County of Edessa Edessa, located in Armenia, in Celicia, was the most important of the Armenian cities. On the Euphrates, the population was comprised of the Armenian faction (Separated Church) of the Eastern Church. It was actually under the rule of Constantinople, but was in the middle of the expansion of the Seljuk Empire. It was overseen by the Armenian Thoros. He had captured it from the Turks in 1094. Having held it for two years, it was only because of the inability of the Turks to unite against him. Tancred saw Edessa as his chance to cut himself a piece of real estate while his uncle Bohemond was busy with Antioch. But Baldwin of Bouillon (Godfrey's brother) has his eye on Edessa. His answer was to aquire it diplomatically. Baldwin's wife and children had just died in Marash. Baldwin wasted no time. As Baldwin advanced into Ciecelia, Toros sent an embassy to Baldwin. Toros was old, barely holding his conquest, and was childless. The original deal had been to offer Baldwin the opportunity to serve under him, but Baldwin held out for the big prize. He then offered Baldwin all of Edessa. Toros would adopt Baldwin, making him legal heir. The ceremony is repeated in many accounts, and is amusing in each. The original ceremony was meant for a child. Adjusted for a grown man, Toros wore a large shirt, and the two men covered themselves in it, and rubbed bare chested together. This was then repeated with Toros' wife. A conspiracy then hatched, where the rivals of Toros plotted a riot while Baldwin looked away. The mob marched on Toros' palace. Toros offered to abdicate. Baldwin agreed, but confined him to the pa... ... middle of paper ... ... on his rivals. Joscelin ll then took to residing in the old family home at Tell Bashin, instead of the capitol in Edessa. He seemed to enjoy the pleasures of the Court rather than attending to business. He felt secure. He argued with Raymond of Tripoli. They were so openly hostile that they both refused to come to each others aid. This left the door open for Zengi. By 1143 he had treaties in place with most of his Arab rivals. He turned to the Franks again. He suceeded in several cities, and Joscelin ll moved to Aleppo. The capitol of Edessa was empty. Zengi found out, advanced and laid seige to the city in 1144. Joselin appealed to Raymond for support. Raymond refused. Edessa fell in December 1144, and the rest of the country fell after. The first of the Crusader Conquests became the first to be lost.