Editing Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem (section)

===Struggle with Fulk===
Early in her queenship, Melisende found herself deprived of the power she had possessed during her father's lifetime. Fulk did not associate her in any of his public acts for the first five years of the new reign.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=149}} He deliberately attempted to remove Melisende from power,{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=110}} which was in contravention of both their marriage contract and Baldwin II's last will.{{sfn|Mayer|1989|p=1}} Melisende's exclusion from power was not just a matter of protocol: without a role in the government she could not grant appointments and land.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=150}} In 1134, noblemen led by Melisende's second cousin and vassal Count [[Hugh II of Jaffa]] revolted against Fulk.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|pp=149–150}} The reasons are not entirely clear.{{sfn|Mayer|1989|pp=1–2}} Hamilton agrees with Mayer's conclusion that the conflict originated from Fulk's replacement of the kingdom's established nobility with newcomers from Anjou.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=150}}{{sfn|Mayer|1989|p=4}} According to Mayer, the noblemen may have expected to be protected by the queen from the king's designs if they succeeded in restoring her to the place in government which her father had intended for her to have.{{sfn|Mayer|1989|p=4}} The historian [[Malcolm Barber]] argues that Melisende must have been involved in the revolt, but concedes that her role is unknown.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=156}}

William of Tyre recorded the rumor that the queen was having an illicit relationship with the "young and very handsome" Count Hugh, drawing the king's ire.{{sfn|Mayer|1989|p=2}} Hamilton and Mayer both discount the gossip. Mayer argues that William himself did not believe the rumor{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=102}} and that a medieval queen, being constantly attended by the members of her household and the court, would have found it exceedingly difficult to have a secret lover.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=107}} Hamilton, on the other hand, argues that public opinion, spearheaded by the clergy, would have sided with Fulk and not, as it did, with Melisende if she had committed adultery.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=150}} Mayer suspects that the rumors may have been spread by Fulk to both get rid of Hugh and to have Melisende locked up in a monastery, circumventing Baldwin II's will.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=110}}
[[File:Atentat.jpg|thumb|A knight stabs Count Hugh, who is playing dice in the street. Royal involvement was widely suspected.|alt=Two seated men attacked]]
Hugh's stepson [[Walter I Grenier]], [[lord of Caesarea]], openly accused him of [[treason]] at court.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=149}} Mayer suggests that Walter may have been incited to make this accusation. Hugh denied the charge and was challenged to a [[trial by combat]], but did not appear. The king thus obtained a legal reason to confiscate Hugh's [[County of Jaffa]]. Fulk laid siege to Jaffa, but the patriarch intervened and mediated peace: Hugh would cede Jaffa to the king and receive it back after spending three years in exile. Before he could leave for Europe, Hugh was stabbed in the street by a knight.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=102}} After recovering he went into exile, where he died.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|pp=102–103}} The assassination attempt was widely suspected to have been ordered by King Fulk;{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=150}} though Fulk's involvement was never proven, his reputation was severely damaged.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=103}}

Melisende was incensed by Fulk's treatment of Hugh and the slight on her honor.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=150}}{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=109}} Fulk's men did not dare appear in her presence.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=103}} The queen directed most of her wrath at the [[viscount of Jerusalem|viscount]], [[Rohard the Elder]], whom she held most responsible for influencing Fulk.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=103}} Fulk even feared for his own life.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=106}} Mayer suggests that for this reason, Fulk stayed in Antioch in 1135.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=107}} The court was disrupted until third parties mediated a reconciliation between the king and queen. After persistent attempts, Fulk succeeded in obtaining Melisende's pardon for Rohard and his other supporters, who were then able to appear at court again.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=103}} From then on Fulk, in the words of William of Tyre, "did not attempt to take the initiative, even in trivial matters, without her knowledge".{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=150}}