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Crusader States

The Crusader States, also known as the Latin East, were a series of feudal territories established by Western European crusaders in the Eastern Mediterranean during the 12th and 13th centuries. Key states included the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Principality of Antioch, the County of Edessa, and the County of Tripoli. These states emerged following the success of the First Crusade, aiming to maintain a Christian presence in the Holy Land. They were characterized by a blend of Western and Eastern influences, with fortifications, churches, and a feudal system. Despite initial successes, they faced constant pressure from Muslim forces, leading to their eventual fall.

Cusader States, Antioch. Tancred. Regent, 1101-03/ 1104-12. AE Follis (3.85g, 25mm). Obv: IC-XC, Nimbate bust of Jesus Christ facing, with pellet decorating each arm of nimbus. Rev: TA-NK/P-H in the quarters of a cross with pellets at the end of each arm.

As one of the leaders of the first crusade, Tancred was unique in that he refused to swear an oath to Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Komnenus, promising to give back any conquered land to the Byzantine Empire. He displayed excellent strategic skills in the battles leading up to the siege of Jerusalem, being instrumental in the capture of cities such as Tarsus and Adana. He also assisted in the siege of Antioch in 1098. One year later, during the assault on Jerusalem, Tancred, along with Gaston IV of Béarn, claimed to have been the first Crusader to enter the city on July 15 and was subsequently made Prince of Galilee (one of the four major seigneuries of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem). In 1100, Tancred became regent of Antioch when Bohemond was taken prisoner by the Danishmends at the Battle of Melitene. He expanded the territory of the Latin principality by capturing land from the Byzantines and avoided coming under Byzantine control. Tancred remained the regent of Antioch for Bohemond II until his death in 1112 during a typhoid epidemic. Coins of Tancred of Antioch are, by far, the most common coins of the First Crusade. The coins are generally grouped into four types (1) Bust of St. Peter facing, nimbate, with scroll in left and diagonal long cross in right and a legend on four lines on the reverse. (2) Bearded facing bust of Tancred, holding raised sword in his right hand. This is the only type of the First Crusade with a "portrait" of the ruler. NI KA in quadrants of a cross on reverse (3) Facing bust of Christ, IC XC either side, TA -NK P H in quadrants on reverse (4) St. Peter, standing, with right hand extended in blessing and left holding a long cross. Reverse is a square cross with D-S-F-T in the quadrants. This coins is of type 3.

Crusader States, Antioch. Roger of Salerno AD 1112-1119.AE.Follis.1st Type. ( 4.18g, 22mm, 6h ) Christ standing right hand raised in benediction. Reverse.DE-SA / FT -RO within limbs of cross. Good very fine, trace of an undertype.

The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (Hospitallers) was founded in Jerusalem following the first crusade as an adjunct to the existing carers within the Hospital in Jerusalem, which tended to pilgrims in the city. It was a martial order (formed at roughly the same time as the Templars) and its position was confirmed by Papal bull in 1113. Its original remit was extended from the care and protection of pilgrims in the Kingdom of Jerusalem to also have responsibility for the provision of armed escorts. Raymond du Puy, who succeeded Gerard de Martigues as master of the hospital in 1118, organized a militia from the order's members, dividing the order into three ranks: knights, men at arms, and chaplains. Raymond offered the service of his armed troops to Baldwin II of Jerusalem, and the order from this time participated in the crusades as a military order, in particular distinguishing itself in the Siege of Ascalon of 1153. At the height of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Hospitallers held seven great forts and 140 other estates in the area. After the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1291 the Knights were confined to the County of Tripoli and, when Acre was captured in 1291, the order sought refuge in the Kingdom of Cyprus before selecting Rhodes to be their centre of power and took it by force in 1310 and remained their for two centuries. Philibert de Naillac was born about 1340 of a noble family. But little is known of his personal history. He became master of the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in 1376, engaged in the Crusades (principally the defeat of the last crusade by the Ottomans at the battle of Nicopolis), and was greatly distinguished by his valour and skill in warfare. [Wokjian 1876, p. 833]. His guidance did much to secure the future of the Hospitallers in turbulent times.

