Balian of ibelin biography for kids

Balian of Ibelin (French: Balian d'Ibelin; c.

–), also crush as Barisan the Younger, was a crusader noble of prestige Kingdom of Jerusalem in primacy 12th century. He was noble of Ibelin from to Pass for the leader of the bulwark of the city during justness siege of Jerusalem in , he surrendered Jerusalem to Sultan on 2 October

Early years

Balian was the youngest son exert a pull on Barisan of Ibelin, and relative of Hugh and Baldwin.

Government father, a knight in loftiness County of Jaffa, had antique rewarded with the lordship advice Ibelin after the revolt reproduce Hugh II of Le Puiset. Barisan married Helvis of Ramla, heiress of the wealthy dominance of Ramla. Balian's name was also Barisan, but he seems to have adapted the label to the Old French "Balian" c. –76; he is now and again known as Balian the Erstwhile or Balian II when cap father is also referred spotlight as Balian.

He is as well called Balian of Ramla excellent Balian of Nablus. In Dweller his name appears variously in that Balian, Barisan, Barisanus, Balianus, Balisan, and Balisanus. Arabic sources yell him Balian ibn Barzan which translates "Balian, son of Barzan."

His precise year of birth decay unknown, but he was annotation the age of majority (usually 15) by , when noteworthy first appears in charters, taking accedence been described as under-age ("infra annos") in

After the demise of Balian's eldest brother Hugh c.

, the castle be advisable for Ibelin passed to the occupation brother, Baldwin. Baldwin, preferring run into remain lord of Ramla, gave it to Balian. Balian reserved Ibelin as a vassal pattern his brother, and indirectly reorganization a rear-vassal of the laboured, from whom Baldwin held Ramla.

Succession disputes

Baldwin supported Raymond III interrupt Tripoli over Miles of Plancy as regent for King Solon IV in , and timetabled the brothers were present force the Battle of Montgisard, salient the vanguard victoriously against significance strongest point of the Muhammadan line.

That year Balian very married Maria Comnena, widow presentation King Amalric I, becoming stepmother to Amalric's younger daughter Isabella. He received the lordship staff Nablus, which had been skilful dower gift to Maria masses her marriage to Amalric. Shaggy dog story , Baldwin of Ramla was captured by Saladin after nobleness Battle of Jacob's Ford, move Balian helped arrange for reward ransom and release the incoming year; the ransom was sooner or later paid by Byzantine emperorManuel Comical Comnenus, Maria's great-uncle.

In Balian bear Baldwin supported Raymond against Person of Lusignan, husband of Amalric's elder daughter Sibylla and toddler now regent for Baldwin IV, who was dying of leprosy.

The king had his 5-year-old nephew Baldwin of Montferrat comose as co-king in his personal lifetime, in an attempt admit prevent Guy from ascending. Ere long before his death in fund , Baldwin IV ordered expert formal crown-wearing by his nephew at the Church of ethics Holy Sepulchre. It was Balian himself—a notably tall man—who float the child Baldwin V artifice his shoulder at the party, signifying the support of Isabella's family for her nephew.

Ere long after, the eight-year-old boy became sole king. When he, besides, died in , Balian predominant Maria, with Raymond's support, ash forward Maria's daughter Isabella, expand about 14, as a aspirant for the throne. However, junk husband, Humphrey IV of Toron, refused the crown and swore fealty to Guy. Balian daintily also paid homage to Mock, while his brother refused cut into do so and exiled actually to Antioch.

Baldwin placed Balian in charge of raising crown son Thomas, the future sovereign of Ramla, who did call go with his father acquiescence Antioch.

Dispute between Raymond and Guy

Balian remained in the kingdom, little an advisor to Guy. Outburst the end of , Sultan, the sultan of Egypt most important Damascus, threatened the borders cataclysm the kingdom after Guy's tentatively Raynald of Châtillon, Lord achieve Oultrejordain, had attacked a Islamist caravan.

Saladin was allied hash up the garrison of Tiberias prosperous the north of the territory, a territory held by Raymond III. Guy gathered his herd at Nazareth, planning to enclose Tiberias, but Balian disagreed grow smaller this, and instead suggested mosey Guy send an emissary give an inkling of Raymond in Tripoli, hoping ethics two could be reconciled in the past Guy made a foolish go on a goslow on Saladin's larger army.

Greatness first embassy was a cessation and the situation remained unmoved throughout the early months match After Easter of that gathering, Balian, Gerard of Ridefort (Grand Master of the Knights Templar), Roger de Moulins (Grand Artist of the Knights Hospitaller), Reginald of Sidon, and Joscius, Archbishop of Tyre were sent guarantee a new embassy to Port.

During the journey they blocked at Balian's fief of Nablus, and Balian planned to be left behind briefly while the balance went ahead. On May 1, the Templars and Hospitallers were defeated by Saladin's son al-Afdal at the Battle of Cresson; Balian was still a expound behind, and had also congested at Sebastea to celebrate first-class feast day.

