The Last Crusader Kingdom

by Helena P. Schrader

  • It is recorded in the Continuations of William of Tyre that Leo of Armenia secured the release of Eschiva and her children because of his “love” for her father, but it is not explained how he knew Baldwin d’Ibelin. We do know, however, that after abdicating his titles and turning his son and lands over to Balian in 1186, Baldwin d’Ibelin went to Antioch, a neighbor and, at that time, ally of Armenia. As a fighting man in search of new opportunities, the Armenian struggle against overwhelming odds might well have attracted Baldwin, and an early death in Armenia would explain why he was never heard from again in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

  • Aimery came to the Armenian port of Corycos to collect his wife and children, accompanied by “the best men in his kingdom” to bring his family home. It is reported that he was about to dine with Leo of Armenia when the captain of his fleet warned that if he did not sail at once, he would “stay longer than intended.” He sailed just before a terrible storm and made it safely to Kyrenia.

  • The Archbishops of Trani and Brindisi delivered the “royal regalia” to Aimery in “April or May 1196,” according to Peter Edbury, who suggests that Aimery styled himself King from this time forward. Documentation from the period is very scarce.

  • The visit of Champagne to Cyprus and the betrothal of his three daughters to Aimery’s three sons is historical fact. It is sometimes mistakenly dated in 1194, but at that time Champagne did not yet have three daughters. Late 1196 or the first half of 1197 are the only possible dates for a triple betrothal. I’ve chosen November 1196 for the narrative of the story.

  • Eschiva died of unknown causes before September 1197. As she was still a comparatively young woman (in her thirties), and there is no mention of an accident, death in childbed, or foul play, I believe she died of an illness—something supported by the Chronicles, which say that at the time of her kidnapping, she was in Paradhisi to recover from an illness. I have chosen to give her the symptoms of anemia, which can be fatal if not treated, and suggest that her captivity contributed to her weakness and so to her death.

  • The “German crusade” led by the Imperial Chancellor, Conrad Bishop of Hildesheim, in cooperation with the forces of Jerusalem, defeated an invasion allegedly seventy thousand strong led by Saladin’s brother al-Adil. The battle was nearly a defeat, and was saved by the commoners, who rallied to King Henri and held firm against a final Saracen assault.

  • Henri de Champagne either stepped backwards out of a window or the balcony of a window collapsed under him on September 10, 1197. He died from the fall.

  • Shortly after Champagne’s death, Jaffa (which was held for Aimery de Lusignan by Barlais) fell to al-Adil.

  • The German crusaders in 1197 reportedly behaved very badly while in Acre, throwing people out of their homes and plundering. Champagne called his nobles together and some recommended an assault on the Germans, but instead an unnamed “wise” German convinced the Germans to leave Acre and camp outside the town. This incident occurred before Champagne’s death, but I chose to place it afterwards so that John could play a role in ending the incident.

  • There are two literary justifications for giving John a role. First, Aimery named John Constable of Jerusalem just months later, while he was still only eighteen. I think it reasonable that he had done something that impressed the Lusignan with his capabilities. Second, roughly thirty years later, the commune of Acre proved tenaciously loyal to John, defying the Holy Roman Emperor to support him. An incident such as this, where John defended the rights of the citizens of Acre—especially against the Germans—makes a logical prelude to later events. Combined, these reasons made it convenient to portray John as a responsible and effective leader supporting the people of Acre, as a means of explaining his subsequent career. By giving John a role, I also had an excuse to include a real historical incident that would otherwise not have fit into the scheme of the novel. There is, however, no historical evidence that John d’Ibelin was in any way involved in this episode.

  • Sometime in the fall of 1197 or early 1198, the German crusaders recaptured the coast between Acre and Tripoli, notably the city of Beirut, which was found—and left—in a ruinous state.

  • Aimery de Lusignan was chosen as Isabella’s fourth husband. He came to Acre in “the autumn of 1197,” when Isabella and Aimery were married. They were crowned in January 1198.

  • There is no record of who Aimery designated as his lieutenant on Cyprus after he went to Jerusalem. Thus, while there is no evidence it was Balian d’Ibelin, it remains possible that, were he still alive, he could have been appointed, particularly in light of Maria Comnena’s value as a representative of the still popular and legitimate Imperial Byzantine royal family.

  • The date, place, and cause of Balian’s death are unknown. To my knowledge, neither his nor Maria’s grave has been found.

  Glossary

  Abaya: a black garment, worn by Islamic women, that completely covers the head and body in a single, flowing, unfitted fashion so that no contours or limbs can be seen. It leaves only the face, but not the neck, visible and is often supplemented with a mask or “veil” that covers the face, leaving only a slit for the eyes between the top of the abaya (which covers the forehead) and the mask or veil across the lower half of the face.

  Aketon: a padded and quilted garment, usually of linen, worn under or instead of chain mail.

  Aventail: a flap of chain mail, attached to the coif, that could be secured by a leather thong to the brow band to cover the lower part of the face.

