Editing 1160 (section)

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; Emperor [[Manuel I Komnenos]] sends an embassy led by [[John Kontostephanos (son of Stephen)|John Kontostephanos]] to [[Kingdom of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]], to ask King [[Baldwin III of Jerusalem|Baldwin III]] to nominate one of the princesses of the [[Crusader states]], as a bride for the widowed emperor. Their two candidates are 15-year-old [[Maria of Antioch]], and [[Melisende of Tripoli]]. Baldwin suggests Melisende, and her brother Count [[Raymond III, Count of Tripoli|Raymond III]] sets about gathering an enormous [[dowry]]. The ambassadors are not satisfied, and delay the marriage for over a year. They hear rumours about Melisende's birth, based on her mother's (Countess [[Hodierna of Jerusalem]]) infidelity, and therefore Melisende's possible illegitimacy.<ref name=Runciman1160>{{cite book|author-link=Steven Runciman|first=Steven|last=Runciman|year=1952|title=A History of The Crusades. Vol II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem|pages=291–293|isbn=978-0-241-29876-3}}</ref> In the end, the Emperor marries Maria in [[1161]] and Melisende eventually enters a convent.