1. Early Life
Balian of Ibelin's early life was marked by his noble lineage and gradual ascension into the political and military sphere of the Crusader states.
1.1. Family and Background
Balian was the youngest son of Barisan of Ibelin, a knight in the County of Jaffa. His father had been rewarded with the lordship of Ibelin following the suppression of the revolt led by Hugh II of Le Puiset. Balian's mother was Helvis of Ramla, who was the heiress of the wealthy lordship of Ramla. He had two elder brothers, Hugh of Ibelin and Baldwin of Ibelin.
While his birth name was also Barisan, he adopted the Old French name "Balian" around 1175-1176. He is sometimes referred to as Balian the Younger or Balian II to distinguish him from his father, and also as Balian of Ramla or Balian of Nablus, reflecting his familial connections to these lordships. His name appears in Latin sources variously as Balian, Barisan, Barisanus, Balianus, Balisan, and Balisanus. Arabic sources refer to him as Balian ibn Barzan, meaning "Balian, son of Barzan." The precise year of his birth is unknown, but he was first mentioned in charters in 1156 as being "under-age" (infra annos), and by 1158, he was considered to be of age (typically 15), suggesting his birth was around 1143.
In 1177, Balian married Maria Komnena, the widow of King Amalric I. Through this marriage, he became stepfather to Amalric's younger daughter, Isabella, and acquired the rich Lordship of Nablus, which Maria had received as a dower gift from her previous marriage. He held this lordship jointly with Maria until its capture by Saladin in 1187. This union significantly elevated Balian's status, making him and his brother among the most powerful feudal lords in the kingdom, second only to Raymond III of Tripoli.
1.2. Early Activities and Entry into Public Service
Balian's earliest public appearance in historical records dates to 1158, when he began appearing in official charters. After the death of his eldest brother Hugh around 1169, the castle of Ibelin was inherited by his next brother, Baldwin. However, Baldwin preferred to retain his Lordship of Ramla and subsequently granted the Lordship of Ibelin to Balian, who held it from circa 1170. Balian held Ibelin as a vassal under his brother, who in turn held Ramla directly from the king, making Balian an indirect rear-vassal of the King of Jerusalem. This marked his formal entry into the political and military landscape of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
2. Political Career and Military Engagements
Balian of Ibelin's career was characterized by significant participation in the crusades and a highly influential role in the tumultuous political events that shaped the Kingdom of Jerusalem during a period of intense conflict with Saladin.
2.1. Succession Disputes and Early Campaigns
In 1174, Balian's brother Baldwin sided with Raymond III of Tripoli in the dispute over the regency for King Baldwin IV, who was suffering from leprosy. Balian followed suit, aligning himself with Raymond against Miles of Plancy. The Ibelin brothers were prominent figures in the Battle of Montgisard in 1177, where they led the vanguard of the Crusader forces. Their decisive action helped to break the strongest point of the Muslim battle line, contributing to a significant victory against Saladin's forces, which numbered around 26,000.
In 1179, Balian's brother Baldwin was captured by Saladin at the Battle of Jacob's Ford. Balian took the initiative to pay his brother's ransom, reportedly receiving financial assistance from their great-uncle, the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos.
As Baldwin IV's health deteriorated, succession disputes intensified. In 1183, Balian and Baldwin again supported Raymond III against Guy of Lusignan, who was married to Amalric I's elder daughter, Sibylla of Jerusalem, and was serving as regent for the ailing king. To prevent Guy from ascending the throne, Baldwin IV had his 5-year-old nephew, Baldwin of Montferrat, crowned as co-king. Shortly before his death in spring 1185, Baldwin IV orchestrated a formal crown-wearing ceremony for his nephew at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Balian, known for his tall stature, notably carried the child Baldwin V on his shoulder during this ceremony, a clear demonstration of the support from Isabella's family for her nephew and a public challenge to Guy and Sibylla's faction.
