Biography of Almaric I King Jerusalem 1136-1174
Paternal Family Tree: Anjou aka Plantagenet
In 1110 [his father] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 21) and Ermengarde La Flèche De Baugency Countess Anjou were married. She by marriage Countess Anjou. She the daughter of Elias La Flèche De Baugency I Count Maine and Matilda Chateau Du Loir Countess Maine. He the son of [his grandfather] Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou and [his grandmother] Bertrade Montfort Queen Consort France (age 40).
On 02 Jun 1129 [his father] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 40) and [his mother] Melisende Queen of Jerusalem (age 24) were married at Jerusalem [Map]. She by marriage Countess Anjou. Her father (age 54) had written to Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem requesting the marriage since he had no mlae heirs. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Baldwin II King Jerusalem. He the son of [his grandfather] Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou and [his grandmother] Bertrade Montfort Queen Consort France.
In 1136 Almaric I King Jerusalem was born to Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 47) and Melisende Queen of Jerusalem (age 31).
In 1157 Almaric I King Jerusalem (age 21) and Agnes Courtenay Queen Jerusalem (age 21) were married. She by marriage Queen Jerusalem. She the daughter of Joscelin Courtenay II Count Edessa. He the son of Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem and Melisende Queen of Jerusalem (age 52).
In 1159 [his father-in-law] Joscelin Courtenay II Count Edessa died. His son [his brother-in-law] Joscelin Courtenay III Count Edessa succeeded III Count Edessa.
In 1160 [his daughter] Sibylla Anjou Queen Jerusalem was born to Almaric I King Jerusalem (age 24) and [his wife] Agnes Courtenay Queen Jerusalem (age 24).
In 1161 [his son] Baldwin IV King Jerusalem was born to Almaric I King Jerusalem (age 25) and [his wife] Agnes Courtenay Queen Jerusalem (age 25) at Jerusalem [Map].
On 10 Feb 1163 [his brother] Baldwin III King Jerusalem (age 33) died at Beirut. His brother Almaric I King Jerusalem (age 27) succeeded I King Jerusalem.
In 1167 Almaric I King Jerusalem (age 31) and Maria Komnenos Queen Jerusalem (age 13) were married. She by marriage Queen Jerusalem. He the son of Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem and Melisende Queen of Jerusalem.
In 1172 [his daughter] Isabella Anjou Queen Jerusalem was born to Almaric I King Jerusalem (age 36) and [his wife] Maria Komnenos Queen Jerusalem (age 18).
On 11 Jul 1174 Almaric I King Jerusalem (age 38) died. His son [his son] Baldwin IV King Jerusalem (age 13) succeeded IV King Jerusalem.
Around 1184 [his former wife] Agnes Courtenay Queen Jerusalem (age 48) died.
In 1217 [his former wife] Maria Komnenos Queen Jerusalem (age 63) died.
A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea by William of Tyre 15th Book Emperor John and the Latin States Chapter 27. The [his father] king, while pursuing a hare in the plain of Acre [Map] is thrown headlong from his horse; he dies and is buried at Jerusalem [Map] with his predecessors.
It happened in those days, when autumn was over, that the king and queen were sojourning for a time at the city of Acre [Map]. In order to vary the monotony by some agreeable recreation, the queen expressed a desire to go out of the city to a certain place in the suburbs where there were many springs. That she might not lack the pleasure of his company, the king attended her with his usual escort. As they were riding along, the servants who had preceded the train happened to rouse a hare which was lying in a furrow. It fled, followed by the shouts of all. The king, impelled by evil fate, seized his lance and joined the pursuit. In vigorous chase, he began to urge on his horse in that direction. Finally, the steed, driven to reckless speed, stumbled and fell. The king was thrown headforemost to the ground. As he lay there stunned by the pain of the fall, the saddle struck his head and his brains gushed forth from both ears and nostrils. The members of his escort, those in advance and those following him, overcome with horror at the frightful accident, rushed to his aid as he lay on the ground. They found him unconscious, however, unable to speak or understand.
When the queen was informed of her husband's unexpected death, she was pierced to the heart by the sinister disaster. She tore her garments and hair and by her loud shrieks and lamentations gave proof of her intense grief. Flinging herself upon the ground she embraced the lifeless body. Tears failed her through continual weeping; frequent sobs interrupted her voice, as she tried to give expression to her grief; nor could she do justice to it, although she cared for naught save to satisfy her anguish. The people of the household also manifested their grief by tears, words, and aspect and gave plain proof of great sorrow.
