Morphia by Melitene

Morphia von Melitene , also Morfia († October 1, 1126 or 1127 ), was the wife of Baldwin II , king of the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem .

Morphia was the daughter of the Armenian nobleman Gabriel ( Armenian Khoril) from Melitene . Although they were Armenians, the family practiced the Greek Orthodox faith. Melitene (now Malatya ) bordered the county of Edessa , and Gabriel soon became a vassal of that land. The future king of Jerusalem, Baldwin II, was also Count of Edessa after 1100 and consolidated his position in the country by marrying Morphia around 1101. Morphia received a dowry of 50,000 gold coins from her father, who was very rich . Balduin and Morphia had four daughters: Melisende , Alice , Hodierna and Ioveta .

When Baldwin became king of Jerusalem in 1118, Morphia and the children stayed in Edessa. After the Muslims won the Battle of Ager Sanguinis in 1119, Baldwin returned north to face them. After securing his lands, he moved into Jerusalem with his family in 1120 and Morphia was crowned.

Baldwin was captured on April 18, 1123 while patrolling Edessa's borders. Morphia returned to the north and secured his release in June 1124 by offering her daughter, four-year-old Ioveta, as a hostage. Ioveta was released on bail in 1125.

According to the Melisende Psalter , Morphia died on October 1st, but the year is unknown. It was either 1126 or 1127, with 1126 being more likely. Without a male heir, Baldwin II was forced to appoint his eldest daughter Melisende as heir, and she married Fulko V of Anjou . Two other of his daughters also married influential nobles of the Crusades: Alice married Bohemond II of Antioch and Hodernia Raymond of Tripoli . Ioveta became a nun in Bethany .

Morphia may be partly responsible for the Greek and Armenian influence on the Latin Kingdom. The arts of the kingdom, like the Melisende Psalter, often show a mix of Western and Eastern styles, just as the Crusaders also began to incorporate Eastern elements into their culture. Morphia was buried in the Abbey of St. Maria Josaphat , in the valley of Josaphat outside of Jerusalem , the alleged tomb of the Virgin Mary , where her daughter Melisende would later find her final resting place.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Hans Eberhard Mayer : The pontifical of Tire and the coronation of the Latin kings of Jerusalem. At the same time, a contribution to research on rulers and state symbols. In: Dumbarton Oaks Papers . Vol. 21, 1967, pp. 141-232, doi : 10.2307 / 1291262 .
2. ↑ William of Tire: Historia XVIII 32, C. 877.

literature

• Charles Kohler: Chartes de l'abbaye de Notre-Dame de la Vallée de Josaphat en Terre Sainte. In: Revue de l'Orient Latin. Vol. 7, 1899, ZDB -ID 280906-0 , pp. 108-221, here p. 128, no. XVIII .
• Steven Runciman : History of the Crusades. Special edition in one volume without references to sources and literature, 28. – 32. Thousands of the total print run. CH Beck, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-406-39960-6 .