Editing Baldwin I of Jerusalem (section)

===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}}