Balian of Ibelin

Balian of Ibelin, Balian also Nablus (* Early 1140 - years, † 1193 ) was Lord of Ibelin and Nablus, later Lord of Caymont. He was a leading baron in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Balian of Ibelin was a son Barisans and brother Hugo and Baldwin of Ibelin. His real name was Barisan, but the pronunciation of the name has changed over the 12th century in " Balian ". It is therefore sometimes referred to as " Balian the Younger " when his father is referred to as " Balian the Elder ".

Life

After the death of Hugo's in 1170, he received the castle of Ibelin his heirs, his older brother Baldwin, who kept for himself only the rule of Ramla in itself. 1174 supported Balian and Baldwin Raymond III. Tripoli against Miles of Plancy as regent for King Baldwin IV, in 1177, the brothers took part in the Battle of Montgisard. In the same year he married Maria Comnena, the King Amalric I, who brought the reign of Nablus as an appanage to the marriage widow.

Balian and his brother supported Raymond against Guy of Lusignan in 1183, the husband Sibylles, on the question of regency for the leper king of Jerusalem. Balian was in 1183 present at the coronation of Baldwin V, the IV in his lifetime Baldwin was held to prevent Guido as his successor. Baldwin IV died in 1185, Baldwin V the following year, and as Raymond's favorite to succeed, Humphrey IV of Toron, the crown turned down and turned on Guido's side, Balian reluctantly Guido made ​​the oath of allegiance, while his brother into exile went to Antioch.

Balian escaped from the battle of Hattin in 1187 and helped in the defense of Jerusalem and the negotiations to their submission to Saladin in October. Ibelin, Nablus, Ramla and the entire rest of possession Balian was captured by Saladin, Balian and his family were fleeing to Tripoli allowed. He initially supported Guido in his fight for the title against King Conrad of Montferrat, then allied himself but with Maria Comnena to marry Konrad with Isabella I, Mary's daughter from her marriage to Amalric I., Konrad whereby the stronger claim to the Kingdom obtained. After Conrad's death, Isabella's remarriage with Henry II of Champagne Balian remained one of Henry's advisers. In 1192 he helped in the negotiations between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin, who completed the Third Crusade. Since Ibelin remained under Saladin's control, Richard Balian was the new rule Caymont.

Progeny

With Mary, he had at least four children:

• Johann the old gentleman of Beirut ( * 1177/78, † 1236 ), Lord of Beirut, Regent of Jerusalem, Regent of Cyprus;
• Margaret (* 1180, † after 1240) ∞ 1) Hugh II of Saint- Omer; 2) Walter III. of Caesarea;
• Philip (* 1180, † 1227 ), Regent of Cyprus ∞ Alice of Montbéliard;
• Helene ( Helvis, * 1182, † before June 1216 ) ∞ 1) Reynald of Sidon; 2) Guy of Montfort.

Reception

The film Kingdom of Heaven ( 2005) by Ridley Scott is very loosely based on the life story of Balian.