[Loch-soilleir] some historical background for KoH movie

Merilee Fong melessant at yahoo.com
Thu May 5 06:14:29 PDT 2005


Some historical background on places in the Kingdom of Heaven movie from Baron Godwyn of Bjornsborg.
 
"Ibelin was a castle in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 12th century, and thus also the namesake of an important family of nobles.

The site of Ibelin was occupied since ancient times; the Romans called it Iamnia. The crusader castle was built in 1141 between Jaffa and Ascalon, near Montgisard and Ramla. At that time Ascalon was still controlled by Fatimid Egypt, and Egyptian armies marched out every year from Ascalon to  attack the crusader kingdom. (Nice to know that "annual wars" are indeed period) Ibelin was constructed in order to contain these attacks to a smaller area.

The original castle, built by King Fulk of Jerusalem, had four towers.

The Ibelin family claimed to be descended from the Le Puiset viscounts of Chartres, but the ancestor of the family was actually Barisan, who was given the castle of Ibelin in 1141 by Fulk as a reward for his loyalty during the revolt of Hugh II of Le Puiset in 1134. Ibelin was part of the County of Jaffa, which was itself part of the royal domain after Hugh's unsuccessful revolt. Barisan married Helvis of Ramla; their children were Hugh, Baldwin, Barisan, Ermengarde, and Stephanie. The younger Barisan came to be known as Balian. (whom the movie is supposed to be about - Remains to Be seen...)

 Along with Ibelin, the 12th century family also held Ramla and Nablus, but Balian was the last to hold these territories as they all fell to Saladin in 1187.

The family survived and in the 13th century became lords of Beirut. Notable among the 13th century Ibelins were the two jurists named John of Ibelin. The 13th century Ibelins were also influential in the Kingdom of Cyprus. 

Today Ibelin is known as Yavne.

I am totally in LOVE with "Answers.com"

Godwyn.
Baron, Blacksmith and Font of usless and often slightly innacurate information, but give him 
a few minutes/beers/chicken legs and he will correct the situation."





		
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