When the eight-year-old Baldwin V unexpectedly died in 1186, Balian and Maria, with Raymond's backing, put forward Maria's daughter Isabella (then about 14) as a candidate for the throne. However, Isabella's husband, Humphrey IV of Toron, unexpectedly refused the crown and instead swore fealty to Guy of Lusignan. This unexpected turn thwarted Balian's plans. Despite his deep reluctance, Balian ultimately paid homage to Guy, while his brother Baldwin refused to acknowledge Guy's kingship and chose to exile himself to Antioch, entrusting his son Thomas and the Lordship of Ramla to Balian's care.
2.2. Road to Hattin
Balian chose to remain in the kingdom, serving as an advisor to King Guy. By late 1186, Saladin, the sultan of Egypt and Damascus, began to threaten the borders of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. This escalation was triggered by Guy's ally, Raynald of Châtillon, Lord of Oultrejordain, who had attacked a Muslim caravan. Saladin, in turn, formed an alliance with the garrison of Tiberias, a territory held by Raymond III in the northern part of the kingdom.
King Guy assembled his army at Nazareth, intending to besiege Tiberias. However, Balian strongly disagreed with this plan, recognizing the significant risk posed by Saladin's larger army. He instead advocated for Guy to send an emissary to Raymond in Tripoli, hoping to reconcile the two powerful Christian leaders before Guy made a potentially disastrous move against Saladin. An initial attempt at reconciliation failed, leaving the situation tense.
After Easter in 1187, a new embassy was dispatched to Tripoli, comprising Balian, Gerard of Ridefort (the Grand Master of the Knights Templar), Roger de Moulins (the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller), Reginald of Sidon, and Joscius, Archbishop of Tyre. As this delegation departed Jerusalem on April 30, Saladin had already decided to declare war, launching a third assault on Kerak on April 26, seizing its suburb and causing considerable damage to the surrounding countryside. He also directed his son, al-Afdal, to lead a raiding party through Galilee targeting the lands around Acre. This raid was scheduled for May 1, coinciding with the agreed meeting date between the High Court's mediators and Raymond III.
Reginald of Sidon took a separate route to Tiberias, while Balian of Ibelin spent the night of April 30 in Nablus, his own lordship. The masters of the military orders and the Archbishop of Tyre proceeded to the Templar castle of La Féve, a few miles south of Nazareth. On May 1, at the Battle of Cresson, al-Afdal's forces decisively defeated the Templars and Hospitallers. Balian, who was still a day behind, having also stopped at Sebastea to observe a feast day, arrived at La Féve to find the castle deserted. He soon learned of the catastrophic battle from the few survivors. Upon hearing the news, Raymond met the embassy at Tiberias and agreed to accompany them back to Jerusalem.
2.3. Battle of Hattin
Following the Battle of Cresson, Raymond III, regretting his prior alliance which had allowed al-Afdal's army to enter the kingdom, reconciled with King Guy. Guy then marched his army north to Sephoria. However, he insisted on leading the army across a dry, barren plain to relieve Tiberias, despite the lack of water. The Crusader army, suffering from dehydration and constant harassment by Saladin's forces, was finally encircled at the Horns of Hattin outside Tiberias in early July.
The main Battle of Hattin commenced on July 4. The Crusader army was organized into three divisions: an advance guard to the east, the main body in the center, and a rear guard to the west, which Balian commanded alongside Joscelin III of Edessa. Saladin's forces formed a rough V-shape around the Crusaders, with their right flank to the northeast and the main body to the south, utilizing a smoke barrier created by burning brush.
As the battle progressed, the Crusaders faced severe challenges. Their infantry, weakened by dehydration, broke formation and attempted to retreat towards the Horns of Hattin. Without the infantry's support, the Crusader cavalry engaged directly with the Muslim forces. They made two attempts to break out of the encirclement: the first, led by the Templars and Hospitallers, was unsuccessful. A second attack, led by Count Raymond, initially broke through but was quickly sealed off by Saladin's forces, compelling Raymond to withdraw. The Crusader army became fragmented, and King Guy established a royal tent at the southern Horn of Hattin as a rallying point. The battle continued throughout the afternoon, resulting in heavy losses, particularly among the infantry and Turcopoles. Few knights were killed, but nearly all their horses perished. The Templars and Hospitallers suffered the most, with 200 prisoners captured and executed for their perceived ferocity. Among the prominent prisoners were King Guy himself and other noble leaders.
