Hugh of Fauquembergues

Hugh of Fauquembergues
Death of Hugh
Prince of Galilee
Reign	1101–1105/06
Predecessor	Tancred
Successor	Gervase of Bazoches
Died	1105/06
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Hugh of Fauquembergues, also known as Hugh of St Omer, Hugh of Falkenberg or Hugh of Falchenberg (died in 1105 or 1106) was Prince of Galilee from 1101 to his death. He was Lord of Fauquembergues before joining the First Crusade. Baldwin I of Jerusalem granted him Galilee after its first prince, Tancred, who was Baldwin's opponent, had voluntarily renounced it. Hugh assisted Baldwin against the Fatimids and made raids into Seljuk territories. He established the castles of Toron and Chastel Neuf (at present-day Tebnine and Hunin, respectively). He died fighting against Toghtekin, Atabeg of Damascus.

Hugh's parentage is unknown, but he was descended from the powerful family of the hereditary castellans of Saint-Omer. He was the lord of the nearby Fauquembergues. A contemporary poetry written by an unknown author listed Hugh among the first crusaders from the Diocese of Thérouanne. No primary sources recorded in whose retinue he reached the Holy Land.

Historian Thomas Asbridge writes, Hugh most probably accompanied Baldwin of Boulogne. Baldwin and his elder brother, Godfrey of Bouillon, Duke of Lower Lorraine, departed for the crusade on 15 August 1096. Baldwin took control of Jerusalem after the death of his brother. He was crowned king on 25 December 1100.

Tancred, Prince of Galilee did not recognize Baldwin as king, but their conflict was soon resolved. Noblemen came from the Principality of Antioch and asked Tancred to assume the administration of the principality on behalf of his relative, Bohemond I of Antioch, who had been captured by Turk troops. Tancred accepted the offer and renounced Galilee in March 1101, but he also stipulated that the king should grant the same land "as a fief" to him if he returned to the kingdom within fifteen months.

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