History of the Crusades the Crusades Episode 36 the Second Crusade Roman numeral 8.

Hello again.

Last week we saw the Crusaders arrive in the Holy Land. King Louis and the remaining French knights arrived in Antioch,

while King Conrad sailed in from Constantinople, where he had been recuperating from an arrow wound to his head which he suffered in Anatolia.

The southern French fleets, complete with fresh men, arrived in the kingdom of Jerusalem, as did the ships containing the Latin

Christians who had taken Lisbon in Portugal.

At the conclusion of last week's episode, we learned that a decision had been made for the Crusaders to attack Damascus.

We'll come to that decision in a minute.

But first, I have a sad tale to tell you all. Remember Alfonso Jordan, Count of Toulouse? He's the son of Raymond Count of Toulouse, founder of the Crusader state of Tripoli.

Alfonso Jordan fled Tripoli as a baby after the death of his father,

and went on to become Count of the wealthy region of Toulouse in France.

Toulouse borders the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France and Alfonso Jordan and his contingent of knights very sensibly decided to sail to the

Holy Land.

Alfonso Jordan sailed into Acre in April 1148.

His arrival was heralded by the Christian citizens of the County of Tripoli, who were eager to welcome back into the fold the son of their founder, who had, after all, been born in the region.

But there were people who were not so keen to welcome Alfonso Jordan, and they of course were the current Count of Tripoli, Raymond, and his wife the Countess Hodderia.

Count Raymond was the grandson of Count Raymond of Toulouse's illegitimate son, Bertrand.

Countess Hodderia is Queen Melesen's sister.

It's pretty clear to anyone taking an interest that Alfonso Jordan, as the legitimate son of the county's founder has a much stronger claim to the seat of

power in Tripoli than its current ruler who was descended from an illegitimate line.

Did Alfonso Jordan put Count Raymond's mind at ease by telling him that he wasn't interested

in remaining in the Middle East and was happy to remain ruler of his county back in France.

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