Women who built Jerusalem: Queen Melisende

Similar to the earlier women, we are unsure of her exact appearance, so let's envision her with this painting of an Armenian medieval princess. Typically, we find depictions of her in medieval manuscript miniatures, where she is generically portrayed as a queen. She was the daughter of a French nobleman and an Armenian princess. According to one Armenian source, she was quite attractive, with dark hair, although some miniatures depict her as having fair hair.

Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem from 1104 to 1161, was the fourth figure featured in our 'Women Who Built Jerusalem' series, and she was as remarkable as her predecessors. Melisende exemplifies a historical female figure whose contributions were often overlooked. Until recently, her accomplishments were mistakenly credited to her son, who was merely 13 years old when she assumed full control in Jerusalem. She was the daughter of Baldwin II of Jerusalem and Morphia, an Armenian princess.

A brief note on the Crusaders: In 1009, the Egyptian ruler Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, who governed Palestine at the time, ordered the destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem due to what he considered inappropriate ceremonies. This act caused significant distress among Christians globally. Although a Byzantine mission managed to rebuild the church in 1034, it did not satisfy Western Christians. Consequently, in 1099, following a four-year journey by land and sea, a substantial Christian army led by numerous knights from Western Europe besieged the Holy City. They circled Jerusalem's walls seven times, reminiscent of Joshua's actions in Jericho, before capturing the city and massacring its Muslim and Jewish inhabitants.

Godfrey of Bouillon, a Frankish knight, was appointed to lead the Holy Kingdom of Jerusalem. Unfortunately, he passed away a year later, and the crown was offered to his brother, Baldwin I, who was the Count of Edessa. Baldwin I reigned for approximately 18 years. Upon his death, with no heir, his cousin Baldwin de Bourcq was elected. He ascended the throne of Jerusalem as Baldwin II. Baldwin II married Morphia, the daughter of an Armenian prince, and they had four daughters.

Melisende, his firstborn, was prepared to be his heir apparent. Understanding that she could not rule alone over the religious Kingdom of Jerusalem due to her gender, he sought to pair her with a nobleman who would not undermine her authority. Fortunately, the Haute Cour of Jerusalem, comprising the clergy and nobility, supported them. They selected Fulk of Anjou, a wealthy, senior French knight. Fulk arrived in Jerusalem, and the two were married. Shortly thereafter, their first son was born, prompting Baldwin II to crown his daughter Melisende, alongside Fulk and their young grandson, who was then crowned as Baldwin III, as kings of Jerusalem.

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L: The union of Melisende of Jerusalem with Count Fulk of Anjou.

R: A miniature depicting the deathbed of Baldwin II and the proclamation of Melisende, Fulk of Anjou, and the young Baldwin III as rulers of Jerusalem, followed by the coronation of Fulk.

The father's premonition proved accurate. He passed away approximately two years later, and as he had anticipated, Fulk, the husband, began to undermine Melisende's authority, attempting to seize control of the kingdom and crown one of his sons as king. However, the young queen demonstrated considerable resilience. A significant faction of the veteran Jerusalem knights and clergy supported her against the newcomer, Fulk, and his recently arrived noble associates. Fulk accused her of having an affair with another knight, but the court and clergy were unimpressed and continued to support her. Gradually, they marginalized Fulk and removed him from power. Ultimately, he found himself isolated and at her mercy. The couple eventually reconciled, and she gave birth to another child, Amalric (Amaury).

Jerusalem during the medieval period, along with its significant crusader sites, stands as a notable historical landmark. This photograph of the city model at the Tower of David Museum showcases these sites. While Melisende did not construct all of these buildings, her contributions and developments were substantial. She inaugurated the renovated Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in 1149, built the Monastery of Saint Anne, established the three markets, and refurbished the Tomb of the Virgin, where she was ultimately interred. Furthermore, she restored and developed the Armenian Cathedral of Saint James, supported various knight-order hospitals, and the citadel remains a part of her enduring legacy.

Fulk was killed in a hunting accident. William of Tyre, the historian who chronicled her life, notes that she was genuinely heartbroken. Subsequently, in 1143, Melisende assumed the role of regent for her son, King Baldwin III, who was thirteen years old at the time. Although of Armenian descent, her maternal family adhered to the Greek Orthodox faith, while she was Catholic, like her father. This diverse background likely facilitated her ability to build alliances.

She was an exceptionally skilled diplomat. Born in the Middle East, she was well-versed in Arab and Muslim philosophy and knowledgeable about local Christian churches, enabling her to forge alliances effectively. As a patron of the arts, she promoted extensive construction in Jerusalem: she restored the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to its current form, built the Church of Saint Anne, and reconstructed the Tomb of the Virgin. She also redeveloped St. James's Church and the entire quarter of her adoptive Armenian community, who still regard Melisende as one of their own. She established a monastery at the tomb of Lazarus (Alazariya) for her younger sister Yvette, who became its abbess. Additionally, she developed the narrow markets in the heart of the Old City (Butchers' Market, Perfumer's, and Jeweler's Markets), which continue to operate today. She also set up a scriptorium for manuscript copying in Jerusalem, and her court became a hub for intellectuals and artists.

This map illustrates the Middle East and the Crusader states. At the time, Melisende was co-ruling with Fulk, marking the peak of Crusader influence in the Holy Land. Jerusalem fell to Saladin in 1187, but the Kingdom of Jerusalem persisted for approximately another century along the Levantine coast, with Acre serving as its capital. Ultimately, in 1291, the Egyptian Mamelukes captured the last Crusader stronghold, bringing the Kingdom of Jerusalem to an end.