Crusader States, Antioch - Bohemond III AR Denier Antioch 1163-1188 AD. Obv: + BOAИVHDVS, helmeted and mailed head left; crescent before, star behind. Rev: + AИTI:OCHIA, cross pattée; crescent in second quarter

Bohemond III of Antioch, also known as Bohemond the Child or the Stammerer, was Prince of Antioch from 1163 to 1201. He was the elder son of Constance of Antioch and her first husband, Raymond of Poitiers. Bohemond ascended to the throne after the Antiochene noblemen dethroned his mother with the assistance of Thoros II, Lord of Armenian Cilicia. He fell into captivity in the Battle of Harim in 1164, but the victorious Nur ad-Din, atabeg of Aleppo released him to avoid coming into conflict with the Byzantine Empire. Bohemond was a close ally of the Byzantine Empire, but also made alliances with the Muslim rulers of Aleppo and Damascus against Saladin, who had begun to unite the Muslim countries along the borders of the crusader states. Since Bohemond repudiated his second wife and married an Antiochene lady, he was excommunicated him in 1180. Within a few years of Antioch being captured by the crusaders in AD 1098 under the leadership of Bohemond I it began minting bronze coins that closely resembled the Byzantine coinage of the time. Similar Byzantine style coins would be the standard at Antioch for about the next 50 years. Bohemond III’s father, Raymond of Poitiers, began minting silver and billion deniers in the middle of the 1100s that drew stylistic inspiration from French coins. This was a major shift in design and introduced coins that were very unlike the currency that had previously been circulating in the near east. Bohemond III continued to strike deniers but introduced a fascinating new obverse design; the helmeted crusader knight. This iconic design was unique to Antioch from the reign of Bohemond III till the end of the Principality of Antioch in 1268.

Crusader states, Principality of Antioch. Antioch. Raymond Roupen (Usurper) AD 1216-1219. Obv: Helmeted head left, chain composed of downward crescents, crescent upwards left, five pointed star right RVPINVZ. Rev: Cross pattée, crescent pointed downwards in a single angle. Denier AR. 18 mm, 0.96 g.

After the death of Bohemond III in 1201 it was not clear to whom the rule of Antioch would pass. Bohemond had promised it to his elder son Raymond, but he died in 1197 leading to fierce competition between the leading contenders - his second son who ruled Tripoli as Bohemond IV and his grandson Raymond Roupen, who lived in Armenia. Initially it was Bohemond IV who secured the city of Antioch, which was then laid siege to by Raymond in 1203 with the aid of his uncle King Levon II of Armenia. Failing, he tried again in 1208 and finally succeeded in 1216. However the protracted warfare had drained the resources of Antioch and so he was unable to defend it against Bohemond who regained the city three years later. The helmeted billon deniers of Antioch were issued in large quantities under Bohemond III and on capturing Antioch Roupen continued to issue them, just replacing the BOAMVNDVS with RVPINVZ. They typically weigh between 0.90g and 1.00g and so this example is just correct. Helmeted deniers of Antioch are typically divided the following types: Experimental, Standard, Irregular and Late. The experimental coins are characterised by being bearded and are attributed to the early adulthood of Bohemond III (demonstrating he was now a man after ruling as a minor under the regency of his mother, Constance and her second husband). There are large variations of the Standard type, which typically have a beardless head facing right. The Irregular types are seen from 1208 and are cruder than the earlier series, have distinctive letter types and crescents pointing downwards for the chainmail. The coins of Raymond Roupen fall into this series. Having held a denier of Bohemond III and this coin side by side, there is no obvious differences other than the name change.

Crusader States, Tripoli (County). Bohemond VII AD 1275-1287. Groš AR. 25 mm, 3.71 g. Obv: ✠ SEPTIMVS⁝BOEMVNDVS⁝COMES, cross in twelve-foil. Rev: ✠ CIVITAS⁝TRIPOLIS⁝SYRIE, castle in twelve-foil.

