The Crusades, the Genoese and the Latin East - DSpace at ...

towards the Latin East. The significance of the fall of the first kingdom of Jerusalem was evident
in both chapters and it clearly was a turning point in the relations between Genoa and its citizens
who lived in the Latin East. The year 1187 marked the end of Genoa's claims in Byblos and the
beginning of friendly relationship with the de Biblio. Other individual Genoese followed the steps
of the de Biblio and established themselves independently in the Latin East.
Finally, it was demonstrated that Conrad of Montferrat offered opportunities to many
Genoese and that the private ownership of properties of such people was respected in Genoa. On
the other hand, the administration of the communal properties in the Latin East entered a new era
during the Third Crusade. It was argued that the leadership of the Genoese contingents during the
crusade assumed authority and founded the consulate in the kingdom of Jerusalem. The
contribution of dominant consuls to the achievements of the commune was thus examined in
critical periods of the Third and Fourth Crusades. Further research of cartularies from later parts
of the thirteenth century is needed to establish how the changes in leadership had influenced
Genoese life in the Latin East and how it corresponded to the ways the conflict with the
Venetians evolved.
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