Balian, along with Raymond, Reginald of Sidon, and Payen of Haifa, were among the very few leading nobles who managed to escape the devastating defeat and reach Tyre. Raymond and Reginald soon departed to organize the defense of their respective territories. Tyre subsequently came under the leadership of Conrad of Montferrat, who had arrived not long after Hattin. Balian quickly became one of Conrad's closest allies. Before leaving Tyre, Balian sought permission from Saladin to pass through the lines to Jerusalem to escort his wife and children to Tripoli. Saladin granted this request, on the condition that Balian would leave Jerusalem and swear an oath never to take up arms against him again.
2.4. Defense and Surrender of Jerusalem
Upon Balian's arrival in Jerusalem with his small retinue of knights, the city's inhabitants, desperate for leadership given the devastation of Hattin, implored him to stay. Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem absolved Balian of his oath to Saladin, arguing that the greater need of Christendom and the defense of the Holy City outweighed his personal pledge to a non-Christian ruler. Balian was thus recruited to lead the defense of Jerusalem. He found that there were fewer than 14, and possibly as few as two, other knights remaining in the city. To bolster the defenses, Balian took the extraordinary step of creating 60 new knights from the ranks of the burgesses (citizenry). Queen Sibylla appeared to play a minimal role in the defense, with the city's populace largely pledging their allegiance and oaths to Balian as their effective lord. Alongside Patriarch Heraclius, Balian prepared for the inevitable siege by stockpiling food and money.
Saladin began the siege of Jerusalem on September 20, 1187. By this point, Saladin had already conquered nearly all other territories of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, including Ibelin, Nablus, Ramla, and Ascalon. Despite Balian's breach of oath, Saladin held no ill-will towards him and arranged for an escort to accompany Maria and their children safely to Tripoli. Ibn al-Athir, a contemporary Muslim chronicler, noted that as the highest-ranking Christian lord remaining in Jerusalem, Balian was viewed by the Muslims as holding a rank "more or less equal to that of a king."
During the siege, Saladin's forces succeeded in breaching portions of the city walls, but they were unable to gain entry due to the fierce resistance organized by Balian. Faced with overwhelming odds, Balian rode out to meet with the sultan. He informed Saladin that the defenders of Jerusalem would rather kill each other, destroy the city, and desecrate its holy sites than see it taken by force. After intense negotiations, a peaceful surrender was agreed upon: the city would be handed over to Saladin, and 7,000 Christian men would be freed for 30,000 bezants. The agreement also stipulated that two women or ten children could be ransomed for the price of one man.
On October 2, Balian formally handed over the keys to the Tower of David, the city's citadel. Saladin, honoring the terms, allowed for an orderly march away from Jerusalem, actively preventing the massacre that had tragically occurred when the Crusaders captured the city in 1099. Those who could not pay the ransom initially became slaves, but Saladin later released them. Balian and Patriarch Heraclius selflessly offered themselves as hostages to secure the ransom of the remaining Frankish citizens who could not afford their freedom, but Saladin refused their offer. The ransomed inhabitants departed in three organized columns. Balian and the Patriarch led the third column, which was the last to leave the city, estimated to be around November 20. Balian then joined his wife and children in Tripoli.
2.5. Third Crusade and Diplomatic Role
The fall of Jerusalem in 1187, coupled with the death of Queen Sibylla during the Siege of Acre in 1190, ignited a profound dispute over the succession to the throne of Jerusalem. Balian's stepdaughter Isabella was now the rightful queen, but her husband, Humphrey IV of Toron, who had disappointed her cause in 1186, remained steadfastly loyal to Guy of Lusignan, who refused to relinquish his title. For Isabella to effectively claim the throne, she required a politically acceptable and militarily capable husband. The most obvious candidate was Conrad of Montferrat, who also possessed a claim as Baldwin V of Jerusalem's paternal uncle.
