Balian of Ibelin (died 1193) was an influential noble of the kingdom of Jerusalem. Balian's name comes from a strain called Barisan in pronunciation in French of the twelfth century. Balian of Ibelin is sometimes referred to by the names of Balian the Younger (his father's lifetime), or Rama Balian Balian of Nablus.
It was the third son of Balian of Ibelin old, Lord of Ibelin and Rama, and Rama Helvis. His older brothers were Hugh and Baldwin. His father Balian the old, originally a private gentleman in the service of the Count of Jaffa, was rewarded by the hand of Helvis, heiress of Rama, and the grant of the castle of Ibelin.
the death of Hugh, the elder brother of Balian, in 1170 the castle passed to Baldwin of Ibelin, another brother, who gave it to him, keeping him to Rama. Baldwin and Balian sustained Raymond III of Tripoli cons miles Plancy for the regency during the minority Baldwin IV, and in 1177 the brothers fought in the Battle of Mount Gisard. During that same year married Mary Balian Comnenus widow of King Amalric I and received the lordship of Nablus, who had been the dowry of Mary.
In 1183, he supported Raymond III of Tripoli against Guy of Lusignan, husband of Sibylla of Jerusalem, for the regency during the illness of Baldwin IV the Leper. He was among the barons who advised the coronation of Baldwin V of living of Baldwin IV, to prevent Guy de Lusignan succeeded the king. Baldwin V became king in 1185 as a child, but died the following year, and Raymond chosen as successor Humphrey IV of Toron, who refused the crown in favor of Guy. Balian homage to Guy de Lusignan reluctantly, while his brother refused to do so and went into exile in Antioch.
Balian escaped after the defeat at Hattin in 1187. With Queen Sybil and the Patriarch Heraclius, he organized the defense of Jerusalem besieged by Saladin. He could not defend the city, however, by lack of men, supplies and materials. Across the city he could find only two knights and he had to son knighted sixty burgesses, that is to say non-noble Latins. He received the life of Saladin saves residents in exchange for a ransom of ten gold coins per man, five women and two for each child. Ibelin, Nablus, Rama and all other lands were conquered by Saladin Balian, but Balian and his family were allowed to live in Tripoli. Balian began by Guy de Lusignan support in his struggle against Conrad of Montferrat for the kingdom, and then negotiated with Mary, the wedding of her stepdaughter Isabella of Jerusalem Conrad, giving it legitimacy in its claim to the throne. After the death of Conrad and the remarriage of Isabella with Henry II of Champagne, Balian was an adviser to Henry and Richard the Lion Heart helped to negotiate a peace treaty with Saladin ending the third crusade. Ibelin remained under the control of Saladin, but Richard granted as compensation to the lordship of Balian Caymont. He died in 1193.
He married in 1177 Mary Comnenus (1154-1217), widow of Amaury I, King of Jerusalem, and had:
* John of Ibelin (died 1236), Lord of Beirut and Arsure, constable and bailiff of the kingdom of Jerusalem, and Bailiff of Cyprus.
* Philippe of Ibelin (died 1227), Regent of Cyprus
* Helvis of Ibelin (died 1216), married to Renaud Grenier, Earl of Sidon, and Guy de Montfort, Lord of Castres
* Margaret d 'Ibelin, married to
* Hugh II of Saint-Omer († 1204), Prince of Galilee,
* Brisebarre Gautier III († 1229), Lord of Caesarea
* John of Sidon, a son of Renaud de Grenier and Agnes of Courtenay.
film adaptation
A part of his life is staged in the Ridley Scott film Kingdom of Heaven was released in 2005. Balian is played by actor Orlando Bloom. But the historical reality on Balian differs significantly from the screenplay:
* The historical Balian son of Ibelin Barisian legitimate, not illegitimate son of Godfrey of Ibelin.
* He lived his youth in the Holy Land, not in northern France.
* He participated in the Battle of Hattin and has not arrived after the massacre as in the film, but managed to escape along with Renaud Grenier.
* He married Mary Comnenus, the widow of Amalric I, and not the Sibyl, daughter of Amalric I. (By contrast, it appears that the latter was engaged to a brother of Balian).
* He really knighted sixty burgesses to participate in the defense of the city.
* After the capture of Jerusalem, Balian remained in the Holy Land.
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