THE KINGDOM OF JERUSALEM AND EGYPT IN THE EARLY 12^TH CENTURY. THE CASE OF ASIA AND BABYLON IN THE TITLE OF BALDWIN OF BOULOGNE.

The article addresses a question related to Baldwin I's policy toward the Fatimids at the very beginning of his reign, which was expressed through the aspirational royal title. It was presented on two documents, not issued by Baldwin I, but containing interesting honorific title, because the king appears as (1) "gloriorissimus et christianissimus rex Balduinus, qui fratri suo prefato duci Godefrido in regnum Asye successit" ('the glorious and arch-Christian king Baldwin, who succeeded his brother, the aforementioned prince Godfrey, in the kingdom of Asia'); (2) "rex inclitus et christianissimus regnum Babiloniae atque Asiae disponens" ('illustrious and arch-Christian king, disposing of the kingdom of Babylonia and Asia'). Hence, the article develops H.E. Mayer's thesis that the indicated titles show that in the political plans of the first Latin king of Jerusalem, the thought of expansion and conquering the Fatimid Egypt (expressed as Babylon as pars pro toto) was already present at the dawn of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]