In 1144, to safeguard one of the Crusader principalities, Edessa, where she was born in northern Syria, she requested the Pope to organize a second crusade. This effort was led by Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II, Louis VII of France, and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, another formidable woman of the Middle Ages. They convened at the Acre Conference in 1148. Conrad advised Melisende's young son, Baldwin III, then 18 years old and known for his impulsiveness, to attack Damascus, the only Muslim ally of the Crusaders. Melisende opposed this plan, as did Eleanor. These two wise and experienced women recommended attacking Aleppo instead, but the young king chose otherwise. The attack on Damascus was launched and failed, resulting in irreversible damage to the Crusader Kingdom, a decision regretted for generations.

The clergy of the Latin Patriarchate and the leaders of the Knight Orders in Jerusalem supported her and her rule, yet tensions with her impulsive son were bound to escalate. Melisende was unwilling to transfer the actual powers of governance to her son. Most of the court and clergy backed her, and when the Patriarch of Jerusalem refused to anoint him king, Baldwin took it upon himself to crown himself and held a procession in Jerusalem. He presented his case to the Haute Cour, which decided to split the kingdom: he was to rule over Galilee and Tyre, while she governed Nablus and Jerusalem. Both parties found this solution untenable. Baldwin assembled an army of knights and initiated a civil war against his mother and her allies. After several battles, Melisende surrendered at the Tower of David citadel, where she was besieged with her supporters and her young son, Amaury. Ultimately, she accepted Nablus and its surrounding areas as her domain, relocating there in 1153.

It was not long before Baldwin recognized his dependence on her, leading to their reconciliation. He reinstated her as a senior advisor, and on several occasions, entrusted her with the governance during his military campaigns.

In 1161, she likely suffered a stroke, and a few months later, she passed away in Jerusalem. She is interred in a chapel within the Church of the Tomb of the Virgin in Jerusalem, which she had renovated and rebuilt. Baldwin III died just two years later, and his brother Amaury ascended to the throne. There was once a Melisende Street in British Jerusalem, but its name was changed to honor Queen Heleni, a first-century convert to Judaism.

Renovation of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher

The reconstruction of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher commenced before her era, but following the death of her husband, Fulk, Melisende assumed full authority, albeit as a regent for her thirteen-year-old son. She was the one who oversaw and sanctioned the construction process, culminating in the church's inauguration in 1149, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem's conquest in 1099. Historically, the reconstruction is credited to her son, reflecting the common trend of women's contributions being omitted from historical accounts. Romanesque style

Top: The Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher as constructed during the era of Melisende. Bottom: The Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in its present form.

Left: The Butchers Market (Souq Al-Lahamin), constructed by Melisende, continues to operate as a genuine local food market. Right: The adjacent Perfumers Market (Souq Al-Attarin), also established by her, attracts visitors. A Chinese tourist is seen enjoying the local kebabs with chopsticks. Notably, there is an outstanding kebab eatery on the street!

Saint Anne's Church is situated near the Pools of Bethesda. The Abbey, constructed under the patronage of Melisende, was where her sister Yvette, who had taken religious vows, resided before assuming the role of Abbess at the Monastery Melisende established in Bethany, now known as the suburb of Alazariya. The architecture of the abbey is characterized by the Romanesque-Gothic style.

The Armenian Cathedral of St James

Saint James Cathedral is an extraordinary Armenian church, considered one of Jerusalem's most impressive hidden gems. Located in the heart of the Armenian Quarter, the area is predominantly monastic and secluded. Melisende contributed to the maintenance of this church. Despite her Armenian heritage, she was not a member of this Church.

Saint James Cathedral and Monastery is home to numerous treasures, including the relics of Saint James the Great, son of Zebedee, and Saint James the Less, brother of Jesus. The Armenian Church, known for its distinct and ancient traditions within Christianity, serves as the national church of Armenia and is recognized for its unique aesthetics and liturgies. Featured clockwise: the concealed cupola as viewed from the western walls of Jerusalem, novices seated on the church's carpets during liturgy, the charming corridors of the monastery, the treasure room, a fresco of the Virgin and Child, and the interior of the cupola.

Liturgy at the Armenian Cathedral on St James' feast day.

Melisende Psalter

The most renowned artistic endeavor associated with her is the "Melisende Psalter," an illustrated prayer book produced in the Jerusalem scriptorium, likely commissioned by her husband, Fulk. It is currently preserved in the British Museum.

The Melisende Psalter is an illustrated prayer book, likely commissioned by Fulk for his wife, Queen Melisende. This work was created in the scriptorium that Melisende established in Jerusalem. The psalter includes illuminated psalms and various prayers. On the left, the cover is adorned with ivory and gems, while the center depicts Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Crafted in Jerusalem, the psalter is currently housed in the British Library in London.

The Tower of David Citadel. Some of the arches date back to Crusader times. The minaret was added three hundred years after her time, but there Melisende remained with her younger son, Amaury, and her supporters, under siege by her elder son, Baldwin III. Eventually, she capitulated.

Tomb of the Virgin and of the Queen

Following the reconstruction of the 5th-century church in the Valley of Josaphat near Gethsemane by Melisende, she elected to be interred there alongside her mother, Morphia. Their graves are located in the niche at the forefront. The tombstone on the left houses the remains of Saints Anne and Joachim, the Virgin Mary's parents.