Vassals of the Kingdom of Jerusalem

The Kingdom of Jerusalem, a crusader state created in 1099, was divided into smaller lordships based on the feudal system.

Major Vassals

According to John of Ibelin, a jurist and noble of the 13th century, the four major vassals (or barons) of the crown in the territory of the kingdom were:

* The Count of Jaffa and Ascalon
* The Prince of Galilee
* The Lord of Sidon
* The Lord of Transjordania (also referred to as Oltregiordano)

These vassals held significant power within the kingdom, although their influence fluctuated over time.

Minor Lords and Crown-Controlled Lands

In addition to the major vassals, there were several autonomous minor lords who governed smaller territories. Some lands were directly controlled by the crown, including:

* Jerusalem itself
* Acre
* Tyre

Relationship with Other Crusader States

The Kingdom of Jerusalem was not the only crusader state in the Middle East. Three other major states existed:

* The County of Edessa
* The County of Tripoli
* The Principality of Antioch

These states were nominally dependent on the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the king of Jerusalem often acted as a mediator in disputes between their rulers or with the Latin patriarch.

Feudal Structure

The division of the Kingdom of Jerusalem into smaller lordships was based on Western European feudalism. The major vassals provided military support to the crown, although this support was not always guaranteed.