Joscelin I, Count of Edessa: Biography, Facts and Career

Joscelin I or Joscelyn I, also known as Joscelin of Courtenay (French: Jocelyn or Josselin; c. 1080 – August 1131) was a Frankish nobleman of the House of Courtenay who ruled as the lord of Turbessel (1101–1113), prince of Galilee (1113–1119) and count of Edessa (1118–1131). Joscelin came to the Levant in the aftermath of the 1101 Crusade, and served his cousin Baldwin of Bourcq, count of Edessa, receiving lands west of the Euphrates. By 1113, these had formed into a wealthy lordship around Turbessel, but he was dispossessed by Baldwin soon after. He went to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, where the king, Baldwin of Boulogne, made him the Prince of Galilee. In 1118, King Baldwin I of Jerusalem died, and Baldwin of Bourcq stood to succeed him. Joscelin supported Baldwin and was in exchange granted the County of Edessa in 1119. As count, Joscelin commanded significant support from his Armenian subjects, and fought constant wars with his neighbouring Muslim rivals in the 1120s. He was captured by Belek Ghazi in 1122, and was joined by Baldwin in 1123. He managed to break out in the Autumn, but failed to immediately secure Baldwin's release as well. Belek's death in 1124 allowed Baldwin to be ransomed from his successor, Timurtash. Joscelin clashed with Bohemond of Antioch after his arrival in 1126, though they reconciled in 1127. Bohemond's death in 1130 saw a short crisis with his widow, Alice, which ended in Joscelin becoming regent over Bohemond's young daughter. A Christian coalition defeated the Muslims at Azaz, but the death of Aqsunqur al-Bursuqi led to Zengi using the succession crisis in Aleppo to become the master of Syria (including Aleppo) and Damascus by 1129, and began wars against the Crusader states, including Edessa. Joscelin began threatening Aleppo, but he was gravely injured during a siege. Joscelin marched his army to relieve the besieged fortress of Kaysun, and died soon after. He was succeeded by his son Joscelin II as ruler of the County of Edessa for nineteen years before its fall to the Zengids. During his reign, Joscelin had dealt with religious and ethnic differences in the county, including overseeing a synod in 1129, and making grants to the Hospitallers and monasteries. He was seen as a Frankish intermediary by the Muslim powers in the region.

Quick facts about Joscelin I, Count of Edessa

• Full name: Joscelin I, Count of Edessa
• Born: 1072-01-01
• Nationality: France
• Known as: Royal
• Wikidata ID: Q51719

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.