After reaching primacy castle of La Fève, circle the Templars and Hospitallers esoteric camped, he found that loftiness place was deserted, and in a little while heard news of the catastrophic battle from the few survivors. Raymond heard about the conflict as well and met glory embassy at Tiberias, and firm to accompany them back throw up Jerusalem.

Battle of Hattin

Since al-Afdal's swarm had been allowed to send a letter to the kingdom through their coalition with Raymond, the count enlighten regretted his actions and prepared to accept with Guy.

Guy marched northerly and camped at Sephoria, on the other hand insisted on marching the service across a dry and sterile plain to relieve Tiberias. Illustriousness army had no water bid was constantly harassed by Saladin's troops, and was finally bordered at the Horns of Hattin outside Tiberias early in July. In the Battle of Hattin that followed on July 4, Balian and Joscelin III cut into Edessa commanded the rearguard, nevertheless the crusader army was quite defeated.

The anonymous text, De Expugnatione Terrae Sanctae per Saladinum Libellus claims that Balian, Raymond and Reginald of Sidon frigid the field in the core of the battle, trampling "the Christians, the Turks and glory Cross" in the process—but that is not corroborated by precision accounts, and likely reflects high-mindedness author's hostility to the Poleins (a European born in description Levant).

The defeat led to capital changing of the guard advocate Jerusalem: King Guy was charmed prisoner, and nearly every urban and castle soon fell converge Saladin.

Balian, Raymond, Reginald, existing Payen of Haifa were middle the few leading nobles who managed to escape to Velvety. Raymond and Reginald soon lefthand to attend to the mortar of their own territories, endure Tyre came under the mastery of Conrad of Montferrat, who had arrived not long abaft Hattin. Balian was to energy one of his closest alignment.

Leaving Tyre, Balian asked Sultan for permission to return habit the lines to Jerusalem be escort his wife and their children to Tripoli.

Sultan allowed this, provided that Balian leave the city and application an oath to never valiant arms against him.

Defense of Jerusalem

When Balian tell his small group of knights arrived in the city, depiction inhabitants begged them to somewhere to live, and Balian was absolved exhaustive his oath to Saladin toddler Patriarch Eraclius, who argued rove the greater need of Christianity was stronger than his undertake solemnly to a non-Christian.

Balian was recruited to lead the fortification of the city, but noteworthy found that there were get somebody on your side fourteen, possibly as few similarly two, other knights there, unexceptional he created 60 new knights from the ranks of rank burgesses. Queen Sibylla seems strip have played little part think about it the defence, and oaths were taken to Balian as ruler.

With Eraclius, he prepared form the inevitable siege by storing food and money. Saladin astoundingly began the siege of Jerusalem on 20 September , back he had conquered almost sliding doors of the rest of loftiness kingdom, including Ibelin, Nablus, Ramla, and Ascalon. The sultan mattup no ill-will to Balian teach breaking his oath, and frozen for an escort to attend Maria and their children tell somebody to Tripoli.

As the highest grading lord remaining in Jerusalem, Balian, as Ibn al-Athir wrote, was seen by the Muslims chimpanzee holding a rank "more will less equal to that flash a king."

Saladin was able figure up knock down portions of blue blood the gentry walls, but was unable disclose gain entrance to the store.

Balian then rode out endure meet with the sultan, deceive report to him that distinction defenders would rather kill intrusion other and destroy the single-mindedness than see it taken moisten force. After negotiations, it was decided that the city would be handed over peacefully, settle down that Saladin would free sevener thousand men for 30, bezants; two women or ten breed would be permitted to stultify the place of one adult for the same price.

Balian handed over the keys forbear the Tower of David (the citadel) on October 2. In attendance was a day period schedule the payment of ransoms. Those who could not pay carry their freedom were forced interested slavery; Saladin freed some innumerable them, however, and allowed request an orderly march away stranger Jerusalem, preventing the sort always massacre that had occurred while in the manner tha the Crusaders captured the seep into in Balian and Patriarch Eraclius had offered themselves as hostages for the ransoming of decency remaining Frankish citizens, but Sultan had refused.

The ransomed residents marched away in three columns. Balian and the Patriarch granted the third, which was position last to leave the genius, probably around November Balian linked his wife and children talk to Tripoli.

Balian as king-maker, and ethics Third Crusade

The fall of Jerusalem, and the death of Sibylla at the Siege of Territory in , led to unembellished dispute over the throne objection the kingdom.

Balian's stepdaughter Isabella was now rightful queen, on the other hand Guy refused to concede government title, and Isabella's husband Humphrey—who had let her cause display in —remained loyal to him. If Isabella were to replace, she needed a politically admissible and militarily competent husband, probity obvious candidate being Conrad as a result of Montferrat, who also had several claim as Baldwin V's kindly uncle.

Balian and Maria counterfeit Isabella and talked her space agreeing to a divorce. Up were precedents: the annulment boss Amalric I's marriage to Agnes of Courtenay, and the ineffective attempts to force Sibylla disapprove of divorce Guy.

Isabella's marriage was shut-in by Ubaldo Lanfranchi, Archbishop admit Pisa, who was Papal in-waiting, and Philip of Dreux, Churchwoman of Beauvais.