  Bailli: a governor or appointed official of the Crown, but also the elected head of one of the independent commercial “communes” of the Pisans, Venetians, or Genoese.

  Battlement: a low wall built on the roof of a tower or other building in a castle, fortified manor, or church, with alternating higher segments for sheltering behind and lower segments for shooting from.

  Buss: a large combination oared and sailed vessel that derived from Norse cargo (not raiding) vessels. They had substantial cargo capacity but were also swift and maneuverable.

  Cantle: the raised part of a saddle behind the seat; in this period it was high and strong, made of wood, to help keep a knight in the saddle even after taking a blow from a lance.

  Cervelliere: an open-faced helmet that covered the skull like a close-fitting, brimless cap; usually worn over a chain-mail coif.

  Chain mail (mail): flexible armor composed of interlinking riveted rings of metal. Each link passes through four others.

  Chancellors: royal and baronial officials responsible for maintaining, filing, and archiving documents, particularly charters related to the transfer of property and the like. They were usually clerics, and served as advisers to their lords on legal matters.

  Chausses: mail leggings to protect a knight’s legs in combat.

  Coif: a chain-mail hood, either separate from or attached to the hauberk.

  Commune: the Italian city-states had assisted the land armies of the crusaders by blockading coastal cities and sometimes providing troops as well. In exchange, they had been granted territory in all the major coastal cities and the right to run their affairs more or less autonomously. The communes were governed by the laws of their founding city (Pisa, Venice, and so on), and had elected officials, headed by a “bailli” who represented them to the other sectors of society, particularly the feudal overlords of the territory in which they had settled.

  Conroi: a medieval cavalry formation in which the riders rode stirrup to stirrup in rows that enabled a maximum number of lances to come to bear, but also massed the power of the charge.

  Constable: the royal constable was the commanding general of the royal army in the absence of the king. The constable was responsible for mustering the army, ensuring it was adequately supplied, and carrying the king’s standard or commanding in the absence of the king. The greater barons often had constables with similar functions, particularly mustering the vassals and securing the supplies of the baron’s military entourag
e.

  Court of the Bourgeoisie: the judicial body regulating and trying free, non-noble Frankish citizenry in the Kingdoms of Jerusalem and Cyprus.

  Court of the Chain: the judicial body regulating maritime law and trying maritime cases.

  Court of the Fonde: a court especially created to deal with commercial cases in market towns.

  Crenel: an indentation or loophole in the top of a battlement or wall.

  Crenelate: the act of adding defensive battlements to a building.

  Faranj: (also sometimes Franj) the Arab term for crusaders and their descendants in Outremer.

  Fief: land held on a hereditary basis from a lord in return for military service.

  Fetlock: the lowest joint in a horse’s leg.

  Frank: the contemporary term used to describe Latin Christians (crusaders, pilgrims, and their descendants) in the Middle East, regardless of their country of origin. The Arab term “faranj” derived from this.

  Destrier: a horse specially trained for mounted combat; a charger or warhorse.

  Dragoman: an official of the crown or a baron responsible for representing his lord in the lord’s rural domains. Although usually Franks of the sergeant class, they could be locals or knights. Their functions were very similar to English sheriffs. They were paid by their lord. The positions were not inherently hereditary, but custom favored the eldest son or a close relative of the previous dragoman.

  Dromond: a large vessel with two to three lateen sails and two banks of oars. These vessels were built very strongly and were consequently slower, but offered more spacious accommodations.

  Garderobe: a toilet, usually built on the exterior wall of a residence or fortification, that emptied into the surrounding ditch or moat.

  Hajj: the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five duties of a good Muslim.

  Hauberk: a chain-mail shirt, either long- or short-sleeved, that in this period reached to just above the knee.

  High Court: similar to but more powerful than the English House of Lords, it was the council in which all the barons of the Kingdom (whether Jerusalem or Cyprus) sat to conduct the business of the state. The High Court was the legislature of the kingdoms, but also the chief executive body and the judiciary for the feudal elite. The High Court elected the kings, conducted foreign policy, and tried their peers.

  Iqta: a Seljuk institution similar to a fief in feudal Europe, but not hereditary. It was a gift from an overlord to a subject of land or other sources of revenue, which could be retracted at any time at the whim of the overlord.

  Jihad: a Muslim holy war, usually interpreted as a war against nonbelievers to spread the faith of Islam.

  Kettle helm: an open-faced helmet with a broad rim, common among infantry.

  Khan: a large building built around a courtyard, often with a well, that provided temporary warehousing for goods on the ground floor and housing/lodgings on the upper stories for traveling merchants.

  Lance: a cavalry weapon approximately fourteen feet long, made of wood and tipped with a steel head.

  Mamlukes (also Mamelukes and Mamluks): former slaves who had been purchased or captured and then subjected to rigorous military training to make them an elite corps of fanatically loyal soldiers. Although technically freed on reaching adulthood, most generally retained a slavish devotion to their former masters and could be trusted to serve with particular selflessness. A Mamluke could, however, also be rewarded with lands and titles (e.g., a iqta) or simply valuable gifts. In 1250, the Mamlukes would revolt against their Sultan, murder him, and seize power for themselves.

