Balian Of Ibelin
Balian of Ibelin (c. 11341193) was an important noble in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 12th century.
Early life
He was the son of Barisan of Ibelin, and brother of Hugh and Baldwin. His father had been a knight in the County of Jaffa, and had been rewarded with the lordship of Ibelin after the revolt of Hugh II of Le Puiset. Barisan married Helvis, heiress of the wealthy lordship of Ramla. Balian's name was also Barisan, but the pronunciation of the name in Old French changed to "Balian" in the course of the 12th century; he is sometimes known as Balian the Younger or Balian II when his father is also referred to as Balian. He is also called Balian of Ramla or Balian of Nablus. In Latin his name appears variously as Balian, Barisan, Barisanus, Balianus, Balisan, and Balisanus. His precise year of birth is unknown, but he was of the age of majority in 1155, when he first appears in charters.
After the death of Balian's brother Hugh in 1170, the castle of Ibelin passed to Baldwin. Baldwin, preferring to remain lord of Ramla, gave it to Balian. Balian held Ibelin as a vassal of his brother, and indirectly as a rear-vassal of the king, from whom Baldwin held Ramla.
The "nobles' faction"
The Ibelins were partisans of the nobles' faction in the kingdom, made up of the lower nobility and older families who had lived there for generations; this faction was opposed to the new families of recently arrived crusaders, who tended to ally with the royal family. Balian and Baldwin supported Raymond III of Tripoli over Miles of Plancy as regent for King Baldwin IV in 1174, and in 1177 the brothers were present at the Battle of Montgisard, leading the vanguard victoriously against the strongest point of the Muslim line. That year Balian also married Maria Comnena, widow of King Amalric I, and received the lordship of Nablus, which had been a gift to Maria following her marriage to Amalric. In 1179, Baldwin was captured by Saladin...
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