Baldwin I (c.1060s – 2 April 1118) was the younger brother of Godfrey of Bouillon and the first crowned King of Jerusalem. He helped to transform the fragile Crusader foothold gained in 1099 into a functioning kingdom with fortified castles, captured ports, and alliances with Italian maritime powers. His reign laid the foundations of the Latin Kingdom that endured for nearly two centuries.
Arms and Armour
As a Frankish noble and battlefield commander, Baldwin would have worn and carried equipment typical of knights of the late 11th and early 12th centuries:
- Mail hauberk: knee-length, often slit for riding, with a coif covering the head and neck.
- Helmet: conical shape with a nasal guard.
- Shield: large kite-shaped shield, offering extended protection for mounted combat.
- Weapons: straight double-edged sword, heavy lance for charges, and a mace or club as a secondary weapon.
This combination was designed to withstand both Fatimid armies from Egypt and Turkish forces from Syria, offering both offensive striking power and strong defence.
Battles and Military Acumen
Coastal Conquests
Baldwin’s most notable strategic decision was to prioritise the coastline, securing access to supplies and reinforcements from Europe.
- Captured Arsuf and Caesarea in 1101.
- Seized Acre in 1104 with Genoese and Pisan assistance.
- Took Beirut and Sidon in 1110, with naval support from Venetian fleets and King Sigurd of Norway.
Although Ascalon and Tyre resisted during his lifetime, Baldwin’s success in opening ports gave the kingdom vital stability.
Battles of Ramla
The southern front against Egypt saw repeated clashes:
- First Battle of Ramla (1101): Baldwin won against a larger Fatimid force.
- Second Battle of Ramla (1102): a defeat that forced him to retreat to Jaffa.
- Third Battle of Ramla (1105): a decisive victory, which discouraged Egypt from further full-scale invasions for years.
Expansion into Oultrejordain
To extend control over trade and secure the kingdom’s southern frontier:
- Founded Montreal Castle (Shobak) in 1115.
- Reached the Red Sea in 1116, seizing Aqaba and garrisoning Pharaoh’s Island.
This was a bold attempt to secure caravan routes and to pressure Egypt by land and sea.
Northern Affairs
Baldwin acted as arbiter among the Crusader states, asserting suzerainty over Tripoli in 1109 and supporting Edessa and Antioch when required. He was pragmatic with Muslim powers, arranging truces with Damascus when politically useful.
Final Campaign
In 1118 Baldwin invaded Egypt, capturing Farama near the Nile Delta. Falling ill during the return, he died at al-Arish and was buried in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Governance and Rule
Baldwin had to balance competing powers:
- The Latin clergy, including the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
- The barons, whose loyalty he secured through land grants and military opportunities.
- The Italian communes, whose naval support he courted by granting trading privileges in the newly captured ports.
His reign was marked by constant negotiation, but he succeeded in strengthening royal authority and stabilising succession.
Where to See Artefacts from His Reign
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem: Baldwin’s burial site, although later rebuilding altered the tombs.
- Montreal Castle (Shobak), Jordan: still standing, the fortress founded by Baldwin in 1115.
- Sidon and Beirut: Crusader-period remains and museum collections linked to Baldwin’s coastal campaigns.
- Jerusalem Museums: The Tower of David, Rockefeller Archaeological Museum, and the Israel Museum all display Crusader artefacts including weaponry and coinage.
Latest Archaeological Findings
- Jerusalem fortifications: Excavations uncovered a massive rock-cut moat and associated defences, offering insight into sieges during Baldwin’s era.
- Crusader encampment evidence: Field camps studied in recent years provide rare glimpses of Crusader campaigning life.
- Montreal Castle surveys: Ongoing research continues to clarify Baldwin’s intentions in securing Oultrejordain and the Red Sea approaches.
Legacy and Assessment
Baldwin I was not invincible, his defeat at Ramla in 1102 shows his vulnerability, but his strategic vision secured the kingdom’s survival. His focus on ports, maritime alliances, and fortress building gave the Crusader states longevity. He blended opportunism with pragmatism, turning a precarious conquest into a kingdom with defensible borders and international recognition.
