Failed attempt to heal the marriage of Raymond II: his assassination

Summary:
Queen Melisande came to Tripoli not only to see her niece Constance, but also to heal a split which had occurred between her sister Hodierna and her husband Raymond II, which derived from matrimonial jealousy. Since Melisende had made little progress in this, she decided to take Hodierna home, and the two ladies had left Tripoli. Raymond II, meanwhile, accompanied Constance on the first stage of her journey back to Antioch, took his leave of her and returned to Tripoli. As he was entering the gate of the city, suspecting nothing, he was attacked by the swords of Assassins and died wretchedly. With him died Radulf of Merle and one of his knights, who happened by chance to have joined him in this excursion. Baldwin III was relaxing, playing dice, ignorant of the assassinations which had occurred, when the populace indiscriminately massacred all possible murderers, anyone whose dress or speech seemed different from the local norm. When he realised from the shouts what had happened, he ordered that Melisende and Hodierna be recalled. After much lamentation a fitting funeral was held to bury the dead. He then required all the magnates of the county of Tripoli to swear allegiance to Hodierna as countess and to her two children, the twelve-year-old Raymond and his younger sister Melisende. After that, the king returned to Jerusalem with his mother and barons 
Dates:
1152 
knight of Radulf of Merle, assassinated with Radulf at Tripoli (Anonymus 1019)
  • He happened to join Raymond 4004 and Radulf 111 in farewelling Constance 4002 from Tripoli, and was assassinated with them as they returned to the city and entered the gate (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.12-15
Baldwin III, king of Jerusalem (Baldwin 53)
  • As he was relaxing, playing dice, ignorant of the assassinations which had occurred, the populace conducted an indiscriminate massacre of possible murderers, killing anyone whose dress or speech seemed different from the local norm (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.15-21
  • Being roused by the shouting and hearing of the death of Raymond 4004, he became quite depressed, unable to hold back tears and groans; he ordered that Melisende 4002 and Hodierna 4001 should be recalled, and after much lamentation a fitting funeral was held to inter the remains (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.21-26
  • After the funeral, he arranged for all the magnates of the county of Tripoli to swear allegiance to Hodierna 4001 as countess and her two children, the twelve-year-old Raymond 17002 and younger Melisende 17001; he then returned to Jerusalem with his mother and barons (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.26-31
Hodierna, daughter of Baldwin II of Jerusalem, wife of Raymond II of Tripoli (Hodierna 4001)
  • Dissension had arisen between her and her husband, Raymond 4004, out of marital jealousy, and this was one of the reasons which brought her sister Melisende 4002 to Tripoli; Melisende made little progress in healing the rift, and decided to take Hodierna home; the two ladies had already left Tripoli (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.1-7
  • She and Melisende 4002 were recalled to Tripoli at the order of Baldwin 53, and after much lamentation a fitting funeral was held for Raymond 4004; all the local barons were then made by Baldwin to swear allegiance to her as countess and her two underage children, Raymond 17002 and Melisende 17001 (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.21-31
Melisende, daughter of Baldwin II, queen of Jerusalem (Melisende 4002)
  • She came to Tripoli not only to see her niece Constance 4002, but also to heal the split between her sister Hodierna 4001 and Raymond 4004, which arose from matrimonial jealousy; since she had made little progress in this, she decided to take Hodierna home, and the two ladies had left Tripoli (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.1-7
  • She and Hodierna 4001 were recalled to Tripoli at the order of Baldwin 53, and after much lamentation a fitting funeral was held for Raymond 4004 (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.21-26
Melisende, daughter of Raymond II of Tripoli (Melisende 17001)
Radulf of Merle (Radulf 111)
  • He happened to join Raymond 4004 in farewelling Constance 4002 from Tripoli, and was assassinated with him as they returned to the city and entered the gate (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.12-15
Raymond II, count of Tripoli (Raymond 4004)
  • Dissension arose between him and his wife, Hodierna 4001, out of marital jealousy; Melisende 4002 made little progress in healing the rift, and was taking Hodierna home with her; Raymond accompanied Constance 4002 for the beginning of her return journey, took his leave and came back to Tripoli (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.1-9
  • As he was entering the gate of the city, suspecting nothing, he was attacked by the swords of Assassins and died wretchedly; with him died Radulf 111 and Anonymus 1019, who happened by chance to have joined him in this excursion (:) William of Tyre bk. 17, 19.9-15
Raymond III, count of Tripoli (Raymond 17002)