The port city of Tripoli was originally invested by Raymond de St. Giles in 1103, but it was not until 1107 that it was captured by his son Bertrand, subsequently granted the title of Count of Tripoli by king Baldwin I of Jerusalem. It withstood the onslaught of Saladin after the decisive Battle of Hattin in 1187, in which Jerusalem fell and Muslim military dominance in the Levant was re-established. The lineage was broken in 1187 when, on the death of Raymond III of Tripoli, rule was transferred to Bohemond IV, who also inherited the rule of the Principality of Antioch. He was succeeded in 1233 by his son Bohemond V, who in turn passed it to his son Bohemond VI in 1252. The territory was reduced in size when Antioch was captured by the Mamluk ruler Baybars in 1268. Bohemond VII succeeded his father in 1275 and ruled until the eventual fall of Tripoli by the Mamluk sultan Kalavun in 1287. Within a few years of its foundation, the crusader state of the County of Tripoli was issuing high silver content billion deniers, which was the earliest coinage of any crusader state. The silver Groš was introduced under the rule of Bohemond V and the type was continued under Bohemond VI, where it is of very high quality workmanship and weighted between 4.20g and 4.30g. There is some debate as to whether this type preceded the very similar Groš tournois coins of Louis IX or was imitated from them. By time Bohemond VII succeeded his father the weight of the Groš had declined very slightly, though this coin is well below the expected weight of 4.20g. Identified as Malloy Tripoli 26.

Knights Hospitaller, Roger of Pins. 1355-1365. AR Gigliato (3.72g, 28mm). Obv.: ✠ F ROGIЄRIVS D PIҺIBVS D GRM, Grand Master kneeling left before patriarchal cross on steps; pine cone to right Rev.: ✠ OSPITAL S IOҺIS IRLҺI QT ROD, cross fleurée; shield of the Order at end of each crossbar.

The large Gigliato which tariffed at 32 denier was introduced in Rhodes by Grand Master Helion de Villeneuve in 1330 (26th Grand Master and the third in Rhodes - counting the anti-master, Maurice of Pagnac). He had earlier introduced it in Provence when he was seneschal to the King of Naples. Roger de Pins served as the 33rd Grand Master of the Order from 1355 until his death in 1365. Born in a noble family in France, he joined the Order during a time of military, political, and spiritual challenges. Under his leadership, the Hospitallers, based in Rhodes, continued to fortify their defences and expand their naval capabilities to protect Christian territories and pilgrims in the Mediterranean against Ottoman and pirate threats. Roger of Pins was known for his dedication to bolstering the Order’s military prowess and for fostering a strong sense of discipline and piety within the ranks.

Crusader States. Knights of Rhodes (Knights Hospitallers). Robert de Juilly (1374-1377). Gigliato. Obv: +F.ROBERTVS: D: GULIACO: D: GAM Grand Master kneeling before cross, his family arms in field, symbol rose bud beneath the cross. Rev: +OSPITAL: S: IOH'S: IRLNI: QTS: ROD Cross fleury with arms of the order at the ends. Weight: 3,70 g. Diameter: 28 mm.

The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (Hospitallers) was founded in Jerusalem following the first crusade as an adjunct to the existing carers within the Hospital in Jerusalem, which tended to pilgrims in the city. It was a martial order (formed at roughly the same time as the Templars) and its position was confirmed by Papal bull in 1113. Its original remit was extended from the care and protection of pilgrims in the Kingdom of Jerusalem to also have responsibility for the provision of armed escorts. Raymond du Puy, who succeeded Gerard de Martigues as master of the hospital in 1118, organized a militia from the order's members, dividing the order into three ranks: knights, men at arms, and chaplains. Raymond offered the service of his armed troops to Baldwin II of Jerusalem, and the order from this time participated in the crusades as a military order, in particular distinguishing itself in the Siege of Ascalon of 1153. At the height of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Hospitallers held seven great forts and 140 other estates in the area. After the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1291 the Knights were confined to the County of Tripoli and, when Acre was captured in 1291, the order sought refuge in the Kingdom of Cyprus before selecting Rhodes to be their centre of power and took it by force in 1310 and remained their for two centuries. In 1374, Roger de Juilly succeeded Raymond Bérenger (1365-1374), sixth Grand Master of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in Rhodes. Robert was Lord of Juilly and Claye, near Meaux. After his election, he went to Pope Gregory XI to have his powers confirmed. Its arms were "silver a cross fleuronnée gules, a label of five pendants azure, debruising in chief". In 1377, Jean-Fernandez de Hérédia (1377-1396) succeeded Roger de Juilly.

