Isabella I of Jerusalem
Isabella I | |
---|---|
Sibylla and Guy | |
Successor | Maria |
Co-rulers | |
Born | 1172 Nablus, Kingdom of Jerusalem |
Died | 5 April 1205 (aged 32–33) Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem |
Spouses | Henry II of Champagne (m. 1192; died 1197) |
Issue more... |
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Roman Catholicism |
Isabella I (1172 – 5 April 1205) was reigning
Baldwin IV, who suffered from lepromatous leprosy, had made his nephew (the only son of his sister, Sibylla by her first husband), Baldwin V, his heir and co-ruler, to prevent Sibylla's second husband, Guy of Lusignan, from mounting the throne. The High Court of Jerusalem stipulated that a committee of Western European rulers was entitled to choose between Sibylla and Isabella to succeed Baldwin V if he died before reaching the age of majority, but Sibylla and Guy of Lusignan were crowned soon after Baldwin V died in 1185. Guy's opponents tried to play Isabella and her husband off against him, but Humphrey did homage to the royal couple.
Early life
Childhood
Isabella was the daughter of
Amalric died unexpectedly on 11 July 1174.
Isabella's mother married
The relationship between Baldwin IV and Guy of Lusignan deteriorated.[19] Baldwin IV removed Guy from the regency and denied his right of succession, making Guy's stepson (Sibylla's son from her first marriage), Baldwin V, his heir and co-ruler on 20 November 1183.[19][20][21] A version of Ernoul's chronicle suggests that the child Baldwin V was made heir, because the ailing Baldwin IV wanted to avoid a debate between his sisters' supporters about his succession.[22] Guy's principal supporters, Joscelin of Courtenay and Raynald of Châtillon, were not present at Baldwin V's coronation, because they attended the wedding of Isabella and Humphrey of Toron.[23]
First marriage
The wedding took place in Kerak Castle.
[Stephanie of Milly] sent to Saladin bread and wine, sheep and cattle in celebration of her son's wedding... . And when Saladin received these gifts he was exceedingly delighted and gave thanks to those who brought them to him, asking where the bride and bridegroom were staying: their tower was pointed out to him. Thereupon Saladin gave out orders throughout his army that no attack should be directed at this tower.
The dying Baldwin IV appointed Raymond of Tripoli regent for Baldwin V in April 1185.
Sibylla's uncle Joscelin of Courtenay persuaded Raymond III of Tripoli and his allies to leave Jerusalem, and urged her supporters (including Raynald of Châtillon) to assemble in the town.
On Raymond of Tripoli's proposal, the noblemen who assembled in Nablus decided that they proclaim Isabella and Humphrey of Toron queen and king.[37] However, Humphrey (whose mother and stepfather were Sibylla's supporters) fled from Nablus to Jerusalem and did homage to Sibylla and Guy.[37][35] Before long, all barons followed his example and swore fealty to the queen and her husband, with the exception of Raymond of Tripoli who left the kingdom.[38][39]
Saladin imposed a crushing defeat on the united army of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the
Conrad regarded himself as the ruler of Tyre, forbidding Guy of Lusignan to enter the town in the summer of 1189.[44][45] Guy laid siege to Acre, but James of Avesnes, Louis III of Thuringia and other crusader commanders who came to the Holy Land also questioned his claim to leadership.[46] Guy's wife, Sibylla, and their two daughters died in the autumn of 1190.[47][48] Guy's opponents argued that he had only been king by marriage, and his wife's half-sister, Isabella, inherited the crown.[47] Guy did not want to abandon his claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.[49] Taking advantage of the situation, Conrad of Montferrat decided to marry Isabella.[50][51]
Isabella's stepfather supported Conrad's plan.
Second marriage
Conrad married Isabella on 24 November.
The crusaders captured Acre on 11 July 1191.[59] On 28 July, Richard and Philip agreed that Guy could retain the title of king till the end of his life, but Conrad would rule Tyre, Beirut and Sidon; after Guy's death, the kingdom would be united under the rule of Conrad and Isabella or their issue.[47][60] Three days later, Philip left for France and Richard became the sole supreme commander of the crusaders.[61] The native barons remained hostile towards Guy.[62] After Richard decided to return to England in April 1192, the barons urged him to revise the previous decision about the Kingdom of Jerusalem.[63]
Reign
Election
Richard held an assembly on 16 April 1192.
Isabella, who loved lingering in her bath, spent unusually much time there on 28 April.
