Editing Baldwin I of Jerusalem (section)

==King of Jerusalem==
===Coronation===
[[File:Bataille du Nahr al-Kalb (1100).jpg|thumb|Battle of Nahr al-Kalb]]
News of Godfrey's death reached Edessa shortly after Baldwin's return from Melitene.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=62}} His chaplain, [[Fulcher of Chartres]], noticed that Baldwin "grieved somewhat over the death of his brother, but rejoiced more over his inheritance".{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=62}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=69}} To finance his journey to Jerusalem, Baldwin seized gold and silver from his subjects.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=62}} He appointed his relative, [[Baldwin II of Jerusalem|Baldwin of Le Bourcq]], his successor in the county and Le Bourcq swore fealty to him.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=62}}{{sfn|Tyerman|2006|p=186}}

About 200 knights and 300–700 foot-soldiers accompanied Baldwin when he left Edessa on 2{{nbs}}October 1100.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=62}}{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=61}} He spent four days in Antioch, but did not accept the local inhabitants' plea for him to administer the principality during Bohemond's captivity.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=62}} Duqaq of Damascus wanted to ambush him on the narrow road near the mouth of the [[Nahr al-Kalb|Nahr al-Kalb River]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=62}} The [[qadi]] of [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]] secretly warned Baldwin, which enabled him to [[Battle of Nahr al-Kalb|defeat the attack]] and rout the Damascene troops.{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=63}} Tancred hurried to Jerusalem to persuade the garrison to surrender the town to him, but he was barred from the town.{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=72}}

Baldwin reached Jerusalem around 9{{nbs}}November.{{sfn|Murray|2000|p=94}} Daimbert withdrew to a [[monastery]] on [[Mount Zion]], and the townspeople stopped Baldwin outside the walls and ceremoniously accompanied him to the [[Holy Sepulchre]].{{sfn|Murray|2000|p=94}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989a|p=325}} Albert of Aix's sporadic references suggest that Baldwin adopted the title of prince.{{sfn|Murray|2000|p=95}} Baldwin first raided the environs of [[Ascalon]], which was still held by the [[Fatimid Caliphate|Egyptians]], then launched a punitive expedition against the bandits who had their headquarters in the caves near Jerusalem.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=63}} He made an incursion across the [[River Jordan]] before returning to Jerusalem on 21 December.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=63}}

Baldwin was reconciled with Daimbert who agreed to anoint and crown him king.{{sfn|Runciman|1989a|p=325}}{{sfn|MacEvitt|2010|p=117}} The ceremony took place in the [[Church of the Nativity]] in [[Bethlehem]] on Christmas Day.{{sfn|MacEvitt|2010|p=117}}{{sfn|Murray|2000|p=96}} Thereafter Baldwin was most frequently styled king.{{sfn|Murray|2000|p=95}} For instance, a charter of grant in 1104 referred to him as "Baldwin, king of Judea and Jerusalem, and defensor of the Holiest Sepulchre of our Lord, Jesus Christ".{{sfn|Murray|2000|p=73}} In most of his charters, he also emphasised that he was Godfrey's lawful heir.{{sfn|Murray|2000|p=95}}

===First successes===

When Geldemar Carpenel laid claim to [[Haifa]], stating that Tancred had arbitrarily seized it,{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=54, 65}} Baldwin summoned Tancred to Jerusalem, but Tancred did not recognise him as the lawful monarch.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=65}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=83}} They agreed to meet at a river near Jaffa, but their meeting did not result in compromise.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=65}} The conflict was resolved when Tancred was invited to Antioch to administer the principality on Bohemond's behalf.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=65}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=83}} Before leaving for Antioch in March, Tancred renounced his domains in Palestine, but also stipulated that the same domains should be granted in fief to him if he were to leave Antioch within fifteen months.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=65}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=65}} Baldwin gave Haifa to Geldemar and the [[Principality of Galilee|Galilee]] to [[Hugh of Fauquembergues]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=65}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=66}}

A new papal legate, [[Maurice of Porto]], came to Jerusalem in early March 1101.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=73}} After Baldwin accused Daimbert of treachery and convinced Maurice to suspend him on 15{{nbs}}April, Daimbert had to bribe Baldwin with 300 [[bezant]]s to persuade the legate to restore him to his office.{{sfn|MacEvitt|2010|p=117}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=73}} The towns along the coast which were still under Egyptian rule—[[Arsuf]], [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]], [[Acre (city)|Acre]] and [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre]]—sent gifts to Baldwin to secure his benevolence.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=72}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=115}}

