WI: Roger II inherits Jerusalem.

WI: Roger II inherits Jerusalem?

Adelaide del Vasto, the widow of Count Roger I of Sicily, mother of its future king, Roger II, was once married to Baldwin I of Jerusalem between 1112-1117. The marriage was beneficial in most ways to Baldwin. The then-County of Sicily was wealthy, and first-class archers and a thousand other troops were sent with Adelaide. However, both Baldwin and Adelaide were quite past their respective primes at this point. Plus, Baldwin's previous wife, the Armenian noblewoman Arda, whom he married as the Count of Edessa, was still alive. Having no further use to him as a wife in Jerusalem, Baldwin had her locked away in a convent. In the eyes of the Church, Baldwin's marriage to Adelaide was bigamy.

The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Arnulf of Chocques, was briefly deposed by a Papal Legate, but Pope Paschal II permitted him to return to his old role if he agreed to annul the royal marriage. In 1117, Adelaide returned to Sicily after her annulment, and died the following year. Roger II was greatly offended by the treatment of his mother in Jerusalem, and perhaps also pissed off that he lost his claim to Baldwin's throne.

Had Arda kicked the bucket before the annulment, or had either Baldwin or someone in his inner-circle took it upon themselves to arrange an "accident" for his Armenian wife, then Roger II of Sicily becoming the King of Jerusalem could have greatly improved chances of the Crusader States surviving in the Levant. His reign in Jerusalem would have meant more frequent military aid.

As well as possessing a formidable navy, Roger could bring a number of Norman and Lombard knights, along with Sicilian Muslim archers to the Levant. Having a large professional army would secure Roger's standing among the Crusader princes. And perhaps even enforce his authority over them.

He held the Apostolic Legateship of Sicily, so he may have some indirect influence over the appointment of Patriarchs and Bishops in the Outremer.

Roger's employment of Muslim advisors and bureaucrats could give him a diplomatic edge over his Christian peers.

His familial relation with Roger of Salerno, the Regent of Antioch during the minority of Bohemond II might make him a better choice as overlord than the Byzantine Emperors.

In short, a man of Roger II of Sicily's background and credentials could bring political stability to the Outremer Crusader States.

What does anyone else think?
 
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This would be fascinating..if anyone could do it, Roger could. The question is which state would be come dominant-would Sicily merely be the arsenal for Jerusalem, or would Outremer become a colonial appendage of the Sicilian state? Either option would be cool.
 
Roger would probably have to take control of Apulia, Calabria and Capua as per OTL, and rule largely from Palermo, with occasional appearances in the Outremer, while appointing proxies to carry out his plans there.

What interests me is that with his Sicilian Apostolic Legateship, combined with a hypothetical ability to influence the appointment of Patriarchs and bishops in the Levant, which could perhaps ultmately be gained from helping the Antipope Anacletus II, whom he helped during the schism of 1130. Concievibly, having such esteem as a protector of popes might make him the most powerful secular Christian ruler in both western Europe and the Outremer.
 
It would also mean Sicily would become the main transhipment point for Outremer, and could possible undercut Pisa and Venice as a result, which would have fascinating consequences as well.
 
It would also mean Sicily would become the main transhipment point for Outremer, and could possible undercut Pisa and Venice as a result, which would have fascinating consequences as well.

Precisely. If Count Roger had a vested interest in the Outremer, subsequent crusades would only have to march to the Italian dukedoms in the south, and get ferried directly to the Levant. None of this arduous bullshit where they had march through the Balkans, get ferried into Anatolia, and march further into hostile Turkish lands before reaching Syria.
 
Very interesting. I was thinking about a successful Second Crusade and the main POD that I was considering was Louis VII accepting Roger II offer to transport his troops to the Holy Land, rather than having them take the overland route. This POD is even better though.
 
It could also undermine Pisa and Venice's monopoly on Levant trade (though not destroy it, as they were already fairly well established by this time in the area).
 
Concerning the County of Edessa if Baldwin of Bourcq (OTL Baldwin II) remained its ruler. Hopefully, King Roger I of Jerusalem and II of Sicily could keep the Latin Crusaders friendly with the Burid Emir Jamal ad-Din Mohammed of Damascus and maybe even the Emirs of Aleppo against Imad ad-Din Atabeg Zengi.
 
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