Balian and Maria, recognizing the political necessity, took decisive action: they seized Isabella and persuaded her to agree to a divorce from Humphrey. This move had precedents, such as the annulment of Amalric I's marriage to Agnes of Courtenay, and previous unsuccessful attempts to compel Sibylla to divorce Guy. Isabella's marriage to Humphrey was subsequently annulled by Ubaldo Lanfranchi, the Archbishop of Pisa and Papal legate, along with Philip of Dreux, the Bishop of Beauvais. The Bishop of Beauvais then officiated the marriage between Isabella and Conrad. This marriage was controversial, as Conrad's brother had been married to Isabella's half-sister (Sibylla), and there was uncertainty regarding the validity of Conrad's divorce from his own Byzantine wife.
The succession dispute was further complicated by the arrival of Richard I of England and Philip II of France on the Third Crusade. Richard staunchly supported Guy, who was his Poitevin vassal, while Philip backed Conrad, who was his late father's cousin. Balian and Maria's pivotal role in Isabella's divorce and their unwavering support for Conrad as king earned them the bitter enmity of Richard I and his supporters. Contemporary chroniclers reflected this animosity: Ambroise, who penned a poetic account of the crusade, famously called Balian "more false than a goblin" and declared he "should be hunted with dogs." The anonymous author of the Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi further accused Balian of being a member of a "council of consummate iniquity" surrounding Conrad, suggesting he took Conrad's bribes. This chronicler also delivered a scathing assessment of Maria and Balian as a couple: "Steeped in Greek filth from the cradle, she had a husband whose morals matched her own: he was cruel, she was godless; he was fickle, she was pliable; he was faithless, she was fraudulent."
On April 28, 1192, only days after his kingship was formally confirmed by election, Conrad of Montferrat was assassinated in Tyre. Rumors quickly circulated that one of the two assassins had infiltrated Balian's household in Tyre months earlier, posing as a servant to stalk his victim, and that another may have similarly infiltrated the household of Reginald of Sidon or even Conrad's own. Richard I was widely suspected of involvement in the murder. Isabella, who was then pregnant with her first child, Maria of Montferrat, married Henry II of Champagne just a week later.
Balian subsequently became one of Henry's trusted advisors. Later that year, alongside William of Tiberias, he commanded the rearguard of Richard I's army at the Battle of Jaffa in 1192. Following this engagement, Balian played a crucial role in negotiating the Treaty of Jaffa between Richard I and Saladin, which effectively brought the Third Crusade to an end. Under the terms of this treaty, Balian's ancestral Lordship of Ibelin and his Lordship of Nablus remained under Saladin's control. However, many coastal sites that had been reconquered by the Crusaders during the campaign were allowed to remain in Christian hands. After Richard I's departure from the Holy Land, Saladin, in a gesture of goodwill or compensation, granted Balian the castle of Caymont and five other nearby sites, all located outside Acre. Balian held this lordship from 1192 until his death in 1193, after which it may have passed to his son, John of Ibelin.
3. Personal Life and Family
Balian of Ibelin's marriage to Maria Komnena, Queen consort of Jerusalem produced four children, all of whom played notable roles within the Frankish East:
- Helvis of Ibelin: She was married twice, first to Reginald of Sidon and later to Guy of Montfort.
- John of Ibelin: He rose to prominence as the Lord of Beirut and served as constable of Jerusalem. He later acted as regent for his niece, Maria of Montferrat, who became Queen of Jerusalem. John was married first to Helvis of Nephin and then to Melisende of Arsuf.
- Margaret: Her first marriage was to Hugh II of Saint Omer, who was a stepson of Raymond III of Tripoli. She later married Walter III of Cæsarea.
- Philip of Ibelin: He became Regent of Cyprus. Philip married Alice of Montbéliard and was the father of John of Ibelin, Count of Jaffa and Ascalon.
4. Death
Balian of Ibelin died in 1193, at an age in his early fifties.
