Melisende
Sign in to saveQueen of Jerusalem (1105-1161)
Key facts
- Reign
- 1131–1152
- Coronations
- 14 September 1131 25 December 1143
- Predecessor
- Baldwin II
- Successor
- Baldwin III
- Co rulers
- Fulk (1131–1143) Baldwin III (1143–1152)
- Born
- 1104/09 or slightly later
- Died
- 11 September 1161 (aged 51 – 52)
- Burial
- Abbey of Saint Mary of the Valley of Jehosaphat
- Spouse
- Fulk V of Anjou ( married</span>"}]]}'>m. 1129 ; died 1143 )
- Issue
- Baldwin III of Jerusalem Amalric of Jerusalem
- House
- House of Rethel
- Father
- Baldwin II of Jerusalem
- Mother
- Morphia of Melitene
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Gender
- female
- Citizenship
- Kingdom of Jerusalem
- Place of birth
- Şanlıurfa Province
- Place of death
- Jerusalem
- Spouse
- Fulk, King of Jerusalem
- Father
- Baldwin II of Jerusalem
- Mother
- Morphia of Melitene
- Sibling
- Alice of Antioch
- Occupation
- politician
- Religion
- Christianity
- Noble title
- King of Jerusalem
- Image
- Melisende and Fulk of Jerusalem.jpg
Show 4 more facts
- Commons category
- Melisende of Jerusalem
- date of birth
- 1105-01-01
- date of death
- 1161-09-11
- place of burial
- Tomb of the Virgin Mary
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~40 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Melisende (c. 1109 – 11 September 1161) was the queen of Jerusalem from 1131 to 1152. She was the first female ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the first woman to hold a public office in the crusader kingdom. Her fame grew in her lifetime for her generous support of the various Christian communities in her kingdom. Contemporary chronicler William of Tyre praised her wisdom and abilities, while modern historians differ in their assessment.
Melisende was of mixed Frankish–Armenian heritage, the eldest daughter of King Baldwin II and Queen Morphia. In the late 1120s, when it became clear that her father would likely not have a son, she was declared heir presumptive to the throne and married Fulk of Anjou. Baldwin II died in 1131, having conferred the kingdom on Melisende, Fulk, and their son Baldwin III. Melisende and Fulk were crowned shortly after.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Melisende” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.