Stephanie of Milly

Stephanie of Milly ( † around 1197 ) was mistress of Oultrejordain and an influential woman in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

She was the daughter of Philip of Milly, Lord of Nablus 1142-1161, 1161-1168 Lord of Oultrejordain, 1169-1171 Grand Master of the Knights Templar, and his wife Isabella.

Her first husband was 1163 Humphrey III. of Toron, who died in 1173. From this marriage she had a son, Humphrey IV of Toron, and a daughter Isabella of Toron, the Prince Ruben III. married Armenia.

Her second husband was Miles of Plancy, who was murdered in 1174.

1176 she married Raynald of Chatillon, formerly Prince of Antioch, who had recently been released from captivity in Aleppo.

1183 married her son Humphrey in Kerak Isabella of Jerusalem, while the castle was besieged by Saladin. Stephanie sent ambassadors to Saladin and reminded him of the friendship that had developed when he was many years before a prisoner in Kerak. Saladin did not lift the siege, but agreed to the tower where Humfrieds and Isabella's wedding was celebrated, not to attack. ( The siege was shortly thereafter IV of King Baldwin, Isabella's brother, absent).

By Stephanie Raynald of Chatillon was the rule Oultrejordain in his hands. He used his new position to harass Muslim caravans and pilgrims, once even threatened to attack Mecca. This led in 1187 to the invasion of Saladin in the kingdom. Rainald was killed in the Battle of Hattin, Humphrey IV later captured. Saladin gave Humphrey free in exchange for Kerak and Montreal, but refused to submit to; Stephanie dutifully sent her son back to Saladin, but released him again. Kerak and Montreal fell after a long siege finally to Saladin and were finally lost to the Christians.

Their son Humphrey died before her in 1192, their daughter Isabella was her sole heir. Isabella's daughter, Alice of Armenia was so Toron repossess after it was recovered in 1229 by the Ayyubids.