Joscelin II, Count of Edessa

Joscelin II of Edessa (* 1113, † 1159 in Aleppo ) was from 1131 the last reigning Count of Edessa.

He was captured at the Battle of Azaz in 1125 by the Muslims, and ransomed by Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem. 1131 his father, Joscelin I was badly injured in a battle against the Danishmends, whereupon he gave him the county. As Joscelin II refused to march with the small army of Edessa against the Danishmends, Joscelin I forced them to retreat itself, but died a short time later.

Joscelin II ruled the weakest and most isolated of the Crusader states. In 1138 he allied himself with the Principality of Antioch and the Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus to attack Zengi, the Atabeg of Aleppo, but suffered a defeat. Back in Antioch he stirred a revolt against the Byzantine Empire, because John Paul II tried to expand his territory at the expense of the Crusaders, John was forced to retire.

1143 died both King Fulk of Jerusalem and John II, so that Joscelin II remained without powerful allies in the defense of Edessa. 1144 Zengi took him away Edessa. Joscelin fled to Turbessel, from where he defended the west of the Euphrates lying remains of the county. When Zengi died in 1146, Joscelin attempted the reconquest of Edessa, but was repulsed by Zengis son Nur ad - Din. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of Edessa, was not able to beat the Muslims. Joscelin came in 1150 in Muslim captivity and died in 1159 as a prisoner in the citadel of Aleppo.

Joscelin II married around 1132 Beatrix, the widow of William of Sahyun. His daughter Agnes of Courtenay married King Amalric I of Jerusalem, his son Joscelin III. was only Titulargraf of Edessa.