Always in need of funds, Baldwin concluded an alliance with the commanders of a [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] fleet, offering commercial privileges and booty to them in the towns that he would capture with their support.{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=115}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=73}} They first attacked Arsuf, which surrendered without resistance on 29 April, securing a safe passage for the townspeople to Ascalon.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=73}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=67}} The Egyptian garrison at Caesarea resisted, but the town fell on 17{{nbs}}May.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=73}} Baldwin's soldiers pillaged Caesarea and massacred the majority of the adult local population.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=73}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=69}} The Genoese received one third of the booty, but Baldwin did not grant areas in the captured towns to them.{{sfn|Edgington|2019|pp=118–119}}

===Battles at Ramla===
{{Further|Battle of Ramla (1101)|Battle of Ramla (1102)|Battle of Ramla (1105)}}

While Baldwin and the Genoese were besieging Caesarea, the Egyptian [[vizier]], [[Al-Afdal Shahanshah]], started mustering troops at Ascalon.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=72}} Baldwin moved his headquarters to nearby Jaffa and fortified [[Ramla]] to hinder any attempt at a surprise attack against Jerusalem.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=72}} He demanded more funds from Daimbert to cover the costs of this defense, but the patriarch refused.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=73}} During a passionate debate in the presence of the papal legate, Daimbert stated that Baldwin should not "presume to make tributary and servant the holy Church".{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=73}}<ref>''Albert of Aachen: ''Historia Ierosolimitana'' – History of the Journey to Jerusalem'' (ch. vii.60)</ref>{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=82}} The legate persuaded Daimbert to promise that he would "maintain thirty soldiers by a money agreement",<ref>''Albert of Aachen: ''Historia Ierosolimitana'' – History of the Journey to Jerusalem'' (ch. vii.61)</ref> but the patriarch failed to raise the promised amount.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=82}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=100}}

The lightly armed and undisciplined Egyptian army approached Ramla in early September.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=74}} The much smaller, but experienced and well-equipped crusader forces were the first to attack, at dawn on 7{{nbs}}September.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=75}} At least two of the five or six crusader corps were almost annihilated during the first phase of the battle, but Baldwin persuaded the remnants of his army to launch a fresh attack, surprising the Egyptians.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|pp=74–75}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=130}} After a short resistance, they fled in panic, pursued by the crusaders as far as Ascalon.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=75}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=70}}

[[Roger Borsa]], [[Duke of Apulia]], sent money to Daimbert, partially for the recruitment of soldiers, but Daimbert retained the whole sum.{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=73–74}} After learning of this embezzlement, Baldwin convinced the papal legate to dismiss Daimbert in late 1101.{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=27}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=74}} Daimbert fled first to Jaffa, then to Tancred in Antioch.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=82}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=100}} The vacancy enabled Baldwin to freely use the patriarch's rich treasury.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=82}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|pp=100–101}}

[[Stephen, Count of Blois]], [[Hugh VI of Lusignan|Hugh of Lusignan]] and other survivors of the [[Crusade of 1101|catastrophic crusade of the previous year]] came to celebrate Easter in Jerusalem in 1102.{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=27}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=76}} Shortly thereafter, a strong Egyptian army invaded the kingdom.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=70}} On 17 May, and against all advice, Baldwin and a force of about 500 horsemen that included dozens of new crusaders, rode out to meet the Egyptians.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=70}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|pp=76–77}} In this [[Battle of Ramla (1102)|second battle fought at Ramla]], the Egyptians were the victors, and they forced Baldwin and his men to take refuge in Ramla.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=70}} Baldwin escaped from the fortress before the Egyptians laid siege to it, leaving his troops to be killed or captured.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=78}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=136}} He fled to Arsuf, after which an English pirate, [[Godric of Finchale|Godric]], took him to Jaffa, although the Egyptian army had blockaded it from the land.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=70}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=137}} He went to Jerusalem to gather new troops and returned to Jaffa with more than 100 horsemen.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=79}} However, only the arrival of a fleet filled with hundreds of English, French and German pilgrims forced the Egyptians to lift the siege on 27{{nbs}}May.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|pp=79–80}} Baldwin wrote to Alexios I Komnenos, urging him not to obstruct their journey.{{sfn|Lilie|1993|pp=65–66}}

