Editing Kingdom of Jerusalem (section)

=== Civil war ===
The failure of the Second Crusade had dire long-term consequences for the kingdom. The West was hesitant to send large-scale expeditions; for the next few decades, only small armies came, headed by minor European nobles who desired to make a [[Christian pilgrimage|pilgrimage]]. The Muslim states of Syria were meanwhile gradually united by Nur ad-Din, who defeated the Principality of Antioch at the [[Battle of Inab]] in 1149 and gained control of Damascus in 1154. Nur ad-Din was extremely pious and during his rule the concept of [[jihad]] came to be interpreted as a kind of counter-crusade against the kingdom, which was an impediment to Muslim unity, both political and spiritual.{{Sfn|Tyerman|2006|pp=344–345}}

[[File:Tower of david jerusalem.jpg|thumb|The [[Tower of David]] in [[Jerusalem]] as it appears today]]
In Jerusalem, the Crusaders were distracted by a conflict between Melisende and Baldwin III. Melisende continued to rule as regent long after Baldwin came of age. She was supported by, among others, Manasses of Hierges, who essentially governed for her as constable; her son [[Amalric I of Jerusalem|Amalric]], whom she set up as [[Count of Jaffa]]; [[Philip of Milly]]; and the [[Ibelin family]]. Baldwin asserted his independence by mediating disputes in Antioch and Tripoli, and gained the support of the Ibelin brothers when they began to oppose Manasses' growing power, thanks to his marriage to their widowed mother [[Helvis of Ramla]]. In 1153 Baldwin had himself crowned as sole ruler, and a compromise was reached by which the kingdom was divided in two, with Baldwin taking Acre and Tyre in the north and Melisende remaining in control of Jerusalem and the cities of the south. Baldwin was able to replace Manasses with one of his own supporters, [[Humphrey II of Toron]]. Baldwin and Melisende knew that this situation was untenable. Baldwin soon invaded his mother's possessions, defeated Manasses, and besieged his mother in the [[Tower of David]] in Jerusalem. Melisende surrendered and retired to Nablus, but Baldwin appointed her his regent and chief advisor, and she retained some of her influence, especially in appointing ecclesiastical officials.{{sfn|Mayer|1988|pages=108–111}} In 1153, Baldwin launched [[Battle of Ascalon (1153)|an offensive against Ascalon]], the fortress in the south from which Fatimid Egyptian armies had continually raided Jerusalem since the foundation of the kingdom. The fortress was captured and was added to the County of Jaffa, still in the possession of his brother Amalric.{{sfn|Mayer|1988|pages=112}}