Crusader States, Edessa. Baldwin II, second reign, 1108-1118. Heavy Follis (bronze, 9.72 g, 28 mm). BAΛΔ/OVINO/KOMH in three lines. Rev. Cross fleuronnée with pellet in each end. CCS 8. Metcalf 107-8.

In 1098 the County of Edessa was the first crusader state formed in the Levant. Baldwin de Boulogne was invited in by its Armenian ruler, Toros, to strengthen his position, but a month after becoming co-regent Baldwin put Toros to death and assumed sole rule. Baldwin became King of Jerusalem in 1100 following the death of his brother Godefroy de Bouillon and passed the rule of Edessa to his cousin Baldwin de Bourg, who became count Baldwin II. Baldwin was captured in battle in 1104 and was released four years later (Tancred of Antioch, briefly, and then Richard of Salerno governed Edessa as regent in the interim). Edessa was conquered in 1146 when under the rule of Joselin II. The entire coinage of Edessa is therefore constrained to a series of copper coins issued between its establishment in 1098 and couple of years before its fall. The early coins of Baldwin I and Baldwin II (first reign) were similar to the Byzantine coins of Constantinople and are described as the 'heavy' series of between 4.59g and 9.80g. These were followed in the second reign by a smaller diameter 'light' series which weighed about 2.35g starting in around 1110 AD. This coin dates to Baldwin II's second period as ruler of Edessa, though prior to the introduction of the lighter series, which may have occurred due to difficulties in getting copper during the ongoing conflicts with the surrounding Turks and Armenians.

Kingdom of Jerusalem. Baldwin III gold Bezant ND (c.1143-1163), Acre mint. Struck by the Crusader Kings in imitation of the current Fatimid dinars. Derived from the standard Fatimid dinar of al-'Amir al-Mansur.

Between the 11th and 15th centuries, European powers sent armies into the Middle East to conquer Islamic lands under the banner of Christianity. Some of these violent invasions were successful, resulting in the establishment of Crusader states like the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, which minted this remarkable coin. Rather than visually distancing themselves from native Islamic numismatic traditions, the crusaders made almost exact copies of Islamic coins for their own use, probably in an effort to make trade and commerce with local communities easier. This crusader coin is a copy of a dinar minted in Egypt under the Fatimid caliph al-Amir, complete with its Arabic inscriptions proclaiming the oneness of God and the role of Muhammad as Prophet. The only difference between a Fatimid dinar and its crusader copy is the quality of the inscriptions: the Arabic calligraphy on Fatimid coins is precise, proportional, and highly legible, while the inscriptions on the crusader copies are slightly less so. These dinars were made of gold but were usually of lower weight and purity, which resulted in compromising the international gold standard based in Egypt at the time. These imitation dinars were known in the west as Bezant which was named after the Byzantine Empire which acted as a middle between the precious gold coinage and supplied from the East and the West of Europe where gold was very scarce. Given the Crusaders poor grasp of Arabic, naturally the legends were corrupted. (Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/crusader-gold-bezant-of-jerusalem.282587/). The obverse central field of this coin says 'al-Iman al-mansur', the reverse saying 'extremely high'. The surrounds are praising Allah.

ISLAMIC, Ayyubids. Egypt. al-Nasir I Salah al-Din Yusuf (Saladin). AR Dirham (22mm, 2.93 g, 2h). Citing Abbasid caliph an-Nasir. Dimashq (Damascus) mint. Dated AH 584 (AD 1188/9). Central Kufic legend: The Prince, Defender, Honour of the world [and] the faith); marginal Kufic legend: Yusuf bin Ayyub | Struck in Damascus | Year three and eighty and five hundred. Rev: Central Kufic legend: The Imam al-Na- | sir li-Din Allah | Commander of the Faithful; marginal Kufic legend: There is no deity except | God alone | Muhammad is the messenger | of God).

