Joscelin II: Biography, Facts and Career

Joscelin II or Joscelyn II, sometimes known as Joscelin the Younger and Joscelin of Courtenay (French: Jocelyn or Josselin; c. 1113 – May 1159) was the fourth and last ruling count of Edessa. He was son of his predecessor, Joscelin I, and Beatrice, daughter of Constantine I of Armenia. Joscelin succeeded his father, Joscelin I, after the latter died from wounds sustained in battle. He initially supported Alice for the regency over her daughter, Constance of Antioch, as part of his opposition to Fulk, King of Jerusalem. Functional relations were restored after Joscelin's allies were defeated at Chastel Rouge. Joscelin and Fulk won the Battle of Qinnasrin in 1133, and Joscelin competed with the Zengids in the early 1130s. Byzantine emperor John II Komnenos intervened in the northern Crusader states starting from 1137, extracting the fealty of Joscelin, Raymond of Poitiers (Prince of Antioch), and Raymond II, Count of Tripoli. Joscelin and Raymond of Poitiers refused to cooperate during John's campaign against Shaizar in 1138, leading to its ultimate failure. Joscelin continued to undermine Raymond, but Raymond achieved overlordship over Joscelin in 1140. When John returned in 1142 he threatened to invade the Principality of Antioch, however he died the next year. Imad al-Din Zengi renewed his conflict with Joscelin during 1143–1144 and invaded the County of Edessa. He seized Edessa itself, and then captured Saruj before stopping at Birejik, leaving Joscelin with a rump state west of the Euphrates. Joscelin attempted to reclaim Edessa after Zengi died in 1146, and seized the city. He was unable to take the citadel, and Zengi's son Nur ad-Din destroyed his army. Nur ad-Din captured Joscelin in 1150 and Joscelin died imprisoned in 1159.

Quick facts about Joscelin II

• Full name: Joscelin II
• Born: 1113-01-01
• Known as: Royal
• Wikidata ID: Q55503

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