The city of Edessa played an important role as the crossroads of the trade routes between the East and the West, as well as the meeting point between various cultures. During the Roman era, the city became a prominent trading post. The old Parthian families were replaced by the Abgarid Dynasty during which the city got in contact with Christianity, which significantly influenced the development of the later events. For almost a thousand years, Edessa was the last Christian city to the East and represented an important point for both the Christian conquest of Jerusalem and Muslim advances to the West. The leading positions in the city were frequently exchanged between Muslim and Christian rulers who reacted differently to the religious practices in the city.
In 1098, the leader of the crusade Baldwin came to the city and established the Christian county of Edessa. Between 1098 and 1144, the city was ruled by five Christian rulers who tried to protect the vast area from the Muslim raids, yet the city was often besieged, and the surroundings were looted. Before 1143, the power of the Crusaders diminished and after the siege, the city was conquered by the Muslim commander Zengi. After Zengi’s death in 1146, the Crusaders tried to take Edessa back for the last time with the help of the Christian Armenians in the city, but the attack turned into looting. Muslim troops retaliated, defeated the invading army, and punished all Christian inhabitants. Christianity never returned to the city.
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