Baldwin I of Edessa
| Baldwin I | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| King of Jerusalem | |
| Reign | 25 December 1100 – 2 April 1118 |
| Coronation | 25 December 1100 |
| Predecessor | Godfrey (As Lord of Jerusalem) |
| Successor | Baldwin II |
| Count of Edessa | |
| Reign | 1098 – 1100 |
| Successor | Baldwin II |
| Born | 1058? Lower Lorraine, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 2 April 1118 (aged 60)? Al-Arish, Egypt |
| Burial | Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem |
| Spouse | Godehilde de Tosni Arda of Armenia Adelaide del Vasto |
| House | House of Flanders |
| Father | Eustace II of Boulogne (c. 1015–1020 – c. 1087) |
| Mother | Ida of Lorraine (c. 1040–1113) |
Baldwin I of Jerusalem, formerly Baldwin I of Edessa, born Baldwin of Boulogne (French: Baudouin de Boulogne), 1058? – 2 April 1118, was one of the leaders of the First Crusade, who became the first Count of Edessa and then the second ruler and first titled King of Jerusalem. He was the brother of Godfrey of Bouillon, who was the first ruler of the crusader state of Jerusalem, although Godfrey refused the title of 'king' which Baldwin accepted.
Baldwin was a son of Eustace II, Count of Boulogne and Ida of Lorraine (daughter of Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine), and the younger brother of Eustace III, Count of Boulogne and Godfrey of Bouillon. As the youngest brother, Baldwin was originally intended for a career in the church, but he had given this up around 1080; according to William of Tyre, who lived in the 12th century and did not know Baldwin personally: "in his youth, Baldwin was well nurtured in the liberal studies. He became a cleric, it is said, and, because of his illustrious lineage, held benefices commonly called prebends in the churches of Reims, Cambrai, and Liège." Afterwards he lived in Normandy, where he married Godehilde (or Godvera) de Toeni, daughter of Raoul de Conches of a noble Anglo-Norman family (and formerly betrothed wife of Robert de Beaumont). He returned to Lower Lorraine in order to take control of the county of Verdun (previously held by Godfrey).
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