5. Legacy and Historical Assessment
Balian of Ibelin's enduring historical significance stems from his critical roles in the final years of the first Kingdom of Jerusalem, his pragmatic leadership, and the complex assessments of his actions by both contemporaries and modern historians.
5.1. Historical Evaluation
Balian of Ibelin is widely recognized as one of the most important and capable Frankish lords of the 12th century. His leadership during the Siege of Jerusalem in 1187 is frequently cited as a testament to his tactical skill and diplomatic acumen. By negotiating a peaceful surrender with Saladin, he averted a potential massacre, a decision that is generally viewed favorably by historians as a pragmatic and humane act that saved thousands of Christian lives. His subsequent involvement in the Third Crusade, particularly his diplomatic efforts in negotiating the Treaty of Jaffa with Saladin, further solidified his reputation as a key figure in the political landscape of the Crusader states, capable of navigating complex international relations.
5.2. Criticisms and Controversies
Despite his significant achievements, Balian's actions were not without criticism and controversy, particularly from some contemporary chroniclers. His prominent role, along with his wife Maria, in arranging the divorce of his stepdaughter Isabella from Humphrey IV of Toron and her subsequent marriage to Conrad of Montferrat, drew considerable ire from figures aligned with Richard I of England. Ambroise, a chronicler of the Third Crusade, expressed strong disdain for Balian, calling him "more false than a goblin" and suggesting he "should be hunted with dogs." The anonymous author of the Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi further accused Balian of being a member of a "council of consummate iniquity" surrounding Conrad, suggesting he took Conrad's bribes. This chronicler also castigated both Balian and Maria, writing, "Steeped in Greek filth from the cradle, she had a husband whose morals matched her own: he was cruel, she was godless; he was fickle, she was pliable; he was faithless, she was fraudulent." These criticisms highlight the intense factionalism and political maneuvering that characterized the Crusader states during this period, particularly as allegiances shifted during the Third Crusade. Furthermore, there were suspicions that an assassin involved in Conrad of Montferrat's murder had infiltrated Balian's household, though direct evidence linking Balian to the assassination is lacking.
5.3. Influence and Records
Balian's influence extended beyond his lifetime through his descendants, who continued to play significant roles in the Crusader states, particularly in the Kingdom of Cyprus and Lordship of Beirut. The name "Balian" became a common given name within the Ibelin family in the 13th century, demonstrating the respect and prominence associated with him. Balian of Beirut, the son of Balian's son John and thus Balian's grandson, succeeded his father as Lord of Beirut in 1236. Another notable descendant was a son of John (Balian of Beirut's brother), also named Balian, who served as Lord of Arsuf and married Plaisance of Antioch. The name also found its way into the family of the Greniers of Sidon, as Balian's daughter Helvis and Reginald of Sidon named their son Balian.
The historical narrative surrounding Balian of Ibelin is significantly shaped by contemporary chronicles. His squire, Ernoul, who accompanied him on the embassy to Tripoli in 1187, wrote portions of the Old French continuation of the Latin chronicle of William of Tyre. William of Tyre had died in 1186, before the fall of Jerusalem, so Ernoul's continuation provides invaluable firsthand accounts of the events during and after the siege. Although this family of manuscripts often bears Ernoul's name, his personal account survives in fragments, primarily covering the period of 1186-1188, and notably exhibits a strong bias in favor of the Ibelin family. These chronicles, while biased, remain crucial primary sources for understanding Balian's life and the political complexities of the Latin East.
5.4. In Popular Culture
A highly fictionalized version of Balian of Ibelin is depicted as the protagonist in Ridley Scott's 2005 historical drama film Kingdom of Heaven. In the film, Balian is portrayed by English actor Orlando Bloom. This portrayal significantly deviates from historical accounts, reimagining Balian as a French blacksmith who unexpectedly inherits his noble title before becoming a central figure in the defense of Jerusalem. While the film captures the general spirit of the Crusades and the dramatic fall of Jerusalem, its depiction of Balian's background, relationships, and actions is largely fictionalized for dramatic effect, contrasting with the more nuanced and established historical records.