ABSTRACT
When Count Baldwin of Edessa arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday 1118 most of the prelates and chief vassals of the kingdom were either already present in the city for Easter celebrations, or had just returned from expedition to Egypt. Joscelin and Arnulf took the initiative in proposing that a king be appointed at once; the obvious candidate, they argued, was Baldwin of Edessa, who was experienced in government and warfare, present in Jerusalem. Godfrey of Bouillon was elected as ruler of Jerusalem by the leaders of the First Crusade and inaugurated in the Church of Holy Sepulchre on 22 July 1099, although he was denied the title of king. Several of the men who were in office on the accession of Baldwin II are known by name: Pisellus, viscount of Jerusalem; Ulric, viscount of Nablus; Hugh, viscount in Transjordan; Baldwin, castellan of Ramla; and another Baldwin, castellan of St Abraham, as the Franks referred to the town of Hebron.