  Marshal: a royal or baronial official responsible for the horses of his lord’s feudal host, including valuing the horses of vassals and ensuring compensation for losses.

  Melee: a form of tournament in which two teams of knights face off across a large natural landscape and fight in conditions very similar to real combat, across ditches, hedges, swamps, streams, and so on. These were very popular in the late twelfth century—and very dangerous, often resulting in injuries and even deaths to both men and horses. The modern meaning of any confused, hand-to-hand fight among a large number of people derives from the medieval meaning.

  Merlon: the solid part of a battlement or parapet between two openings or “crenels.”

  Outremer: A French term meaning “overseas,” used to describe the crusader kingdoms (Kingdom of Jerusalem, County of Tripoli, County of Edessa, and Principality of Antioch) established in the Holy Land after the First Crusade.

  Pommel: 1) the raised portion in front of the seat of a saddle; 2) the round portion of a sword above the hand grip.

  Palfrey: a riding horse.

  Parapet: A wall with crenelation built on a rampart or outer defensive work.

  Quintain: a pivoted gibbet-like structure with a shield suspended from one arm and a bag of sand from the other, used to train for mounted combat.

  Rampart: an earthen embankment surmounted by a parapet, encircling a castle or city as a defense against attack.

  Ra’is (also Rays and Rais): in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, a native (Syrian) “head man,” “chief,” or “elder” recognized by the native community as a man of authority. The position was usually hereditary, and the Ra’is usually occupied a larger house and held more property or more lucrative property (such as olive orchards, mills, or wine presses) than the average peasant in the village.

  Rear-Tenants: men who held land fiefs from tenants-in-chief of the crown—i.e., the vassals of vassals. Most tenants-in-chief of the crown held large territories they could not themselves manage and owed scores of knights to the feudal levee. They met their obligations by dividing up their holdings into smaller segments consisting of a few villages, or in some cases feudal privileges such as mills and bakeries, and bestowing these holdings on individual knights in exchange for rents and feudal service.

  Scabbard (also sheath): the protective outer case of an edged weapon, particularly a sword or dagger.

  Scribes: in the context of Outremer, scribes were (obviously literate) officials responsible for collecting taxes and fees within a certain domain. They were usually natives (Syrian or Greek), but they were appointed by the lord of the domain and required his trust. They were often paid in land or payments in kind. There is no evidence that they were necessarily clerical.

  Seneschal: the kings and great nobles employed this household official, who generally had responsibility for the finances of their lord—rather like the CFO of a major corporation today.

  Snecka: a warship or galley that was very swift and maneuverable but had only a single bank of oars in addition to the sail, and so a low freeboard. These evolved from Viking raiding ships.

  Surcoat: the loose, flowing cloth garment worn over armor; in this period it was slit up the front and back for riding and hung to mid-calf. It could be sleeveless or have short, wide elbow-length sleeves. It could be of cotton, linen, or silk and was often brightly dyed, woven, or embroidered with the wearer’s coat of arms.

  Tenant-in-chief: an individual holding land directly from the crown.

  Turcopoles: troops drawn from the Orthodox Christian population of the crusader states. These were not, as is sometimes suggested, Muslim converts, nor were they necessarily the children of mixed marriages.

  Vassal: an individual holding a fief (land) in exchange for military service.

  Also by Helena P. Schrader

  A leper king,

  A landless knight,

  And the struggle for Jerusalem.

  Book I in the Jerusalem Trilogy. Balian, the younger son of a local baron, goes to Jerusalem to seek his fortune. Instead, he finds himself trapped into serving a young prince suffering from leprosy. The unexpected death of the King makes the leper boy King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem — and Balians prospects begin to improve…

  wheatmark.com/catalog/knight-of-jerusalem-a-biographical-novel-of-balian-dibelin/

  A divided kingdom,

  A united enemy

  And the struggle
for Jerusalem

  Book II of the Jerusalem Trilogy. The Christian kingdom of Jerusalem is under siege. The charismatic Kurdish leader Salah ad-Din has united Shiite Egypt and Sunnite Syria and has declared jihad against the Christian kingdom. While King Baldwin IV struggles to defend his kingdom from the external threat despite the increasing ravages of leprosy, the struggle for the succession threatens to tear the kingdom apart from the inside.

  wheatmark.com/catalog/defender-jerusalem-biographical-balian-dibelin/

  A lost kingdom,

  A lionhearted king,

  And the struggle for Jerusalem

  Book III of the Jerusalem Trilogy. Balian has survived the devastating defeat at Hattin, and walked away a free man after the surrender of Jerusalem, but he is baron of nothing in a kingdom that no longer exists. Haunted by the tens of thousands of Christians enslaved by the Saracens, he is determined to regain what has been lost. The arrival of a crusading army led by Richard the Lionheart offers hope — but also conflict, as natives and crusaders clash and French and English quarrel.

  wheatmark.com/catalog/envoy-jerusalem-balian-dibelin-third-crusade/