Third marriage
On learning of Conrad's assassination, Henry of Champagne, who had meanwhile returned to Acre, hurried back to Tyre.[69] Henry, who was the nephew of both Richard of England and Philip of France, was acclaimed king by the barons and the citizens of Tyre.[70][67] According to Ernoul, Henry was hesitant, because Isabella was pregnant, possibly with a son.[71] The barons and the citizens, continued Ernoul, promised him that his children would inherit the Kingdom of Jerusalem to convince him to accept the crown.[71] The betrothal of Henry and Isabella was announced two days after Conrad's death.[70][67] The marriage was celebrated in Acre on 10 May 1192.[70]
Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani, who was present at the wedding, wrote:
Henry of Champagne married the Marquis' wife on the same night, maintaining that he had first right to the dead man's wife. She was pregnant, but this did not prevent himself uniting himself with her, something even more disgusting than the coupling of the flesh. I asked one of their courtiers to whom paternity would be awarded and he said: "It will be the Queen's child." You see the licentiousness of these foul Unbelievers!
Isabella and Conrad's child, Maria of Montferrat, was born in 1192. Henry and Isabella then had three daughters, Margaret (born 1193/1194), Alice (born 1196)[72] and Philippa (born 1197).[72] Henry died in 1197 when a balcony or window-trellis gave way and he fell out of a window.
Fourth marriage
After his death, Isabella married for a fourth time to
The legality of Isabella's divorce from Humphrey was challenged in 1213, during the dispute over the succession to Champagne between her daughters Alice and Philippa and Henry's nephew Theobald IV. However, its validity seems to have been upheld: no challenge was made to the legitimacy of Maria and her descendants to succeed to the throne of Jerusalem, and in Champagne, Theobald bought off his cousins Alice and Philippa.
Family
Isabella's first marriage to Humphrey IV of Toron was childless.[74]
From her second marriage to Conrad of Montferrat she had one daughter:
- Maria (1192–1212), succeeded Isabella as Queen of Jerusalem.
From her third marriage to
- Margaret[75] (1193/1194 – before 1205) betrothed to Guy of Cyprus but they both died as children.
- Champagne.
- Erard de Brienne-Rameruptand was also a claimant of Champagne.
From her fourth and final marriage to Aimery of Cyprus she had the following children:
- Sibylla (October–November 1198 – c. 1230 or 1252), married King Leo I of Armenia[76]
- Bohemund IV of Antioch[77]
- Amalric (1201 – 2 February 1205, Acre)[78]
Ancestry
Ancestors of Isabella I of Jerusalem Bertrade de Montfort | | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agnes d'Évreux | |||||||||||||||||||
2. Amalric of Jerusalem | |||||||||||||||||||
20. Hugh I of Rethel | |||||||||||||||||||
10. Baldwin II of Jerusalem | |||||||||||||||||||
21. Melisende of Montlhéry | |||||||||||||||||||
5. Melisende of Jerusalem | |||||||||||||||||||
22. Gabriel of Melitene | |||||||||||||||||||
11. Morphia of Melitene | |||||||||||||||||||
1. Isabella I of Jerusalem | |||||||||||||||||||
24. John II Komnenos | |||||||||||||||||||
12. Andronikos Komnenos | |||||||||||||||||||
25. Irene of Hungary | |||||||||||||||||||
6. John Komnenos | |||||||||||||||||||
13. Eirene Aineiadissa | |||||||||||||||||||
3. Maria Komnene | |||||||||||||||||||
15. John Taronites | |||||||||||||||||||
7. Maria Taronitissa | |||||||||||||||||||
In popular culture
Isabella has made few fictional appearances, but she is a major character in Graham Shelby's The Knights of Dark Renown (1969) and its sequel The Kings of Vain Intent (1970). Shelby idealises her marriage to Humphrey, depicting them as his young romantic leads. He then goes on to depict her being beaten and raped by Conrad in a sadistically abusive relationship. This sensationalist depiction is not supported by any evidence. Shelby implies that Isabella plotted Conrad's murder in revenge for his abuse, and depicts her as mentally numbed and indifferent to Henry.
She is the title character of Alan Gordon's mystery novel, The Widow of Jerusalem (2003), which paints a more sympathetic portrait of her marriage to Conrad. She is introduced as a spoilt, vain young woman, but she matures in the course of the story. Only when it is too late does she realise that her husband loves her. His murder, and the later death of Henry, are investigated by the hero, the fool Theophilos (Feste).
She is positively portrayed as a child and young woman in Sharon Kay Penman's The Land Beyond The Sea.
See also
References
- ^ Hamilton 2000, p. 31.
- ^ a b Barber 2012, p. 246.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, p. 31 (note 47).
- ^ Hamilton 2000, pp. 31–32.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, pp. 41–42.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 264.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, pp. 101, 110.
- ^ Baldwin 1969, p. 593.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 267.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 268.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, pp. 119, 126.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, p. 126.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, p. 139.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, pp. 155–157.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 274.
- ^ a b c Hamilton 2000, p. 157.
- ^ Baldwin 1969, pp. 596, 598.
- ^ a b c Hamilton 2000, p. 161.
- ^ a b c Hamilton 2000, p. 192.
- ^ Baldwin 1969, p. 600.
