**Alice of Jerusalem**
**Definition:**
Alice of Jerusalem (c. 1130 – c. 1151) was a noblewoman of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, known primarily as the daughter of King Baldwin II and the wife of Bohemond II of Antioch. Her life and marriage played a significant role in the political alliances and territorial dynamics of the Latin East during the 12th century.
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# Alice of Jerusalem
Alice of Jerusalem was a prominent figure in the Crusader states during the early 12th century. As a member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and through her marriage to Bohemond II, Prince of Antioch, she was intricately involved in the complex political and dynastic affairs of the Latin East. Although her life was relatively brief, her position as a princess and consort had lasting implications for the relationships between the Crusader states.
## Early Life and Family Background
Alice was born around 1130 into the royal family of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, a Crusader state established in the Levant following the First Crusade (1096–1099). She was the daughter of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and Morphia of Melitene. Baldwin II, originally Count of Edessa, became King of Jerusalem in 1118 and ruled until his death in 1131. Morphia was an Armenian noblewoman, and her marriage to Baldwin II symbolized the alliance between the Crusader rulers and local Armenian nobility.
Alice had several siblings, including Melisende, who succeeded Baldwin II as Queen of Jerusalem. The family was central to the governance and defense of the Crusader states during a period marked by frequent conflict with Muslim powers and internal political challenges.
## Marriage to Bohemond II of Antioch
In the early 1130s, Alice was married to Bohemond II, Prince of Antioch. Bohemond II was the son of Bohemond I, one of the leaders of the First Crusade and the founder of the Principality of Antioch, another key Crusader state. The marriage was arranged to strengthen the alliance between the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Principality of Antioch, two of the most important Latin Christian states in the Levant.
Bohemond II had inherited the principality in 1126 but faced ongoing threats from surrounding Muslim states and internal dissent. The union with Alice was intended to consolidate power and secure mutual support between the two Crusader states.
## Role and Influence
As Princess of Antioch, Alice’s role was primarily dynastic and political. Through her marriage, she helped to reinforce the ties between Jerusalem and Antioch, which were crucial for the survival of the Crusader states amid hostile neighbors such as the Seljuk Turks and the Zengid dynasty.
Alice and Bohemond II had one daughter, Constance of Antioch, who would later become a significant figure in the history of the Principality of Antioch. The birth of an heir was vital for the continuation of Bohemond II’s lineage and the stability of the principality.
## Death and Legacy
Alice’s life was cut short; she died around 1151, shortly after the death of her husband Bohemond II in 1130. Following Bohemond’s death, the Principality of Antioch was left under the regency of Alice and later other guardians until Constance came of age.
Alice’s legacy is closely tied to her daughter Constance, who inherited the principality and whose reign was marked by continued struggles to maintain Crusader control in the region. Alice’s marriage and offspring thus had a lasting impact on the political landscape of the Latin East.
## Historical Context
The period during which Alice lived was one of intense military and political activity in the Crusader states. The Latin Christian rulers faced constant pressure from Muslim forces seeking to reclaim territory lost during the First Crusade. The alliances formed through marriage, such as that of Alice and Bohemond II, were essential strategies for maintaining power and securing borders.
The Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Principality of Antioch were two of the four major Crusader states established in the Levant, alongside the County of Edessa and the County of Tripoli. Their survival depended heavily on cooperation and mutual defense, which marriages like Alice’s helped to facilitate.
## Conclusion
Alice of Jerusalem, though not as extensively documented as some of her contemporaries, played a significant role in the dynastic politics of the Crusader states. As a princess of Jerusalem and consort of Antioch, her marriage symbolized the strategic alliances necessary for the survival of the Latin East during the 12th century. Her daughter Constance’s inheritance of Antioch ensured that Alice’s lineage continued to influence the region’s history.
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**Meta Description:**
Alice of Jerusalem was a 12th-century noblewoman of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, known for her marriage to Bohemond II of Antioch and her role in the political alliances of the Latin East. Her life and legacy influenced the dynastic and territorial dynamics of the Crusader states.