Background
She was the daughter of Baldwin II of Jerusalem and the Armenian noblewoman Morphia. Hodierna was close to her sisters: she may have asked Melisende to arrange for the assassination of Alphonse I of Toulouse, son of Raymond IV of Toulouse, in 1148, when Alphonse came to claim the County of Tripoli.
Career
Her maternal grandfather was the ruler of Melitene called Gabriel. Hodierna married Raymond II of Tripoli in about 1135. Melisende ended up on the losing side by 1152, but she was given a small fief to rule in Nablus, where she and Hodierna were able to influence the election of the Latin Patriarch.
Hodierna and Raymond agreed to reconcile, but it was also decided that Hodierna should return to Jerusalem with Melisende for a short time.
Almost as soon as they had left Tripoli, Raymond was killed by the Hashshashin. Hodierna remained by Melisende"s side when Melisende lay dying in 1161.
Now rid of the influence of his mother, Baldwin III took personal control of Nablus, exchanging it with Philip of Milly who received the lordship of Oultrejordain in return. Hodierna gave her assent to this transaction on behalf of Melisende.
Hodierna died at an unknown date, probably in the 1160s.
According to the legendary Vida of the troubadour Jaufré Rudel of Blaye, the legend of her beauty, brought back to France by pilgrims, inspired Rudel"s songs of amor de lonh — "distant love". The story claims that he took part in the Second Crusade in order to see her, but fell sick and was brought ashore dying. Hodierna is said to have come down from her castle on hearing the news, and Rudel died in her arms.
This romantic but unlikely story seems to have been derived from the enigmatic nature of Rudel"s verse and his presumed death on the Crusade.
Views
Baldwin ensured the support of the nobles of the county, and Hodierna allowed him to give the castle of Tortosa to the Knights Templar, in order to defend from an attack by Nur ad-Din Zangi, who invaded when he heard of Raymond"s death.