Edessa
Shifting Bases of Power
When Baldwin returned to Edessa, he believed that the Armenians had plotted his overthrow during his absence. Furious, he ordered executions and drove many into exile, dramatically reversing his previous patronage of the Armenians. This had unfortunate consequences, as it made mortal enemies of the Armenian Church and people, and also drove away many farmers and craftsmen that the County badly needed.
Joscelin did not try again to grab Edessa, but he made other moves that were not especially friendly toward Baldwin. As part of his effort to assert the authority of Jersualem, King Baldwin (not the Count!) held a court at Tripoli that resolved a number of disputes in the north, among them that between Count Baldwin and Count Joscelin. This happened in the summer of 1109; just in time, for a new leader was emerging among the Syrian Muslims.
Mawdud
The new atabeg of Mosul, after Jawali, was Mawdud, who proved to be a dangerous enemy. He gathered allies among the Turks and Kurds, then moved in April 1110 in such force that Baldwin was forced to abandon all territories east of the Euphrates, and many of the Armenian inhabitants there were killed. The following year, Mawdud intended to take Edessa itself.
His attempt failed, though. The northern princes called for help and King Baldwin of Jerusalem turned out all the troops, about sixteen thousand in all. Mawdud's allies were shaky, he could not risk open battle, and in the autumn he retreated to Mosul. He tried again with a surprise attack in 1112, but Baldwin was alerted to the danger and the city was too well-defended to be taken quickly, and Mawdud wasn't strong enough to risk a siege. The Christians, at least when united, were still strong enough to defend any single attack.
In 1113, Mawdud was killed in a personal dispute, and the immediate threat was lessened. Baldwin of Edessa spent the next five years alternately fending off attacks and seeking to recover lost ground.