How do you keep Jerusalem after the Crusade?

[JHLee]

Not only does the Crusade take away either my units or faith points,
When I actually do manage to become Crusade leader and take Jerusalem,
I get the 'Independence' event in no time, and lose the city real quick.
How can I keep it stable? And what benefits do I get when I control Jerusalem?
Cause the independence event and maintenance seem like it is more trouble than its worth.

 

[PiR]

Yes, every few turns the city will try to free itself, same for Damas or maybe others.
You will have a probability that the rebellion succeeds or fails. To increase the chance of keeping it, you may pay a little sum, but also use military force. The more you garrison in the city, the easier it will be to keep it.
However, if you have low stability in your empire then you might loose the city anyway, as any city in an "unstable area". For this you can refer to stability guides (build castle, tribunal, etc.)

Let me know if it helps

 

[Swarbs]

Three things influence how easy it is to keep the city:

1. The local garrison (total strength)
2. Your stability (higher the better)
3. Your gold

The independence event is very regular, and in order to keep the city you usually need to choose the 'all three' option, which will trigger a small revolution but allow you to keep it. In general, the main benefit you get is from the wonders, but they often aren't worth it imo - it can be easier to simply allow the city to become independent and then get free units and more faith with the next crusade.

Another option is to capture Jerusalem then move all your units to capture cities in Egypt, which I don't believe has an independence event. You can then build up Egypt as a power base, and use the regular Crusades to build up powerful units in the Levant, which may actually provide sufficient income to be worth keeping. But unless you are roleplaying or trying to get the French UHV it is usually not worth the hassle of continual revolts and having to pay gold to keep the city over the long term.

 

[Publicola]

Another option is to capture Jerusalem then move all your units to capture cities in Egypt, which I don't believe has an independence event. You can then build up Egypt as a power base, and use the regular Crusades to build up powerful units in the Levant, which may actually provide sufficient income to be worth keeping. But unless you are roleplaying or trying to get the French UHV it is usually not worth the hassle of continual revolts and having to pay gold to keep the city over the long term.

This is probably the only way the Crusades would have succeeded IRL. The Seventh Crusade was actually targeted at Egypt, despite the recent fall of Jerusalem to Muslim armies from Central Asia. Louis IX rightly saw that having a nearby base of support would ensure that Jerusalem could be adequately supplied, and replacing Egypt as a regional power would ensure that a Crusader State centered around Jerusalem wouldn't be surrounded by enemies.

(This is one of the reasons why I feel that the new map should include extra space for Egypt and for Mesopotamia, to allow a full-strength Cairo and Baghdad so Europe can play against the Muslim superpowers of the Middle East).

 

[Genghis Khaiser]

I also thought about sending your units right away to conquer Tyre and Antioch but Egypt is a better idea.

 

[gilgames]

It really should have some rewards for keeping the city. Right now it only worth to keep as France. But if it would give like a faith point per turns and/or some gold, it would be more desirable.

On keeping the city, just survive the first rebellion, make peace with the Arabs and keep a strong garrison. BTW that's also costs a lot in gold and stability too.