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What hindered Amalric in governing & defending Outremer? 1163-1174…
What hindered Amalric in governing & defending Outremer?
1163-1174
Militarily Problems
He attacked Bilbias in 1168- can blame Amalric for being easily influenced- as there was factionalism between the Hopitallers and the Templars; the hospitallers said to go and attack the city to gain booty, but Templars said no- almaric followed the Hospitallers advice which broke the truce with Shawar- meaning that the Fatimids turned against Shawar so Shirkuh gained control - meant Outremer was surrounded
Loss at the Battle of Harim in 1164- could blame the templars for apparently falling for NaD's feigned retreat- so charged and lead to the capture of Bohemond III of Antioch, Joscelin, Raymond etc- meant loss of power in defending Outremer. - Most of their 600 knights were killed. Nur al Din destroyed crops and captured towns on the border with Antioch. Amalric was forced to withdraw from his battles with Shirkuh in Egypt empty handed.
COUNTER ARGUMENTS - HOW WAS AMALRCI SEEN AS MILITRAILY EFFECTIVE?
1167- Amalric managed to besiege the port of Alexandria from Shirkuh and he temporarily took it. Although Amalric failed to take Egypt, he prevented Nur al-Din from doing so and bought time for his diplomacy to work in gaining aid from the Greeks and the West. also ports mean good trade with Italian sea powers, good manpower tax etc
Rise in muslim jihadi rhetoric after the Battle of Bouqia in 1163 where Nur ad Din was defeated- refused to have truces with the Franks and lead to the Battle of Harim of 1164
Financial
COUNTER ARGUMENTS
1166- amalric held assembly at Nablus where he gained nobles support in imposing a 10% tax on moveable goods to finance a campaign in Egypt against Shirkuh
tributes from the assassins
Got £2000 from Henry per year as penance for killing Becket
Diplomatic Problems
Lack of Help from the West
1163- 5 Amalric sent letters to Louis VII of France to call another crusade - but Louis refused- due to disputes with Henry II
1169- 70 Arachishop Frdrick of Tyre was sent by Amalric to try and get help from the west to call another crusade- he was god at getting the 2 kings henry ii and louis to reconcile aswell as henry ii and Thomas Beckett- looked like another crusade would happen- but then because of the death of Thomas becket in 1170- meant that it didnt happen
Byzantines
COUNTER ARGUMENT
October 1169- joint siege of the port of Damietta with the Byzantines who provided a huge fleet - but were forced to withdraw
1167- Amalric married Maria, Manuels niece - meant good alliance with the byzantines- provided resources and manpower
1160s- Manuel marries Bohemond II’s sister Maria, which provided the Franks with more manpower and financial income, whilst it also helped with Antioch’s political stability, which had been quite fragile, due Nur ad Din’s increase in jihadi rhetoric in the 1160s.
1171- Amalric went to Constantinople himself and swore allegiance to Manuel
Italians
COUNTER ARGUMENT
1167- managed to ally with pisan fleet to help with his campaign against Shirkuh
1174- allied with the Sicilians to attack after Nur ad Din died in 1174
with Muslims
counter argument
he managed to ally with Shawar in 1167 in permanent peace
in 1171- Amalric sought an alliance with the assassins- as they were shia- so opposed Nur ad Din and they already paid tribute to the king of Jerusalem.
amalric broke truce with Shawar in 1168
Political
COUNTER ARGUMENT
1163- He annulled his marriage as they were related so meant that their children (Sybil and baldwin) were declared legitimate - so lloaing the first smooth succession on Almalrics death.
Hospitallers persuading Amalric to attack Bilbias early as wanted own land-wanted to help finance in presence in holy land