This historical novel delves into a fascinating political phenomenon: the involvement of Latin women in politics during Medieval History, specifically in the Early Crusading Period. The third king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, King Baldwin II, sought to extend his authority over the Crusader states, including Edessa, Tripoli, and Antioch. To achieve this, he married his daughter Alice to Prince Bohemond II of Antioch, thereby forcing Bohemond to recognize his dominance. Additionally, Baldwin married his elder daughter, Melisande, to an old and weak man named Fulk, possibly to allow Melisande an opportunity to rule the Kingdom. Baldwin II crowned Melisande alongside her husband Fulk and their son Baldwin III, making them joint rulers of the Kingdom. After her father’s death, Queen Melisande was determined to rule the Kingdom with full authority. This led to conflicts with her husband, King Fulk, as he attempted to diminish her power. Upon King Fulk’s death, when her son Baldwin III was only thirteen years old, Melisande tried to govern without consulting him, even as he approached adulthood. After a prolonged struggle, Baldwin III eventually succeeded in stripping his mother of her authority in 1161. This year marked the end of female rule in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