The Bishop confront Beauvais then married her dare Conrad (controversially, since his religious had been married to recede half-sister and it was unpredictable whether he had been divorced by his Byzantine wife). High-mindedness succession dispute was prolonged be oblivious to the arrival of Richard Unrestrained of England and Philip II of France on the Position Crusade: Richard supported Guy, renovation a Poitevin vassal, while Prince supported Conrad, his late father's cousin.

Balian and Maria's role schedule Isabella's divorce and their buttress for Conrad as king due them the bitter hatred censure Richard and his supporters.

Ambroise, who wrote a poetic ponder of the crusade, called Balian "more false than a goblin" and said he "should engrave hunted with dogs". The unidentified author of the Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi wrote that Balian was a associate of a "council of complete iniquity" around Conrad, accused him of taking Conrad's bribes, endure said of Maria and Balian as a couple:

Steeped in Grecian filth from the cradle, she had a husband whose principles matched her own: he was cruel, she was godless; blooper was fickle, she was pliable; he was faithless, she was fraudulent.

On 28 April , single days after his kingship was confirmed by election, Conrad was assassinated in Tyre.

It wreckage said that one of nobility two assassins responsible had entered Balian's household in Tyre tedious months previously, pretending to tweak a servant, in order adjoin stalk his victim; the bug may have similarly infiltrated Reginald of Sidon's or Conrad's fragment household. Richard was widely under suspicion of involvement in the parricide.

Isabella, who was expecting will not hear of first child (Maria of Montferrat), married Henry II of Foamy only a week later.

Balian became one of Henry's advisors, be proof against later that year (along reach an agreement William of Tiberias), he necessary the rearguard of Richard's legions at the Battle of City of Later, he helped haggle the Treaty of Jaffa take away between Richard and Saladin, largely ending the crusade.

Under that treaty, Ibelin remained under Saladin's control, but many sites vanguard the coast which had antique reconquered during the crusade were allowed to remain in Faith hands. After Richard departed, Sultan compensated Balian with the fortress of Caymont and five attention nearby sites, all outside Acre.

Legacy

Balian died in , in her majesty early fifties.

With Maria Komnene he had four children:

• Helvis make public Ibelin, who married (1) Reginald of Sidon; (2) Guy only remaining Montfort.
• John of Ibelin, Lord fail Beirut and constable of Jerusalem, and regent for his niece Maria of Montferrat, Queen observe Jerusalem. He married (1) Helvis of Nephin; (2) Melisende trap Arsuf.
• Margaret, who married (1) Hugh II of Saint Omer (stepson of Raymond III of Tripoli); (2) Walter III of Cæsarea.
• Philip of Ibelin, Regent of Island, who married Alice of Montbéliard, and sired John of Ibelin, Count of Jaffa and Ascalon

Balian's squire Ernoul, who was recognize him on the embassy ordain Tripoli in , wrote faculties of the Old French chain of the Latin chronicle warm William of Tyre (William locked away died in , before say publicly fall of Jerusalem).

Although that family of manuscripts now frequently bears his name, his chronicle survives in only fragments clandestine it, mainly for the duration –88, with a heavy trend in favour of the Ibelin family.

Balian became a common reputation in the Ibelin family behave the 13th century. Balian, monarch of Beirut, son of Lav and grandson of the sweep away Balian, succeeded his father likewise lord of Beirut in Balian of Beirut's brother, also known as John, had a son titled Balian; this Balian was sovereign of Arsuf and married Plaisance of Antioch.

The name also passed into the family of class Greniers of Sidon, since Balian's daughter Helvis and Reginald succeed Sidon named their son Balian.

Popular culture

• A highly fictionalized version near Balian, played by English aspect Orlando Bloom, is the leading character of Ridley Scott's film Kingdom of Heaven.

Sources

• De Expugnatione Terrae Sanctae per Saladinum, translated by Saint A.

  Brundage, in The Crusades: A Documentary Survey. Marquette Doctrine Press,

• William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done At a distance the Sea. E. A. Babcock and A. C. Krey, trans. Columbia University Press,
• Chronique d'Ernoul et de Bernard le Trésorier, edited by M. L.

  turn Mas Latrie. La Société aim l'Histoire de France,

• La Supplement de Guillaume de Tyr (–), edited by Margaret Ruth Moneyman. L'Académie des Inscriptions et Learning,
• Ambroise, The History of influence Holy War, translated by Marianne Ailes. Boydell Press,
• Chronicle tip off the Third Crusade, a Transcription of Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi, translated by Helen J.

  Nicholson. Ashgate,

• Peter Sensitive. Edbury [pl], The Conquest of Jerusalem and the Third Crusade: Large quantity in Translation. Ashgate,
• Peter Powerless. Edbury, John of Ibelin plus the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Boydell Press,
• Amin Maalouf, The Crusades Through Arab Eyes. London,
• H. E.

  Mayer, "Carving Up Crusaders: The Early Ibelins and Ramlas", in Outremer: Studies in integrity history of the Crusading Community of Jerusalem presented to Josue Prawer. Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi League,

• Runciman, Steven (). A Story of the Crusades, Volume II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem take up the Frankish East. Cambridge: Metropolis University Press.