[[File:Ramla1105.jpg|thumb|alt=A dozen horsemen, each holding a sword and a shield at a fortress the gates of which are defended by foot soldiers|The [[Battle of Ramla (1105)|third battle of Ramla]] (in 1105)]]

During the siege of Jaffa, Baldwin had sent envoys to Antioch and Edessa, seeking assistance from Tancred and Baldwin II.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=74}} They arrived only after the Egyptians' withdrawal.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=74}} Tancred tried to persuade the new papal legate, Robert of St Eusebio, to restore Daimbert, but Baldwin convinced Robert to discuss the issue with the local bishops and abbots.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=74}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=83}} After the prelates unanimously stated that Daimbert had almost provoked a civil war and had abused his ecclesiastic authority, the legate allowed them to elect a pious priest, [[Evremar]], as patriarch.{{sfn|Murray|2000|p=195}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|pp=83–84}}

Baldwin laid siege to Acre in April 1103, but an Egyptian fleet relieved the town.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=87}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=68}} He launched a raid against the bandits who had settled on [[Mount Carmel]], but he was wounded in the kidneys and did not recover until the end of the year.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=87}} After a fleet of Genoese and Pisan ships arrived at Haifa in April 1104, Baldwin made an alliance with their commanders and again [[Siege of Acre (1104)|besieged Acre]].{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=88}}{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=28}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=120}} The town surrendered on 26{{nbs}}May after Baldwin promised a free passage to those who wanted to move to Ascalon, but the Italian sailors plundered the wealthy emigrants and killed many of them.{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=68}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=68–69}} Baldwin wanted to punish the Genoese, but the patriarch mediated a reconciliation and Baldwin had to grant one-third of the town to them.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=88}} Acre had always been the most important port of trade between Syria and Europe, and the harbour dues generated significant revenues for him.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=88}}{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=67}}

Duqaq's death on 14{{nbs}}June led to internal conflict in Damascus.{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=28}} The [[atabeg]] (or [[regent]]) [[Toghtekin]] emerged as the ruler, but faced strong opposition.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=89}} Baldwin promised to support Duqaq's young brother [[Irtash]] against Toghtekin.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=89}} His intervention brought about a rapprochement between the [[Sunnite]] Toghtekin and the [[Shiite]] Al-Afdal.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=89}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=71}} After Egyptian horsemen and foot soldiers invaded the kingdom from the south, and Syrian mounted archers from the west in August 1105, Baldwin assembled the largest crusader army since the beginning of his reign.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=71}} At his request, Patriarch Evremar displayed the [[True Cross]] before the army to strengthen the crusaders' self-confidence.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=71}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=103}} They inflicted a decisive defeat on the Egyptian and Syrian armies at [[Battle of Ramla (1105)|Ramla]] on 27{{nbs}}August.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=90}}

===Expansion===
The Egyptians failed to launch any major military campaigns against the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but they did continually raid Baldwin's southern frontier.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=90}} They massacred hundreds of pilgrims near Jaffa and defeated the governor of the town while Baldwin was fighting against Damascene troops in Galilee in October 1106.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=90}} In 1107 the Egyptians attacked [[Hebron]], but Baldwin forced them to lift the siege.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=91}} The Egyptian raids did not prevent Baldwin from pursuing an expansionist policy.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=91}} He compelled the governor of Sidon to pay a large tribute for a two-year truce in early 1106.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=91}} Early the following year, he made a raid into [[Oultrejordain]] and forced the enemy to destroy a fortress recently built by Damascene troops to control the caravan routes.{{sfn|Tibble|1989|p=29}} In August 1108 Baldwin and a band of Italian adventurers laid siege to Sidon, but the arrival of an Egyptian fleet and Turkish horsemen from Damascus forced him to abandon the siege.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=91}} In late 1108, he concluded a ten-year truce with the Turkoman Emir of Damascus [[Toghtekin]] in exchange for one-third of state revenues from the northern regions of Oultrejordain.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=96}}

