Joscelin I (died 1131) was a Frankish nobleman of the House of Courtenay who ruled as the lord of Turbessel, prince of Galilee (1112–1119) and count of Edessa (1118–1131). The County of Edessa reached its zenith during his rule. Captured twice, Joscelin continued to expand his county, even participating in the Battle of Azaz in 1125. Gravely injured during the collapse of a sapper mine, Joscelin marched his army to relieve the besieged fortress of Kaysun, and died soon after.
By 1113, Joscelin had carved out a semi-autonomous state around Turbessel to the west of the Euphrates, while his cousin Baldwin controlled the territory east of the Euphrates around Edessa itself, which was continually harassed by the Seljuk Turks. That year, Baldwin dispossessed him of Turbessel,[5] while Joscelin travelled to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, where he was made the prince of Galilee.[6]
Joscelin was taken prisoner along with Waleran of Le Puiset in 1122 near Saruj by Belek Ghazi.[9] Later he was joined in captivity at Kharput by King Baldwin II, who had been captured in April 1123.[10] They were rescued by fifty Armenian soldiers hired by Queen Morphia; they disguised themselves as merchants and infiltrated the fortress where the prisoners were kept.[11] The Armenians killed the guards and freed the hostages.[11] However, the castle was soon besieged by a large Artuqid force and it was decided that Joscelin should seek assistance.[11] Baldwin stayed in the fortress and after some time it was reclaimed by the Artuqids.[10]
In 1131, during the siege of a small castle north-east of Aleppo, a sapper's mine collapsed and Joscelin was gravely injured.[13] Following this he received word that emir Gazi Gümüshtigin was besieging the fortress town of Kaysun.[12] When his own son, Joscelin II, refused to attack Gazi, he commanded that his own army should march to Kaysun.[12] Joscelin was borne on a litter, and when Gazi heard that Joscelin's army was approaching, he lifted the siege and retreated.[12] Joscelin won his final battle and died soon after.[12]
Runciman, Steven (1951) [1952]. A History of the Crusades, Volume II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Frankish East. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.