Morphia of Melitene
Morphia of Melitene, also Morfia († October 1, 1126 or 1127 ) was the wife of Baldwin II, king of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Morphia was the daughter of the Armenian nobles Gabriel (Armenian Khoril ) of Melitene. Although they were Armenians, the family practiced the Greek Orthodox faith. Melitene ( Malatya today ) bordered on the County of Edessa, Gabriel and soon became a vassal of this country. The future king of Jerusalem, Baldwin II, was after 1100 Count of Edessa and consolidated its position in the country by marrying Morphia by about 1101. Morphia was given by her father, who was very rich, a dowry of 50,000 gold coins. Baldwin and Morphia had four daughters: Melisende, Alice, Hodierna and Ioveta.
When Baldwin 1118 King of Jerusalem, remained Morphia and the children in Edessa. After the Muslims were victorious at the Battle of Ager Sanguinis in 1119, Baldwin returned to the north in order to establish to meet them. After he had secured his lands, he moved into Jerusalem in 1120 with his family and Morphia was crowned.
Baldwin was captured on April 18, 1123 while on patrol in Edessa limits. Morphia returned to the north and secured his release in June 1124 by, offering her daughter, four-year Ioveta hostage. Ioveta 1125 was released on bail.
After the Melisende Psalter Morphia died on October 1, but the year is unknown. It was either 1126 or 1127, where 1126 is more likely. Without a male heir Baldwin II was forced to use his eldest daughter Melisende as heir, and married her to Fulk V of Anjou. Two other of his daughters married influential nobles of the Crusades: Alice married Bohemund II of Antioch and Raymond of Tripoli Hodernia. Ioveta became a nun at Bethany.
Morphia may be partly responsible for the Greek and Armenian influence on the Latin Kingdom. The art of the kingdom, as the Melisende Psalter, often show a mixture of western and eastern styles, just as the Crusaders also began to include Eastern elements in their culture. Morphia was buried in the abbey of St. Mary of Josaphat, in the valley of Jehoshaphat outside of Jerusalem, the alleged grave place of the Virgin Mary, where later her daughter Melisende should find their final resting place.