Editing 1152 (section)

==== Levant ====
* Spring &ndash; King [[Baldwin III of Jerusalem|Baldwin III]] and his mother, Queen [[Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem|Melisende]], are called to intervene in a dispute between Baldwin's aunt [[Hodierna of Jerusalem|Hodierna]] and her husband [[Raymond II, Count of Tripoli|Raymond II]], count of [[County of Tripoli|Tripoli]]. Hodierna decides to take a long holiday, and travels to [[Kingdom of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]], while Raymond escorts her out on the road southwards. On the way back to Tripoli, a group of [[order of Assassins|Assassins]] stabs him to death at the southern gate of the city. The garrison rushes to arms and pours into the streets, slaying every Muslim in their way, but the Assassins manage to escape; the motive of their act is never known.<ref>[[Steven Runciman]] (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem'', p. 271. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29876-3}}.</ref> 
* Baldwin III demands more authority and blames [[Manasses of Hierges|Manasses]], ruler of [[Ramla]], for interfering with his legal succession as ruler of Jerusalem. He demands a second coronation from Patriarch [[Patriarch Fulk of Jerusalem|Fulcher]] separated from Melisende. Fulcher refuses, and as a kind of self-coronation Baldwin parades through the city streets with laurel wreaths on his head. Before the High Court (''[[Haute Cour of Jerusalem|Haute Cour]]'') the decision is made to divide the kingdom into two districts.
* Baldwin III begins a civil war against Melisende and launches an invasion in the south. He captures the castle of [[Majdal Yaba#Crusader, Ayyubid and Mamluk rule|Mirabel]], which is defended by Manasses. Baldwin spares his life and is exiled, [[Nablus]] thereupon surrenders soon after. Melisende seeks refuge in the [[Tower of David]] with her younger son, the 16-year-old [[Amalric of Jerusalem|Amalric]]. Baldwin enters Jerusalem, he allows his mother to retain Nablus and the neighbourhood as her dower.<ref>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusaders. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem'', pp. 272–273. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29876-3}}.</ref>
* Summer &ndash; [[Nur ad-Din (died 1174)|Nur al-Din]], Seljuk ruler (''[[atabeg]]'') of [[Aleppo]], re-captures most of Crusader territory in the [[Orontes River|Orontes Valley]] – reducing the [[Principality of Antioch]] to little more than a narrow coastal strip along the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]]. The [[County of Tripoli]] remains unchanged and Jerusalem remains a potential threat with ambitions to expand eastward, while also striving to dominate the [[Fatimid Caliphate]] in [[Egypt in the Middle Ages|Egypt]].<ref>David Nicolle (2011). Osprey - Command 12: Saladin, p. 6. {{ISBN|978-1-84908-317-1}}.</ref>