KING OF JERUSALEM Meaning and
Definition
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King of Jerusalem refers to the title bestowed upon the monarch who ruled over the kingdom of Jerusalem during the medieval period. The kingdom of Jerusalem emerged after the First Crusade in 1099 when the crusaders successfully captured the city of Jerusalem from Muslim control. The title of King of Jerusalem was typically held by European monarchs, particularly from the houses of Anjou, Poitiers, and Lusignan.
The King of Jerusalem was considered the ultimate authority within the kingdom, both from a political and religious perspective. As the leader of the Crusader states in the Levant, the King held significant power and influence among his subjects. They were responsible for the administration and defense of the kingdom, as well as maintaining diplomatic relations with neighboring states and European powers.
The role of the King of Jerusalem also held great religious significance. Jerusalem was considered a holy city by Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike, making the king the custodian of significant religious sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This added an extra layer of responsibility and prestige to the title.
The tenure of the King of Jerusalem was marked by continuous warfare against neighboring Muslim states, particularly the Ayyubid dynasty and the Mamluks. Despite several attempts to retake the Holy Land, the kingdom of Jerusalem eventually fell to the Mamluks in 1291, bringing an end to the reign of the King of Jerusalem.
