County of Jaffa and Ascalon


The double County of Jaffa and Ascalon was one of the four major seigneuries comprising the major Crusader state of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, according to 13th-century commentator John of Ibelin.

History

was fortified by Godfrey of Bouillon after the First Crusade in 1100, and was unsuccessfully claimed by Daimbert of Pisa, the first Latin patriarch. It remained part of the royal domain until it was given to Hugh of Le Puiset in 1110. When Hugh II rebelled against King Fulk in 1134 the county was divided into a number of smaller holdings, and Jaffa itself became a royal domain. In 1151 it was designated as the apanage of King Baldwin III's younger brother, Amalric. After the siege of Ascalon in 1153, King Baldwin III conquered Ascalon, which was added to Amalric's territory.
Jaffa and Ascalon were then granted to close relatives of the monarch and passed in and out of direct royal control as its holders ascended the throne. Around 1250 it was given to a branch of the Ibelin family. With the capture of Jaffa by Baibars in 1268, the county became titular. It was bestowed anew upon John Perez Fabrice by James II of Cyprus and Jerusalem.

Vassals

The County of Jaffa and Ascalon had a number of vassals of its own:
  • Lordship of Ramla
  • Lordship of Ibelin
  • Lordship of Mirabel

    Counts of Jaffa

  • Hugh I, first cousin of king Baldwin II of Jerusalem
  • *Albert of Namur, stepfather and regent to Hugh II
  • Hugh II
  • Amalric, granted Jaffa by his brother, King Baldwin III

    Counts of Jaffa and Ascalon

In 1153, Amalric was granted Ascalon as well, and from then on Jaffa and Ascalon were held by the same count.
  • Amalric
  • Sibylla, granted county by her brother, King Baldwin IV, upon her marriage
  • *William of Montferrat, first husband of Sibylla
  • *Guy of Lusignan , second husband of Sibylla
  • Geoffrey of Lusignan, brother of Guy of Lusignan
  • Aimery of Jerusalem
  • Walter IV of Brienne, nephew of John of Brienne and husband of Aimery's granddaughter Maria
  • John of Ibelin, son of Philip of Ibelin, Isabella I's half-brother
  • James of Ibelin, son of John

    Titular counts

  • James of Ibelin
  • Guy of Ibelin
  • Hugh of Ibelin
  • Balian II of Ibelin
  • Guy of Ibelin
  • Balian of Ibelin
  • John of Ibelin
  • Mary of Ibelin
  • Florin perh. the same as
  • Jacques de Flory
  • John Perez Fabrice
  • Louis Perez Fabrice
  • Georges Contaren
  • N. Contaren
  • ''Georges Contaren II''