Raymond, the son of Pons of Tripoli and Cecile of France, marries Hodierna of Rethel, daughter of Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem, in 1137.

Shortly after the wedding, Tripoli is invaded by the sultan of Damascus in 1137, and Count Pons is taken prisoner and later executed with most of the other Frankish prisoners.

He is succeeded by his son as Raymond II.

Raymond had been present at the battle, and considers the Syrian Christians of Tripoli responsible for the treachery which led to his father's defeat and death.

Therefore, after the battle he takes many of them prisoner, and as William of Tyre says, "visited upon them divers tortures in the presence of the people, and, in just proportion to the enormity of the crime which they had committed, he caused them to suffer death in its most cruel forms."

This act is praised by the Latin Christians of the county; "Such", William continues, "were the first proofs of valor which were given by the young count, whereby he won the affection of all his people and universal approval."