[[File:Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles 2009.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A strong castle built of stones|[[Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles|Mount Pilgrim]] at [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]]]]

[[Bertrand, Count of Toulouse]] came to Syria to claim the lands that his father, [[Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse|Raymond of Saint Gilles]], had conquered around Tripoli.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=91}} Bertrand's cousin, [[William II Jordan|William Jordan]], who had ruled these lands since Raymond's death, refused to cede them to him.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=91}} Bertrand sought Baldwin's assistance, while William Jordan secured Tancred's support.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=91}} Tancred had already outraged Baldwin II of Edessa through refusing to abandon Turbessel.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=84}}{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=30}} Baldwin convoked [[Council of Tripoli|an assembly]] to put an end to the crusader leaders' conflicts.{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=91–92}} Since neither Tancred nor Jordan were his vassals, he summoned them in the name of the "whole church of Jerusalem" to the castle of [[Mount Pilgrim]] near Tripoli.{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=30}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=92}} At the assembly in June 1109, Tancred agreed to abandon Turbessel in return for his restoration to his old domains in the Kingdom of Jerusalem (Galilee, Haifa and the [[Templum Domini|Temple of the Lord]]).{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=91}}{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=30}} Tancred did not take possession of his old domain, which remained under Baldwin's control.{{sfn|Tibble|1989|p=12}} Raymond's inheritance was distributed between Bertrand and Jordan, with Bertrand swearing fealty to Baldwin, and Jordan to Tancred.{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=91–92}}

The crusader leaders united their forces to complete the [[siege of Tripoli|conquest of Tripoli]] begun by Raymond.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=91}} On 26{{nbs}}June, the Egyptian governor, Sharaf ad-Daulah, offered to surrender the town if a safe passage for those who wanted to leave the town was guaranteed.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=92}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=69}} Baldwin accepted the offer, but he could not prevent the Genoese from killing all those inhabitants whom they could capture.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=92}}{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=80}} Two-thirds of the town was granted to Bertrand of Toulouse who again took an oath of fealty to Baldwin.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=69}} Baldwin captured Beirut on 13{{nbs}}May 1110, with the assistance of Bertrand and a Genoese fleet.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=93}} He was again unable to prevent a general massacre of the townspeople.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=92}}{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=81}}

[[Mawdud]], the atabeg of Mosul, and his allies invaded the County of Edessa during the [[Siege of Beirut (1110)|siege of Beirut]].{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|pp=115–116}} After the fall of Beirut, Baldwin and Bertrand{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=31}} hurried to Edessa to fight against the invaders.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=116}} Baldwin II of Edessa accused Tancred of having incited the Muslim rulers to take actions against him.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=116}} Regarding himself as the leader of all the Crusaders, Baldwin ordered Tancred to join the campaign and make peace with Baldwin II, otherwise he would declare Tancred the enemy of Christianity.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=116}} Since most crusaders supported the king, Tancred had no choice but to obey.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=116}} The incident strengthened Baldwin's suzerainty over Edessa.{{sfn|Lilie|1993|p=81}} After the new reconciliation, the crusaders pursued Mawdud, but rumours about Muslim attacks against Antioch and Jerusalem forced them to stop the campaign.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=117}} Before leaving the county, Baldwin suggested that the Christian (mainly Armenian) peasants should be transferred to the lands west of the Euphrates, because the Seljuk rulers had frequently raided the eastern regions.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=117}} While the peasants were gathering at a ferry on the river, Mawdud made a sudden raid and massacred most of them.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=117}}

[[Sigurd the Crusader|Sigurd I of Norway]]—the first king to visit the Kingdom of Jerusalem—had meanwhile landed at Acre.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=92}} Baldwin made an alliance with him and they laid [[Siege of Sidon (1110)|siege to Sidon]] in October 1110.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=92}} An Egyptian fleet routed the Norwegians, but the [[Doge of Venice]], [[Ordelafo Faliero]], and his fleet soon joined the crusaders and the town capitulated on 5{{nbs}}December.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=93}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=92}} Baldwin spared the lives of the townspeople and many of them moved to Tyre and Damascus.{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=81}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=124}} The following year Baldwin marched to Ascalon:{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=88}} to prevent a siege the Egyptian governor of the town, Shams al-Khalīfa, promised to pay 70,000 [[dinar]]s as a tribute and allowed crusader troops into the citadel.{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=88}}{{sfn|Hillenbrand|2000|p=82}} However, the townspeople rose up against al-Khalīfa in July{{sfn|Hillenbrand|2000|p=82}} and his [[Berbers|Berber]] guards joined the rioters, murdering him and the crusader troops.{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=88}}

