Jerusalem Awarded to the Kingdom of Jerusalem

In 1229, the Kingdom of Jerusalem was awarded control over Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth, along with a narrow strip of land connecting these cities to the coast, following the negotiations that concluded the Sixth Crusade. This agreement came after a tumultuous period marked by the Ayyubids' strategic destruction of Jerusalem's city walls a decade earlier, aimed at preventing Latin forces from seizing a fortified stronghold. However, the situation deteriorated in 1244 when Jerusalem fell to the Khwarizmians, who committed atrocities against the Christian population, including the burning of churches and mass killings. These shocking events prompted a significant response from the Latin states, leading to the mobilization of the largest field army in the region since the late 12th century. This coalition, bolstered by troops from dissenting Muslim rulers, faced the Ayyubid-Khwarizmian forces at the Battle of La Forbie, located northeast of Gaza. Unfortunately, the Latins suffered a catastrophic defeat, which effectively marked the decline of Latin influence in southern and central Palestine, reshaping the political landscape of the region for years to come.