Baldwin of Boulogne arrived at Edessa

Summary:
When Baldwin of Boulogne moved into the Armenian areas, the region as far as the Euphrates became his within a few days, as the Christians gave him the fortified towns and the Turks left; his name became so powerful that even Christian princes became his vassals, up to Edessa. His renown as Christian liberator reached Edessa so strongly that its rulers asked him to intervene there, with the good will of the aged Byzantine governor Thoros, who could not protect them against the Turks. Baldwin accepted the invitation, crossing the Euphrates with a few knights, leaving others to garrison the towns he had acquired; he sheltered from the Turks of Samosata in the town of a local Armenian ruler, who had to suffer a Turkish raid. Baldwin was received with great ceremony in Edessa. Thoros brought Baldwin to Edessa by promising an equal share of all revenues till his own death, and all susbsequent revenues, but now he offered fair annual pay. Baldwin refused to serve for a wage and prepared to leave; but the populace intervened 
Dates:
1098 February 6 
wife of Thoros, doux of Edessa (Anonyma 235)
  • She joined Thoros 101 and the citizens of Edessa in welcoming Baldwin 51 to the city and fulfilling the promises made to him (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.14.12
Armenian ruler of a town east of the Euphrates (Anonymus 4020)
  • Offered his town as a place of refuge for Baldwin 51 from ambushes of local Turks, despite resulting Turkish depredations (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 2.51-61
  • He sheltered Baldwin 51 and his small army in his castle, warning them of the ambushes set by Balduk 4001 (anonymous) and the Turks of Samosata; they hid for two days, then the Turks raided the castle and drove of the livestock; Baldwin's army was too small to oppose them (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.14.8-10
metropolitan of Edessa (Anonymus 26111)
  • He was sent by Thoros 101 to Baldwin 51, whose fame was growing, together with twelve trusted magnates of Edessa, offering an equal share of power, revenues and taxes if he provided protection from the Turks; Baldwin agreed (:) Albert of Aachen III.19
Balduk of Samosata (Balduk 4001)
  • He (anonymous) set ambushes to stop Baldwin 51 reaching Edessa when invited there by Thoros 101; Baldwin was sheltered by Anonymus 4020 for two days, whereupon Balduk attacked the castle and drove away the livestock, hardly impeded by Baldwin, whose tiny force only killed one attacker (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.14.7-10
Baldwin of Boulogne, Baldwin I, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 51)
  • Accepted invitation from Edessa, crossing Euphrates with few knights, leaving others to garrison towns he had acquired; sheltered from local Turks in town of Anonymus 4020, then reached Edessa, and was received with great ceremony (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 2.45-65
  • The region as far as the river Euphrates became his within a few days, as the Christians gave him the fortified towns and the Turks left; his name became so powerful that even Christian princes became his vassals, up to Edessa (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 1.34-2.5
  • His renown as potential Christian liberator reached Edessa so strongly that its rulers asked him to intervene there, with the good will of the aged Byzantine governor Thoros 101, who could not protect them against Turkish power (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 2.1-45
  • Went to Edessa on promise of equal share of all revenues with the governor (Thoros 101) till latter's death, and all susbsequent revenues; governor now offered fair annual recompense; he rejected this wage and prepared to leave (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 3.1-13
  • As his fame grew, he received an invitation from Thoros 101 [Thoros] of Edessa, who sent him Anonymus 26111 with twelve magnates of the city, offering an equal share of power, revenues and taxes if he gave protection from the Turks (:) Albert of Aachen III.19
  • He left for Edessa with a few knights, leaving most of his men at Tell Bashir and Ravendel; but at the Euphrates crossing he was met by large armies of Turks and others, gathered on the advice of Pankratios 4001, and was forced to turn back (:) Albert of Aachen III.19
  • Once the Turks had scattered from their gathering point at the Euphrates, he set off again, met no opposition, crossed the river and was escorted triumphantly through the city gates of Edessa, raising envy in Thoros 101 (:) Albert of Aachen III.19-20
  • At a meeting on his arrival in Edessa, Thoros 101 altered the terms on which he had been summoned: he was offered rich rewards, but no share in power or revenues; he refused absolutely, asking only for a safe-conduct to the crusader army (:) Albert of Aachen III.20
  • He gathered a few knights, and left the main army at a point one day's march beyond Mar'as and three before Antioch; he made for the Euphrates and won a number of places, especially the most desirable, named Tell Bashir; the town's Armenian population willingly gave it peacefully to him (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.14.4
  • He was invited by citizens of Edessa sent by Thoros 101 to go to Edessa as if he were Thoros' son and protect the city from the Turks, inheriting its rule after Thoros' death; he accepted, crossed the Euphrates with a few knights and advanced nervously among hostile towns (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.14.5-7
  • He sheltered from Balduk 4001 in the castle of Anonymus 4020, unable to protect the latter from a Turkish raid on his livestock; he was feted in other Armenian towns; at Edessa, he was welcomed by Thoros 101, Anonyma 235 and the citizens, who fulfilled all promises made to him (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.14.8-12
Pakrad the Armenian (Pankratios 4001)
  • When Baldwin 51 set out with a small force for Edessa, Pakrad prompted the gathering of large armies of Turks and others at the Euphrates, forcing him to return; when these armies melted away, Baldwin tried again and crossed unopposed (:) Albert of Aachen III.19
Thoros, doux of Edessa (Thoros 101)
  • Brought Baldwin 51 to Edessa by promise of equal share of all revenues till his own death, and all susbsequent revenues; now offered fair annual recompense; Baldwin rejected this wage and prepared to leave; but populace intervened (: ) William of Tyre bk. 4, 3.4-14
  • When Baldwin 51 reached Edessa and was gloriously received by the citizens, the doux called a meeting of its twelve chief magnates, altering the terms on which he had been summoned; he offered rich rewards, but no share in power or revenues (:) Albert of Aachen III.20
  • He sent an invitation to Baldwin 51, whose fame was growing, via Anonymus 26111 and twelve trusted magnates of Edessa, offering an equal share of power, revenues and taxes if he provided protection from the Turks; Baldwin agreed (:) Albert of Aachen III.19
  • Hearing of the successes of Baldwin 51, he sent a delegation to invite him to Edessa so as to defend the city as if he were Thoros' own son, with rights of a son to inherit on Thoros' death; the childless Thoros wanted to use the power of Baldwin's formidable men to defend himself against the Turks (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.14.5-6
  • When Baldwin 51 arrived at Edessa, he, Anonyma 235 and the townspeople welcomed him, fulfilling all promises made to him; however after two weeks the townspeople (who despised Thoros) plotted against him, killed him and handed rule to Baldwin, who was powerless to prevent this (:) Fulcher of Chartres 1.14.12-13