Saladin was born into a Kurdish family in Tikrit. His uncle, Shirkuh, was the vizier of the Zengid overlord Nur al-Din (see lot 810, below), and Saladin was given military training by him. He later joined his uncle on his successful campaign against the Fatamids in Egypt. In 1169, he succeeded his uncle as vizier, but, remaining in Egypt, his personal power and prestige was such that he became a rival to his overlord in Damascus. Recognizing that he would not be able to defeat Nur al-Din, Saladin never sought to overthrow him, and instead consolidated his power in Egypt. When Nur al-Din died in 1174, Saladin had himself declared Sultan of Egypt, and declared his independence; thereby founding the Ayyubid dynasty (his father's name was Ayyub). Over the next few years, Saladin either conquered or subdued all of the Sunni dynasties from Yemen northward to the Jazira. By this time, Saladin had become known as an incredibly talented military and political leader, and many of the Sunnis were drawn to follow him simply based on his prestige. His greatest threat, however, was from the traditional enemy of the Muslims in the region, the Crusaders, and particularly, the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The two forces met in battle on many occasions, with Saladin suffering only a single defeat, at the Battle of Montgisard in November 1177. The year 1187 proved to be a watershed in Saladin's reign, with most of the Crusader cities falling to forces, and culminating in the Battle of the Horns of Hattin on July 4, when his army overwhelmingly defeated the combined forces of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar. The debacle virtually crippled the Crusader kingdom, and shortly thereafter, resulted in Jerusalem falling back into Muslim hands for the first time in 88 years. This event sent a shockwave throughout Christian Europe, and was the catalyst for the Third Crusade. King Richard I led a massive English component on this crusade, and financed it through a tax (begun by his father, Henry II) that was colloquially known as the "Saladin tithe." Although other kingdoms participated in the crusade, it is best known for the great rivalry between Richard and Saladin. In the end, Richard won the tactical victories, but Saladin won the strategic, for Richard recognized he could never recover Jerusalem. In the end, the two signed a treaty in 1192 that recognized the right of Christian pilgrims to visit the holy city. The two rulers became admirers of, and showed great respect for, one another, as evidenced through their correspondence. Saladin even sent his own doctors to aid Richard when the English king was taken ill. Saladin died in 1193, shortly after Richard departed. His memory was not only honoured in the east, but also in the west, where he had a great reputation as a truly chivalrous knight. This coin was struck in AH 584 (AD 1188/9), the year of Saladin's triumph over the Crusaders at Hattin. Damascus, where it was struck, was the closest mint in proximity to the event.

Crusader States, ★ Gros as Amulet of the Templar Knights ★. County of Tripoli. Bohemond VI AD 1251-1275. Groš AR. Obv: Cross pattée within angled quadrilobe; pellets in each void. Rev: Eight-rayed star within tressure of eight arcs; pellet at end of each arc and in external voids.

The port city of Tripoli was originally invested by Raymond de St. Giles in 1103, but it was not until 1107 that it was captured by his son Bertrand, subsequently granted the title of Count of Tripoli by king Baldwin I of Jerusalem. It withstood the onslaught of Saladin after the decisive Battle of Hattin in 1187 in which Jerusalem fell and Muslim military dominance in the Levant was re-established. The lineage was broken in 1187 when, on the death of Raymond III of Tripoli, rule was transferred to Bohemond IV, who also inherited the Principality of Antioch. He was succeeded in 1233 by his son Bohemond V, who in turn passed it to his son Bohemond VI in 1252. The territory was reduced in size when Antioch was captured by the Mamluk ruler Baybars in 1268. Within a few years of its foundation the crusader state of the County of Tripoli was issuing high silver content billion deniers, which was the earliest coinage of any crusader state. The silver Groš was introduced under the rule of Bohemond V and the type was continued under Bohemond VI, where it is of very high quality workmanship and weighted between 4.20g and 4.30g. There is some debate as to whether this type preceded the very similar Groš tournois coins of Louis IX or was imitated from them. This coin is very underweight for this type, which can't be explained by the piercing. The piercing is suggested to allow it to be hung as a pendant, tentatively suggested as a 'Templar' amulet. Identified as Malloy Tripoli 22.

