Where was the Seal of Amalric produced?
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2023-01-14T13:44:48-08:00
By Omar Afifi '24This seal was made for Amalric, the king of the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem, and so the seal was probably made in Jerusalem during his reign (1163–1174). This city had undergone many changes over the twelfth century.
At the conclusion of the First Crusade, the crusader forces seized Jerusalem in 1099. After that battle, many crusaders returned to Europe. The city of Jerusalem, now the capital of the new crusader kingdom of Jerusalem, was not close to major trade routes. Accounts state that many Muslims and Jews were either deported or banned from the city. As a result, many houses were abandoned, and the city’s population decreased drastically. The remaining population was centered around the Holy Sepulchre and the Tower of David, both buildings that appear on Amalric's seal.
Since the city’s population had substantially decreased, the kingdom decided to begin inviting previously deported Christians to live in the city. Many Eastern Christians began inhabiting the city, and they were called “Syrians” by the Crusaders. The economy of the city was mainly sustained by tourism from Christian pilgrims.
Military orders also developed in and near the city of Jerusalem. For example, the Knights Hospitaller were originally established to provide healthcare to Christian pilgrims. However, the order gradually changed to defend against Muslim encroachment as well. The Knights Templar, another military order, protected the boundaries of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