The king's deplorable accident soon became known. Rumor, on swift wings, spread the news throughout the city of Acre. Crowds flocked to the scene, all eager to convince themselves of the unspeakable disaster. Tearfully they bore him thence to the city, where he lived until the third day, unconscious but still breathing. Thus, on November lo, in the year 1142 of the Incarnation of our Lord and of Folk's reign the eleventh, his life was brought to a close in a good old age31.
His body was borne thence to Jerusalem with fitting honors. The entire body of clergy and people went out to meet the funeral train. He was buried with royal magnificence among his kingly predecessors of blessed memory in the church of the Sepulchre of the Lord, at the foot of Mount Calvary, by the gate as one enters on the right. William, the venerable patriarch of Jerusalem, conducted the royal obsequies.
King Fulk left two children who had not yet attained the age of manhood: [his brother] Baldwin, the eldest, then thirteen years old, and Amaury, aged seven. The royal power passed to the Lady Melisend, a queen beloved of God, to whom it belonged by hereditary right.
Note 31. The Latin here is rather ambiguous, quarta demiim die, idibus videlicet Novembris. It might be read as meaning "on the fourth day of his illness, i.e,, on the Ides of November" which is November 13, or "on the fourth day of the Ides of November" which is November 10. In this instance it clearly has the first meaning, but William himself later read it with the second meaning (Book XVI, chap. 3), The text carries the year 1142, but all 'the evidence points to 1143 as the year of Fulk's death. The date of Fulk's death, so vital in the chronology of the Latin kingdom, has been confused by William's dating. This may be merely a typographical or copyist's error, for it is not consistent with his other references to the event. Mile Chartrou, on the basis of local Angevin records as well as a review of all known evidence, concludes that it could not have occurred before late 1143, fixing the other terminal date as March 26, 1144. She prefers 1144 on the basis of local western records (Josephe Chartrou, L'Anjou de 1109 á 1151, pp. 234-36). La Monte, who has reviewed the matter more recently, is convinced that her evidence does not preclude November, 1143 (La Monte, Feudal Monarchyy pp, 14-15, note 3). Normally there would be no ship sailing from Palestine as late as November, and the West would not have learned of his death before 1144 even if a special courier had been dispatched immediately. La Monte prefers November 10, 1143, the date of Fulk's death.
Kings Franks: Great x 10 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Great x 3 Grandfather: Fulcuich Count Mortagne au Perche
Great x 2 Grandfather: Hugh de Perche Count Gâtinais
Great x 3 Grandmother: Melisende Viscountess Châteaudun
Great x 1 Grandfather: Geoffrey "Ferréol" Anjou 2nd Count Gâtinais
Great x 3 Grandfather: Albéric II Count Mâcon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Béatrice de Mâcon Countess Gâtinais
GrandFather: Fulk "Réchin" Anjou 4th Count Anjou
Great x 4 Grandfather: Fulk "Good" Ingelger 2nd Count Anjou
Great x 3 Grandfather: Geoffrey "Greygown" Ingelger 1st Count Anjou
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gerberge Unknown Viscountess Anjou
Great x 2 Grandfather: Fulk "Black" Ingelger III Count Anjou
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Vermandois Count Meaux Count Châlons
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adele Vermandois Countess Anjou
Great x 1 Grandmother: Ermengarde Blanche Ingelger Duchess Burgundy
Great x 2 Grandmother: Hildegarde Sundgau Countess Anjou
Father: Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem
Great x 4 Grandfather: Aumary Reginarids
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Reginarids
Great x 2 Grandfather: Aumary Reginarids
Great x 1 Grandfather: Simon Montfort
Great x 2 Grandmother: Bertrade Unknown
GrandMother: Bertrade Montfort Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard "Fearless" Normandy I Duke Normandy
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Normandy Archbishop of Rouen
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gunnora Countess Ponthieu
Great x 2 Grandfather: Richard Normandy 2nd Count Évreux
Great x 3 Grandmother: Herleva Countess Évreux
Great x 1 Grandmother: Agnès of Normandy
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ramon Borrell Count of Barcelona
Great x 2 Grandmother: Adelaide or Godehildis Ramon
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger I of Carcasonne
Great x 3 Grandmother: Ermesinde of Carcassonne
GrandFather: Baldwin II King Jerusalem
Mother: Melisende Queen of Jerusalem