his retinue attacked and annihilated the Egyptian advance guard, hindering the main force.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=404}} The crusaders built a floating fortress on the Nile near Damietta, but a storm blew it near the Egyptian camp.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=404}} The Egyptians seized the fortress, killing nearly all of its defenders.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=404}} Only two soldiers survived the attack; they were accused of cowardice, and John ordered their execution.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=404}} Taking advantage of the new Italian troops, Cardinal Pelagius began to intervene in strategic decisions.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=407}} His debates with John angered their troops.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=159}} The soldiers broke into the Egyptian camp on 29 August 1219 without an order, but they were soon defeated and nearly annihilated.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=159}} During the ensuing panic, only the cooperation of John, the Templars, the Hospitallers and the noble crusaders prevented the Egyptians from destroying their camp.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=159}}

In late October, Al-Kamil sent messengers to the crusaders offering to restore Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth to them if they withdrew from Egypt.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=161}} Although John and the secular lords were willing to accept the sultan's offer, Pelagius and the heads of the [[military order (society)|military orders]] resisted; they said that the Moslems could easily recapture the three towns.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=161}}{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=103}} The crusaders ultimately refused the offer.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=103}} Al-Kamil tried to send provisions to Damietta across their camp, but his men were captured on 3 November.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=417}} Two days later, the crusaders stormed into Damietta and seized the town.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=162}} Pelagius claimed it for the church, but he was forced to acknowledge John's right to administer it (at least temporarily) when John threatened to leave the crusaders' camp.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=162}} According to [[John of Joinville]], John seized one-third of Damietta's spoils;{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=109–110}} coins minted there during the following months bore his name.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=109}} Al-Mu'azzam, [[List of rulers of Damascus#Ayyubid emirs (some were also Sultans of Egypt)|emir of Damascus]] and brother of al-Kamil, invaded the Kingdom of Jerusalem and pillaged Caesarea before the end of 1219.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=113}}

John's father-in-law, Leo I of Armenia, died several months before the crusaders seized Damietta. He bequeathed his kingdom to his infant daughter, [[Isabella, Queen of Armenia|Isabella]].{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=164}} John and Raymond-Roupen of Antioch (Leo's nephew) questioned the will's legality, each demanding the [[Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia]] for themselves.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=109}} In a February 1220 letter, Honorius III declared John to be Leo's rightful heir.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=112}} Saying that he wanted to assert his claim to Cilicia, John left Damietta for the Kingdom of Jerusalem around Easter 1220.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=111}}{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=420}} Although Al-Mu'azzam's successful campaign the previous year also pressed John to leave Egypt, Jacques de Vitry and other Fifth Crusade chroniclers wrote that he deserted the crusader army.{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=111–112}}

Stephanie died shortly after John's arrival.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=165}} Contemporary sources accused John of causing her sudden death, claiming that he severely beat her when he heard that she tried to poison his daughter [[Isabella II of Jerusalem|Isabella]].{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=111–112}} Their only son died a few weeks later, ending John's claim to Cilicia.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=165}} Soon after Honorius learned about the deaths of Stephanie and her son, he declared Raymond-Roupen the lawful ruler of Cilicia and threatened John with excommunication if he fought for his late wife's inheritance.{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=114–115}}

John did not return to the crusaders in Egypt for several months.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=115}} According to a letter from the prelates in the Holy Land to Philip II of France, lack of funds kept John from leaving his kingdom.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=115}} Since his nephew Walter IV was approaching the age of majority, John surrendered the County of Brienne in 1221.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=116}} During John's absence from Egypt, Al-Kamil again offered to restore the Holy Land to the Kingdom of Jerusalem in June 1221; Pelagius refused him.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=166}} John returned to Egypt and rejoined the crusade on 6 July 1221 at the command of Honorius III.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=424}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=166}}

The commanders of the crusader army decided to continue the invasion of Egypt, despite (according to [[Philip d'Aubigny]]) John's strong opposition.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=424}}{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=118}} The crusaders approached [[Mansoura, Egypt|Mansurah]], but the Egyptians imposed a blockade on their camp.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|pp=425–426}} Outnumbered, Pelagius agreed to an eight-year truce with Al-Kamil in exchange for Damietta on 28 August.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=169}} John was among the crusade leaders held hostage by Al-Kamil until the crusader army withdrew from Damietta on 8 September.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=169}}

=== Negotiations ===
After the Fifth Crusade ended "in colossal and irremediable failure", John returned to his kingdom.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=428}}{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=120}} Merchants from [[Genoa]] and [[Pisa]] soon attacked each other in Acre, destroying a significant portion of the town.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=120}} According to a Genoese chronicle, John supported the Pisans and the Genoese left Acre for [[Beirut]].{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=120}}

