'Pons of Tripoli' (c.
1098–
1137) was the son of
Bertrand of Tripoli, and was
count of Tripoli from
1112 to
1137.
Pons married
Cecile of France, the widow of his mentor
Tancred, Prince of Galilee and daughter of
Philip I of France. This marriage helped to reconcile the
Norman and
Provençal Crusaders, who had fallen out during the
Siege of Antioch.
In 1118 he allied with
Baldwin II, the new
king of Jerusalem, and in 1119 the two marched north to aid
Roger of Salerno against an invasion by
Il-ghazi. Roger decided not to wait for them, and he and his army were slaughtered at the
Battle of Ager Sanguinis; Baldwin II was later taken hostage.
In 1124, after Baldwin had been released, Pons helped capture
Tyre, one of the last coastal cities remaining in
Muslim hands. In 1125 he aided in the Crusader victory at the
Battle of Azaz. In 1131 Pons came into conflict with
Fulk of Jerusalem, who had ascended to the throne that year, and was defeated at the
Battle of Rugia.
In 1137 Tripoli was invaded by the sultan of
Damascus, and Pons was killed in battle. He was succeeded by his son
Raymond II.
Sources
★
William of Tyre, ''A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea'', trans. E. A. Babcock and A. C. Krey.
Columbia University Press, 1943.
★
Steven Runciman, ''A History of the Crusades, Vol. II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem''.
Cambridge University Press, 1952.