Outremer
The County of Edessa
The first of the Crusader States was also one of the largest, at least in sheer physical territory. It stretched from Ravendel and Aintab in the west, not too far from Antioch itself, all the way across the Euphrates into the region known as the Jezirah in the east. At times, the Edessene count held castles well up into Armenia. Only in the south was its reach severly circumscribed by the presence of the powerful city of Aleppo.
The people in these lands were mainly Christians: members of the Syrian Church, the Jacobite Church, and the Armenian Church (the latter had two distinct branches, both present). As well, there were at least some Greek Orthodox. A few towns were mainly Islamic. The Latin Christians, though, were a tiny minority.
Though the region was plagued with almost continual warfare, it was also wealthy. It lay across important trade routes, and the Count of Edessa's treasury was larger than that of the King of Jerusalem, though his army was smaller.
By far most important was the capital city itself, with strong walls and citadel, and a population of over ten thousand. Outside of Edessa, the most important points for the crusaders were really little more than fortresses: Turbessel, Ravendel, Aintab, Birejik.