John was the first king of Jerusalem to visit Europe,{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=164}} and had decided to seek aid from the Christian powers before he returned from Egypt.{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=118–119}} He also wanted to find a suitable husband for his daughter, to ensure the survival of Christian rule in the Holy Land.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=120}} John appointed [[Odo of Montbéliard]] as a ''[[bailli]]'' to administer the Kingdom of Jerusalem in his absence.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=121}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989|pp=173–174}}

[[File:Matrimonio isabella.jpg|left|thumb|alt=Manuscript illumination of Isabella II, Frederick II and several other people|Marriage of John's daughter, [[Isabella II of Jerusalem]], and [[Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II]] in 1225 (from [[Giovanni Villani]]'s ''[[Nuova Cronica]]'')]]

John left for Italy in October 1222 to attend a conference about a new crusade.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=121}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989|pp=173–174}} At John's request, Honorius III declared that all lands conquered during the crusade should be united with the Kingdom of Jerusalem.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=174}} To plan the military campaign, the pope and [[Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II]] met at [[Ferentino]] in March 1223;{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=438}} John attended the meeting.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=124}} He agreed to give his daughter in marriage to Frederick II after the emperor promised that he would allow John to rule the Kingdom of Jerusalem for the rest of his life.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=124}}

John then went to France, although Philip II was annoyed at being excluded from the decision of Isabella's marriage.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=127}} [[Matilda I of Nevers]], [[Erard II of Chacenay]], Albert, the [[abbot of Vauluisant]] and other local potentates asked John to intervene in their conflicts, indicating that he was esteemed in his homeland.{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=128–129}} John attended the funeral of Philip II at the [[Basilica of St Denis]] in July;{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=127}} Philip bequeathed more than 150,000 marks for the defence of the Holy Land.{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=174}}{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=127}} John then visited England, attempting to mediate a peace treaty between England and France after his return to France.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=128}}

John made a pilgrimage to [[Santiago de Compostela]] in March 1224.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=129}}{{sfn|Bianchini|2012|p=186}} According to the ''[[Chronica latina regum Castellae|Latin Chronicle of the Kings of Castile]]'', he went to the [[Kingdom of León]] to marry one of the elder daughters of [[Alfonso IX of León]] ([[Sancha, heiress of León|Sancha]] or [[Dulce of León|Dulce]]) because Alfonso had promised him the kingdom "along with her".{{sfn|Bianchini|2012|p=186}} The marriage could jeopardize the claim of Sancha's and Dulce's half-brother, [[Ferdinand III of Castile]], to León.{{sfn|Bianchini|2012|p=186}} To protect her son's interests, Ferdinand's mother [[Berengaria of Castile]] decided to give her daughter ([[Berengaria of León]]) to John in marriage.{{sfn|Bianchini|2012|p=186}} Although modern historians do not unanimously accept the chronicle's account of John's plan to marry Sancha or Dulce, they agree that the queen of France ([[Blanche of Castile]], Berengaria of Castile's sister) played an important role in convincing John to marry her niece.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=129}}{{sfn|Bianchini|2012|p=186}} The marriage of John and Berengaria was celebrated in [[Burgos]] in May 1224.{{sfn|Perry|2013|pp=130–131}}

About three months later, he met Frederick II's son [[Henry (VII) of Germany|Henry]] in [[Metz]] and visited Henry's guardian, Archbishop [[Engelbert of Cologne]].{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=125}} From Germany John went to southern Italy, where he persuaded Honorius III to allow Frederick II to postpone his crusade for two years.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=125}} Frederick married John's daughter, Isabella (who had been crowned queen of Jerusalem), on 9 November 1225.{{sfn|Van Cleve|1969|p=443}} John and Frederick's relationship became tense.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=135}} According to a version of Ernoul's chronicle, John got into a disagreement with his new son-in-law because Frederick seduced a niece of Isabella who was her lady-in-waiting.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=135}} In the other version of the chronicle John often "chastised and reproved" Frederick, who concluded that John wanted to seize the Kingdom of Sicily for his nephew Walter IV of Brienne and tried to murder John (who fled to Rome).{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=135}} Frederick declared that John had lost his claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem when Isabella married him; he styled himself king of Jerusalem for the first time in December 1225.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=135}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989|p=176}} [[Balian of Sidon]], Simon of Maugastel, the archbishop of Tyre, and the other Jerusalemite lords who had escorted Isabella to Italy acknowledged Frederick as their lawful king.{{sfn|Perry|2013|p=136}}