Mawdud launched a new expedition against the northern crusader states in August.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=122}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=163}} At Tancred's request, Baldwin mustered his troops and hurried to the North.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=122}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=163}} Bertrand of Tripoli, Baldwin II of Edessa and the Armenian rulers also came to fight against Mawdud, who [[Battle of Shaizar (1111)|was compelled to return]] to Mosul in the autumn.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=123}} Shortly thereafter, Baldwin attacked a caravan that was travelling from Tyre to Damascus, carrying with it the city's most precious possessions, and was able to carry off the rich cargo.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=93}} In late November, he laid [[Siege of Tyre (1111–1112)|siege to Tyre]], although he had no supporting fleet.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=93}} He was still besieging the town when a Byzantine embassy arrived.{{sfn|Lilie|1993|p=86}} The Byzantines tried to persuade him to join a coalition against Tancred, while he wanted to secure their assistance against Tyre.{{sfn|Lilie|1993|p=86}} They could not reach a compromise, but Izz al-Mulk, the Egyptian governor of Tyre, persuaded Toghtekin to come to the rescue of the besieged town.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|pp=93–94}} Toghtekin compelled Baldwin to lift the siege and withdraw to Acre in April 1112.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=94}}

[[File:Montreal Castle 01.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A ruined castle built of stones on a hill|[[Montreal (castle)|Montreal Castle]] (at [[Shoubak]] in [[Jordan]])]]

Baldwin made an incursion against Damascene territory in 1113.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=126}} Mawdud and an Artuqid emir, Ayaz, who came to assist Toghtekin against the crusaders, routed Baldwin in the [[Battle of al-Sannabra]] in late June, forcing him to seek assistance from the new rulers of Tripoli and Antioch, [[Pons of Tripoli|Pons]] and [[Roger of Salerno|Roger]].{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=163}} Toghtekin, Mawdud and Ayaz invaded Galilee, but they did not risk attacking [[Tiberias]] after the arrival of the troops from Tripoli and Antioch.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|pp=126–127}} Toghtekin and Mawdud returned to Damascus where an [[Order of Assassins|Assassin]] murdered Mawdud in late September.{{sfn|Tyerman|2006|p=203}} The Seljuk sultan, [[Muhammad I Tapar]], sent a large army to northern Syria in spring 1115.{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=87}} In an attempt to maintain the equilibrium in the region, Toghtekin soon sought reconciliation with the crusaders.{{sfn|Tyerman|2006|p=203}} He made an alliance with the crusader rulers, and their coalition forced the Seljuk troops to withdraw without a fight.{{sfn|Maalouf|1984|p=87}}

With the pressure on the northern regions diminished, Baldwin was able to again deal with the Egyptians, who had already approached Jerusalem in 1113, and made a fresh attempt to capture Jaffa in 1115.{{sfn|Tyerman|2006|p=203}} Baldwin led an expedition across the Jordan and ordered the construction of the castle of [[Montreal (castle)|Montreal]] in the autumn of 1115.{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=33}}{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=98}} The following year, he returned to the region and marched as far as [[Aqaba|Akaba]] on the [[Red Sea]].{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=98}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=105}} After the local inhabitants fled from the town, Baldwin constructed castles in the town and on a nearby island and left a garrison in both fortresses.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=98}} The three strongholds—[[Montreal (castle)|Montreal]], Eilat and [[Pharaoh's Island|Graye]]—secured the control of the caravan routes between Syria and Egypt.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|p=98}}{{sfn|Edgington|2019|p=173}} They also enabled Baldwin to continuously survey the movements of the Egyptian troops.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=105}} From the Red Sea coast, Baldwin hastened to Tyre and began the construction of a new fortress, known as [[Scandelion Castle]], at the [[Ladder of Tyre]], which completed the blockade of the town from the mainland.{{sfn|Runciman|1989b|pp=98–99}}{{sfn|Tibble|1989|p=52}}