Résumé
The involvement of religious places by the aristocracy is well known during the medieval period. The monasteries - which were real centers of power - did not escape this dynamic. The control of monasteries by the aristocracy was often made possible by the very close relations between the secular and ecclesiastical elites. In this regard, the aim is to analyse the relationship between the Latin women’s convents of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Latin aristocracy. While there are many works on Latin monasticism in the Crusader States, these one have, until now, been concentrated mainly on the monks' communities. Yet, there is few studies on Latin convents. For this communication, I will focus on the Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099-1291), one of the four Crusader States founded in the Levant, in the aftermath of the success of the First Crusade. My reflection will focus on the cross-analysis of three Latin women’s institutions: the Convent of St Lazarus of Bethany, the Convent of St Anne of Jerusalem and the Convent of St Mary the Great of Jerusalem. These ones are the most influential and well-documented women's communities of the twelfth century. These institutions had close relations with the ruling elites during this period. The presentation will highlight the multidimensional nature of the relations between the aristocracy and the convents, which were often used by the authorities to spread their power.