Arda of Armenia

Arda was an Armenian noblewoman who became the first queen of Jerusalem in 1100. A wealthy heiress, she became countess of Edessa upon marrying the crusader Baldwin of Boulogne shortly after October 1097. She moved to Palestine after Baldwin became the first king of Jerusalem, and assumed authority when he was rumored to have died in battle in 1101. Baldwin eventually repudiated her and consigned her to a monastery, but she left ostensibly to collect funds and never returned. She was still alive in Constantinople in late 1116 or early 1117 when Baldwin promised to recall her.