Baldwin III of Jerusalem

Baldwin III
King of Jerusalem
Reign	25 December 1143 – 10 February 1163
Coronation	25 December 1143
Predecessor	Fulk and Melisende
Successor	Amalric I
Co-sovereign	Melisende (until 1152)
Born	1130
Died	10 February 1163(1163-02-10) (aged 33) Beirut, Kingdom of Jerusalem
Burial	Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Spouse	Theodora Komnene ​ (m. 1158)​
House	Anjou
Father	Fulk V of Anjou
Mother	Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem

Baldwin III (1130 – 10 February 1163^[1]) was King of Jerusalem from 1143 to 1163. He was the eldest son of Queen Melisende and King Fulk. He became king while still a child, and was at first overshadowed by his mother Melisende, whom he eventually defeated in a civil war. During his reign Jerusalem became more closely allied with the Byzantine Empire, and the Second Crusade tried and failed to conquer Damascus. Baldwin captured the important Egyptian fortress of Ascalon, but also had to deal with the increasing power of Nur ad-Din in Syria. He died childless and was succeeded by his brother Amalric.