- ^ Lambert 1997, p. 160.
- ^ Lambert 1997, p. 161.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, p. 194.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, pp. 182–183, 192.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, pp. 192–193.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, p. 196.
- ^ Barber 2012, pp. 284–285.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 285.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 289.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, pp. 205–206.
- ^ a b Hamilton 2000, p. 207.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, p. 216.
- ^ a b Baldwin 1969, p. 604.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, p. 218.
- ^ a b c d Hamilton 2000, p. 220.
- ^ a b Lambert 1997, p. 162.
- ^ a b c Baldwin 1969, p. 605.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, p. 221.
- ^ Barber 2012, pp. 295–296.
- ^ Barber 2012, pp. 303–304, 365.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 304.
- ^ Barber 2012, pp. 307–308, 365.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 365.
- ^ Painter 1969, p. 51.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 330.
- ^ Barber 2012, pp. 330, 337.
- ^ a b c Williams 1970, p. 384.
- ^ Painter 1969, p. 65.
- ^ Painter 1969, pp. 65–66.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 338.
- ^ Runciman 1989b, p. 30.
- ^ a b c d e Painter 1969, p. 66.
- ^ Runciman 1989b, pp. 30–31.
- ^ a b c d e Runciman 1989b, p. 31.
- ^ a b c Runciman 1989b, p. 32.
- ^ Hamilton 2000, pp. 161–162.
- ^ Painter 1969, pp. 63, 66–68.
- ^ Painter 1969, p. 70.
- ^ Painter 1969, p. 69.
- ^ Runciman 1989b, p. 51.
- ^ Barber 2012, p. 346.
- ^ Barber 2012, pp. 350, 352.
- ^ a b c Williams 1970, p. 385.
- ^ a b c d e f g Painter 1969, p. 80.
- ^ a b c d Runciman 1989b, p. 64.
- ^ Williams 1970, p. 382.
- ^ a b c Painter 1969, p. 81.
- ^ Runciman 1989b, p. 65.
- ^ Williams 1970, p. 387.
- ^ a b c Runciman 1989b, p. 67.
- ^ a b Lambert 1997, p. 163.
- ^ a b Perry 2013, p. 38.
- ^ a b Tyerman 2006, p. 493.
- ISBN 978-0-415-82494-1.
- ^ Lignages d'Outremer, Le Vaticanus Latinus 7806, El parentado del conte de Campagna 7, p. 164.
- ^ Runciman 1989b, p. 95, Appendix III: Genealogical trees, Number 1. and 4..
- ^ Runciman 1989b, p. 95, Appendix III: Genealogical trees, Number 1-2..
- ^ Runciman 1989b, p. 103.
- ^ Runciman 1989a, pp. 36, Appendix III (Genealogical tree No. 1.).
- ^ Treadgold 1997, p. 608.
- ^ Dunbabin 2000, p. 389.
Sources
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- Barber, Malcolm (2012). The Crusader States. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-11312-9.
- ISBN 0-19-820846-4.
- Hamilton, Bernard (2000). The Leper King and His Heirs: Baldwin IV and the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-64187-6.
- Lambert, Sarah (1997). "Queen or Consort: Rulership and Politics in the Latin East, 1118-1228". In Duggan, Anne J. (ed.). Queens and Queenship in Medieval Europe: Proceedings of a Conference Held at King's College London, April 1995. Boydell Press. pp. 153–169. ISBN 0-85115-657-6.
- ISBN 0-299-04844-6.
- Perry, Guy (2013). John of Brienne: King of Jerusalem, Emperor of Constantinople, c.1175-1237. Cambridge University Press.
- ISBN 0-521-06163-6.
- ISBN 0-521-06163-6.
- ISBN 0-8047-2630-2.
- Tyerman, Christopher (2006). God's War: A New History of the Crusades. Harvard University Press.
- Williams, Patrick A. (1970). "The Assassination of Conrad of Montferrat: Another Suspect?". Traditio. 26. Fordham University: 381–389. S2CID 152245331.
- Edbury, Peter W. (ed.) The Conquest of Jerusalem and the Third Crusade, 1998, ISBN 1-84014-676-1
- Gilchrist, M. M. "Character-assassination: Conrad de Montferrat in English-language fiction & popular histories", Bollettino del Marchesato. Circolo Culturale I Marchesi del Monferrato, Alessandria, no. 6, Nov. 2005, pp.5–13. (external link)
- Ilgen, Theodor. Konrad, Markgraf von Montferrat, 1880
- Nicholson, Helen J. (ed.) The Chronicle of the Third Crusade: The Itinerarium Peregrinorum et Gesta Regis Ricardi, 1997, ISBN 0-7546-0581-7
- Usseglio, Leopoldo. I Marchesi di Monferrato in Italia ed in Oriente durante i secoli XII e XIII, 1926.