Editing Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem (section)

====Family affairs====
[[File:Egerton ms 1139!1 fse005r.jpg|thumb|upright|The Melisende Psalter is seen as an attempt by the king to win back his wife.|alt=An embroidered book cover]]
After their reconciliation, Fulk never again issued a charter pertaining to the Kingdom of Jerusalem without Melisende's consent.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=110}} He did not seek Melisende's consent where he did not have to, however. He based his [[regency]] for Melisende's niece Constance of Antioch on the decision of the barons of the principality, and Melisende had no claim to it.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|pp=109–110}} According to Barber, maintaining hostilities with Fulk was not in Melisende's interest after she was restored to power. He notes that Melisende needed to strengthen her succession, which had hitherto rested on only one son; and that she wished to influence Fulk's policies in Antioch, where her sister Alice once again seized power. Melisende did successfully intercede with Fulk not to interfere with Alice's actions. He returned from Antioch in late 1135, and the royal couple conceived another child.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=156}} A son, [[Amalric of Jerusalem|Amalric]], was born in 1136.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=151}} He became Melisende's favorite child.{{sfn|Mayer|1972|p=141}}

A tangible result of Melisende and Fulk's reconciliation is the luxurious [[Melisende Psalter]].{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=160–161}} The psalter is a personal [[prayer book]] commissioned around 1135,{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=160–161}} and interpreted by Folda as part of Fulk's energetic attempts to ingratiate himself with Melisende.{{sfn|Folda|2012|p=449}} It reflects the amalgamation of [[Western culture|Western]], [[Greek culture|Greek]], and [[Armenian culture]]s in the crusader states.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=160}} Folda argues that the psalter points to the recipient's artistic taste, interests, and sensibilities as queen of a diverse population.{{sfn|Folda|2012|p=459}}

Melisende's intervention did not guarantee Alice's fortunes for long: she lost her regency in Antioch, this time permanently, when [[Raymond of Poitiers]] arrived to marry her still-underage daughter, Constance, in 1136.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=167}} The queen was also determined to make provisions for her youngest sisters, Hodierna and Ioveta, who were children when their father died. Hodierna married the count of Tripoli, Raymond II, sometime before 1138. Barber believes that the union was arranged by Melisende in an attempt to link the ruling houses of all the crusader states. Ioveta, who had grown up in a convent, took vows as a [[nun]] {{circa}} 1134.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=157}} According to William's chronicle, Melisende judged that Ioveta was of too high birth to be a mere nun and decided that she should be made an [[abbess]] instead.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=151}} Barber finds it difficult to tell how much Melisende was motivated by affection in her relationships with her sisters, particularly noting that "there is no way of knowing" whether Ioveta wished to live a monastic life or if Melisende induced her to negate the political threat which Ioveta may have represented as the sister born during their father's kingship.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=157}}
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{{chart top|Melisende's close family and relationship with Frankish leaders{{sfn|Runciman|1952|loc=Appendix III}}}}
{{family tree/start|align=center}}
<!--- Runciman names Melisende of Montlhéry's parents, but the identification is wrong. Best to leave that generation out. --->
{{tree chart |border=0| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|q|-|v|-|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart |border=0| | | | | | | | |Gabriel| | | |Hugh|v|Melisende| | | | | |Alice| |Isabella|Hugh=[[Hugh I of Rethel]]|Melisende=Melisende of Montlhéry|Alice=Alice of Montlhéry|Isabella=Isabella of Montlhéry|Gabriel=[[Gabriel of Melitene]]}}
{{tree chart |border=0| | | | | | | | | |!| | | |,|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |!|}}
{{tree chart |border=0| | | | | | | | |Morphia|v|Baldwin| | | | | | | |Hodierna| |Hugh| |Joscelin|Baldwin=[[Baldwin II of Jerusalem]]|Morphia=[[Morphia of Melitene]]|Hodierna=Hodierna of Rethel|Hugh=[[Hugh I of Jaffa]]|Joscelin=[[Joscelin I of Edessa]]}}
{{tree chart |border=0| | | |,|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | |!| | | |!|}}
{{tree chart |border=0| | |Melisende| | | |Alice| | | |Hodierna| |Ioveta| |Manasses| |Hugh| |Joscelin|Melisende=Melisende of Jerusalem<br>m. [[Fulk V of Anjou]]|Alice=[[Alice of Antioch|Alice of Jerusalem]]<br>m. [[Bohemond II of Antioch]]|Hodierna=[[Hodierna of Jerusalem]]<br>m. [[Raymond II of Tripoli]]|Ioveta=[[Ioveta]] of Jerusalem|Manasses=[[Manasses of Hierges]]|Hugh=[[Hugh II of Jaffa]]|Joscelin=[[Joscelin II of Edessa]]}}
{{tree chart |border=0| |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | |,|-|^|-|.|}}
{{tree chart |border=0|Baldwin| |Amalric| |Constance| |Raymond| |Melisende|Baldwin=[[Baldwin III of Jerusalem]]|Amalric=[[Amalric of Jerusalem]]|Constance=[[Constance of Antioch]]|Raymond=[[Raymond III of Tripoli]]|Melisende=[[Melisende of Tripoli]]}}
{{chart/end}}
{{chart bottom}}