Featured Article Summary #14

Raymond III of Tripoli became count of Tripoli after his father was killed. He spent his earlier years at the royal court in Jerusalem and later took part in military campaigns against the ruler of Damascus. He was captured and imprisoned for ten years before being released for a ransom. Raymond's marriage to Eschiva of Bures made him a wealthy nobleman. After the death of his father-in-law, he was elected bailiff and regent for the child king Baldwin IV. Raymond remained neutral during conflicts between Nur ad-Din's successors and Saladin. After Baldwin reached adulthood, Raymond returned to Tripoli but later sought to diminish the influence of Baldwin's mother and uncle. He tried to claim the throne but eventually made an alliance with Saladin. He commanded the vanguard in the Battle of Hattin and fled to Tripoli after their defeat. He died in Tripoli and left the city to his godson Raymond of Antioch. Raymond III of Tripoli was born in 1140 as the only son of Raymond II of Tripoli and Hodierna of Jerusalem. His mother was an influential political figure, similar to her sisters, and there was conflict between her and Raymond II. After his father was assassinated, Raymond III's cousin, Baldwin III of Jerusalem, called Hodierna back to Tripoli. After the death of Raymond II, Baldwin held an assembly where the nobles paid tribute to Hodierna and her two young children, Raymond and Melisende. However, Baldwin ignored Raymond II's instructions for the Knights Hospitaller to administer Tripoli during a minor's rule and appointed Hodierna as regent instead. Raymond spent several years at the royal court in Jerusalem, where it is believed that Baldwin III supervised his knightly education. After reaching the age of majority, Raymond confirmed his father's grant of Tortosa to the Knights Templar. Following an ambush by Nur ad-Din, Baldwin III sent envoys to Raymond for assistance. Raymond and other crusaders joined the decimated royal army, causing Nur ad-Din to withdraw his troops. Later, Raymond participated in a joint campaign against Muslim towns in North Syria, but they were only able to capture Harenc. Raymond's sister, Melisende, was proposed for marriage by the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos, but Raymond felt slighted when the emperor chose to negotiate with Maria of Antioch instead, leading him to send criminals to raid the Byzantine coasts. Raymond later joined the crusaders to relieve the besieged Harenc, but they were all defeated and many were captured. Raymond III, Count of Tripoli, was taken captive by the crusader leaders at Harim and imprisoned in Aleppo. It is unclear how long he was imprisoned, with some sources claiming eight years and others claiming twelve. Raymond was eventually released after paying a ransom, but the exact amount and circumstances of his release are uncertain.