ABSTRACT
Two of the most important issues that faced the rulers of the Latin states were to establish their dynastic line and to maintain authority over the nobility. These matters were familiar to other contemporary rulers, but the turbulent military situation in the Latin East and the settlers’ position as a minority of the Levantine population added signicant pressures to the equation. The need to integrate newcomers (and their entourages) to the political life of the Frankish East was a further challenge. Most of the evidence concerning succession and authority pertains to the royal house of Jerusalem, but reference will be made to the circumstances in Antioch, Tripoli and Edessa as well.
