Baldwin II of Jerusalem

Baldwin of Bourcq rode east with his cousins during the First Crusade and became count of Edessa in 1100 when Baldwin of Boulogne left for Jerusalem. Captured at Harran in 1104, he spent four years passing between Muslim warlords before his cousin Joscelin ransomed him in 1108. When Baldwin I died in 1118, the patriarch and Joscelin pushed the nobles to elect him king; he handed Edessa to Joscelin and took Jerusalem. A year later Antioch's army was destroyed and Baldwin became regent there too, splitting his time until Belek captured him again in April 1123. While he was gone, his men took Tyre; after his release in 1124 he tried for Aleppo and failed. He married his daughters into Antioch and Anjou - Melisende's husband Fulk brought troops that let Baldwin seize Banias in 1129. When Bohemond II died in 1130, Baldwin returned to Antioch as regent, fell ill, took monastic vows, and died in the Holy Sepulchre in August 1131, leaving the kingdom to Melisende and Fulk. He was admired as a soldier but known for loving money.