The second son of King Fulk and Queen Melisende, Amalric inherited the Kingdom of Jerusalem at its greatest territorial extent, but also when it was seriously challenged by the brilliant Nur ad-Din, who controlled Muslim Syria. Nur ad-Din was poised to conquer Fatimid Egypt, but Amalric challenged this. Over the course of the 1160’s Nur ad-Din and Amalric waged a series of fierce wars for control of Egypt, during which Amalric’s army reached Cairo twice, in 1167 and 1168, placing Egypt under his protectorate. Amalric’s drive for Egypt ultimately failed, but he came close to bringing it under crusader control, despise his resources being considerably more limited than those of Nur ad-Din.
William, Archbishop of Tyre, describes Amalric as “a man of prudence and discretion”, who “handled with strength and wisdom” the challenges of his reign. Amalric also cultivated a close relationship with the greatest Christian ruler in the east, Emperor Manuel Comnenus of the Byzantines, marrying one of the Emperor’s relatives, the shrewd and beautiful Maria Comnena.
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