County of Edessa


The County of Edessa was one of the Crusader states in the 12th century, based around a city with an ancient history and an early tradition of Christianity (see Edessa). The County of Edessa was different from the other Crusader states in that it was landlocked; it was remote from the other states and was not on particularly good terms with its closest neighbor, the Principality of Antioch; and half of the county, including its capital, was located to the east of the Euphrates and hence far to the east of the others. The part west of the Euphrates was controlled from the stronghold of Turbessel.