Editing Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (section)

===Planned offensive===
On the second anniversary of his coronation, 15 July 1176, Baldwin reached the age of majority and Raymond's regency lapsed. At the suggestion of his mother, the king appointed his loyal and capable maternal uncle, [[Joscelin III of Courtenay|Joscelin of Courtenay]], to the office of seneschal and arranged for him to marry a rich heiress, Agnes of Milly.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=105–106}} The change in government signaled a new Frankish approach to the Egyptian ruler [[Saladin]], who had encircled the crusader states during Raymond's regency by conquering Muslim principalities in Syria.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=106}} Baldwin did not ratify Raymond's peace treaty with Saladin,{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=105}} firmly agreeing with Joscelin that the sultan's power needed to be curbed.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=239}}

[[File:Map Crusader states 1165-en.svg|thumb|Map of the Near East in {{circa}} 1165. By the time Baldwin IV ascended, the [[Fatimid Caliphate]] had been overthrown by Saladin, who advanced into Zengid territory.]]

As soon as he took over the government, Baldwin began planning a full-scale attack on Egypt with his advisers.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=111}} The king took advantage of Saladin's campaign in [[Aleppo]] to lead a raid around [[Damascus]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=105}} This was his first experience of warfare. Despite having use of only one hand, he refused to delegate his military duties and took part in fighting.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=108}} He and his advisers then decided to intervene in Saladin's war against the [[Order of Assassins]]. On 1 August, Baldwin and Raymond led the armies of Jerusalem and Tripoli, respectively, in a raid of the [[Beqaa Valley]] (modern-day Lebanon), where they defeated the garrison of Damascus, forcing Saladin to abandon his campaign.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=107–108}}

William of Montferrat married Baldwin's sister Sibylla in November 1176 and was made count of Jaffa and Ascalon. The nobles had misgivings because they no longer trusted his cousin Emperor Frederick's ability to aid the kingdom. According to [[Sicard of Cremona]], Baldwin offered to [[Abdication|resign the throne]] to William; if he did, William declined because he knew he lacked the support of the nobility.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=109–110}}

In order to carry out his attack on Egypt, Baldwin needed naval support. He thus sent [[Raynald of Châtillon]] to lead an embassy to Emperor Manuel, Raynald's stepson-in-law, in [[Constantinople]] in the winter of 1176–77.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=111–112}} Manuel agreed to take part in the invasion in return for the establishment of Byzantine protectorate over the kingdom and restoration of the [[Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem|Orthodox patriarch]], [[Leontius II of Jerusalem|Leontius II]], in Jerusalem.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=114, 127}} As Raynald's mission was successful, Baldwin consented to his marriage with the [[lady of Transjordan]], [[Stephanie of Milly]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=117}}

In April 1177, William of Monferrat fell sick with [[malaria]] in [[Ascalon]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=118}}{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=411}} Baldwin visited him and became gravely ill too. William died in June, leaving Sibylla pregnant and Baldwin incapacitated without a deputy ahead of a major war offensive. The king entrusted the government and military command to Raynald, snubbing the count of Tripoli.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=118}} Baldwin's first cousin Count [[Philip I of Flanders]] arrived in the East in September.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=122}}{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=414}} He brought to Baldwin financial aid from another cousin, King [[Henry II of England]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=12}} Henry was invested because he and Baldwin both belonged to the [[Angevin kings of England|Angevin family]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=120}} Still in sickbed in Ascalon, the king had himself taken back to Jerusalem in a litter and convened a general council, on the advice of which he offered regency to Philip.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=122}} Philip declined, and Raynald retained his post.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=123}}

The Byzantines sent a war fleet in preparation of the invasion of Egypt{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|pp=127}} but to Baldwin's regret{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=131}} they withdrew because of the uncooperativeness of Philip of Flanders, Bohemond of Antioch, Raymond of Tripoli, and the grand master of the [[Knights Hospitaller]], [[Roger de Moulins]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=130}} Saladin's power remained unchecked, and the Byzantine alliance collapsed.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=131}} Despite the hostility of the Latin patriarch, Amalric of Nesle, Baldwin continued to court the Greek patriarch, Leontius, in hopes that the Byzantines would remain committed to his kingdom.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=138}}