Edessa, located in Armenia, in Celicia, was the most important of the Armenian cities. On the Euphrates, the population was comprised of the Armenian faction (Separated Church) of the Eastern Church. It was actually under the rule of Constantinople, but was in the middle of the expansion of the Seljuk Empire.

It was overseen by the Armenian Thoros. He had captured it from the Turks in 1094. Having held it for two years, it was only because of the inability of the Turks to unite against him.

Tancred saw Edessa as his chance to cut himself a piece of real estate while his uncle Bohemond was busy with Antioch. But Baldwin of Bouillon (Godfrey's brother) has his eye on Edessa. His answer was to acquire it diplomatically.

Baldwin's wife and children had just died in Marash. Baldwin wasted no time. As Baldwin advanced into Ciecelia, Toros sent an embassy to Baldwin. Toros was old, barely holding his conquest, and was childless. The original deal had been to offer Baldwin the opportunity to serve under him, but Baldwin held out for the big prize. He then offered Baldwin all of Edessa. Toros would adopt Baldwin, making him legal heir.

The ceremony is repeated in many accounts, and is amusing in each. The original ceremony was meant for a child. Adjusted for a grown man, Toros wore a large shirt, and the two men covered themselves in it, and rubbed bare-chested together. This was then repeated with Toros' wife.

A conspiracy then hatched, where the rivals of Toros plotted a riot while Baldwin looked away. The mob marched on Toros' palace. Toros offered to abdicate. Baldwin agreed, but confined him to the palace. He tried to escape and was killed by the mobs. On March 10th, 1096, Edessa was given to Baldwin of Boulogne, as the first conquest of the Crusades.

Count Baldwin l ruled in Edessa till he was asked to be King in Jerusalem on the death of his brother Godfrey in 1100. His named successor in Edessa was Baldwin of Le Bourg, a cousin. Baldwin II married an Armenian princess, made friends with the Armenian church's patriarch, and generally did well by his subjects. He shared Edessa with his kinsman and chief Vassal Joscelin of Courtenay. Both Baldwin ll and Joscelin were captured by the Turks in 1104. Tancred became Regent in Edessa, till he gained regency in Antioch again, and he gave Edessa to his cousin Richard of Selerno (also known as Richard the Principate). 1104 was a busy year in Edessa.

Baldwin ll gained release in 1108. He demanded the return of Edessa from Tancred. Tancred refused, as Baldwin would not accept fiefdom. This led to some border skirmishes and intervention by the ecclesiasticies. Edessa was restored to Baldwin ll by the fall of 1108. Joscelin was returned to his former holdings in Tell Bashin.

Edessa then came under a series of attacks by the Turks. Sometimes it was hard and heavy, with the various troops coming to the aid of Edessa in the nick of time, other times just skirmishes.

In 1118, Baldwin l of Jerusalem (Boulogne) died. This left a hole in the successor ship. After a great meeting of all the heads of the principalities, it was decided that Count Baldwin ll of Edessa (Le Bourg) should be Baldwin ll of Jerusalem. With the Count seat vacant, it was decided in 1119 that Joscelin should become Count of Edessa. He was known as a trustworthy and honest Knight. He proceeded to secure his holding by conquest and treaties.

However, in 1122, Joscelin, in a confrontation with the Artukid Belek, was captured. Baldwin ll took control of Edessa and made Geoffrey the Monk, commander of the Garrison, protector of the city till the fate of Joscelin could be determined. Baldwin himself was captured, and all were imprisoned together till 1123, when all escaped with the help of the local Armenians. Baldwin was recaptured, and it was Joscelin who combined the forced of Jerusalem, Tripoli and Antioch for Baldwin's return.

Belek moved his prisoners back and forth between his holdings. Joscelin was defeated during a skirmish and Belek was killed during a siege on one of his Arab rivals. The prisoners were sent to Beleks second in command Timertash, who released Baldwin in return for Joscelin's assistance against another Arab faction.

Joscelin retained Edessa till 1131, when he died from battle injuries. His son Joscelin ll, succeeded as Count of Edessa. It was short lived.

Zengi succeeded where former Arab leaders had not been able. He focused on his Arab enemies first, leaving the Franks be. Where he did not conquer, he collected handsome sums of money. Finally finished with his Arab rivals in 1135, he took Damascus. The Momluks rebuffed him and he withdrew. He turned to the French Crusaders. He started with towns in Antioch, went home to Mosul to settle some squabbles. A year later he returned to Damascus. He made new treaties. He then returned to his original plans, of removing the Franks. He parried with both the Crusaders and the Arabs till 1138, when he tried for Damascus again. But Damascus had signed treaties with the Franks. He was thwarted. He turned to the Crusaders again, attacking outposts. He tried Damascus again in 1140, failed again and went back to warring on his rivals.

Joscelin ll then took to residing in the old family home at Tell Bashin, instead of the capitol in Edessa. He seemed to enjoy the pleasures of the Court rather than attending to business. He felt secure. He argued with Raymond of Tripoli. They were so openly hostile that they both refused to come to each others aid.

This left the door open for Zengi. By 1143 he had treaties in place with most of his Arab rivals. He turned to the Franks again.

He suceeded in several cities, and Joscelin ll moved to Aleppo. The capitol of Edessa was empty. Zengi found out, advanced and laid siege to the city in 1144. Joselin appealed to Raymond for support. Raymond refused. Edessa fell in December 1144, and the rest of the country fell after.

The first of the Crusader Conquests became the first to be lost.