Knights of Rhodes (Knights Hospitaller). Hélion of Villeneuve. 1319-1346. AR Gigliato (Silver. 3.83 g). Obv: Grandmaster kneeling left, holding patriarchal cross set on base. Rev: Cross fleurée; each bar ending in shield with arms of the Order of St. John.

Helion de Villeneuve, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1319 to 1346. Born in France, he played a critical role in strengthening the Order’s political and military power, particularly after its relocation to Rhodes. His tenure was marked by strategic diplomacy, fortification of Rhodes, and successful naval campaigns against Muslim forces in the eastern Mediterranean. Helion also worked to reform internal discipline within the Order and secure its autonomy from external powers, including the Papacy and European monarchies. His coins often featured Christian iconography, including crosses and depictions of St. John the Baptist, the Order’s patron. These coins symbolized both religious authority and military strength. The coinage under Helion helped stabilize the local economy and reinforced the sovereignty of the Hospitallers in the eastern Mediterranean. It also served as a tool of propaganda, asserting the Order’s legitimacy as a Christian power amid ongoing conflict with Muslim forces.

Crusaders, Knights of Rhodes (Order of St. John) Raymond Bérenger (1365-1374)
AR Gigliato (3.84g, 29mm). Obv: ✠ F • RAIMNDUS ⚬ BЄNGARII DЄI GR M, Grand Master kneeling to left before cross potent on three steps; to right, coat-of-arms. Rev: ✠ OSPITALIS ⚬ IOhS ⚬ IRLNI ⚬ QTS ⦂ RODI ⚬, cross fleury; each bar ending in shield with arms of the Order of St. John.

Crusader State, Knights of Rhodes (Knights Hospitaller). Philibert of Naillac. 1396-1421. AR Gigliato (27mm, 3.73 g). Obv: Grandmaster kneeling left, holding patriarchal cross set on base; coat-of-arms to right. Rev: Cross fleurée; each bar ending in shield with arms of the Order of St. John.

This was sold as Philibert de Naillac, but it is actually Roger de Pins (visible in the bottom left of the obverse legend). The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (Hospitallers) was founded in Jerusalem following the first crusade as an adjunct to the existing carers within the Hospital in Jerusalem, which tended to pilgrims in the city. It was a martial order (formed at roughly the same time as the Templars) and its position was confirmed by Papal bull in 1113. Its original remit was extended from the care and protection of pilgrims in the Kingdom of Jerusalem to also have responsibility for the provision of armed escorts. Raymond du Puy, who succeeded Gerard de Martigues as master of the hospital in 1118, organized a militia from the order's members, dividing the order into three ranks: knights, men at arms, and chaplains. Raymond offered the service of his armed troops to Baldwin II of Jerusalem, and the order from this time participated in the crusades as a military order, in particular distinguishing itself in the Siege of Ascalon of 1153. At the height of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Hospitallers held seven great forts and 140 other estates in the area. After the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1291 the Knights were confined to the County of Tripoli and, when Acre was captured in 1291, the order sought refuge in the Kingdom of Cyprus before selecting Rhodes to be their centre of power and took it by force in 1310 and remained their for two centuries. Roger de Pins served as the 33rd Grand Master of the Order from 1355 until his death in 1365. Born in a noble family in France, he joined the Order during a time of military, political, and spiritual challenges. Under his leadership, the Hospitallers, based in Rhodes, continued to fortify their defences and expand their naval capabilities to protect Christian territories and pilgrims in the Mediterranean against Ottoman and pirate threats. Roger of Pins was known for his dedication to bolstering the Order’s military prowess and for fostering a strong sense of discipline and piety within the ranks. Philibert de Naillac was born about 1340 of a noble family. But little is known of his personal history. He became master of the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in 1376, engaged in the Crusades (principally the defeat of the last crusade by the Ottomans at the battle of Nicopolis), and was greatly distinguished by his valour and skill in warfare. [Wokjian 1876, p. 833]. His guidance did much to secure the future of the Hospitallers in turbulent times.