Balian of Ibelin

noble of Jerusalem

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June 23, 2026

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Balian of Ibelin was a prominent noble in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, a Crusader state established in 1099. He played a significant role in the kingdom's defense, particularly after the devastating defeat at the Battle of Hattin in 1187, where he bravely defended Jerusalem against Saladin's forces. Despite the eventual fall of Jerusalem to Saladin, Balian was instrumental in negotiating the city's surrender to minimize bloodshed and protect its inhabitants. He later participated in the Third Crusade and continued to be a key figure in the declining years of the kingdom, which ultimately fell in 1291.1

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Crusades
The Crusader states to 1187
…men under the command of Balian of Ibelin, capitulated to Saladin, who agreed to allow the inhabitants to leave once they had paid a ransom. Though Saladin’s offer included the poor, several thousand apparently were not redeemed and probably were sold into slavery. In Jerusalem, as in most of the…
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…men under the command of Balian of Ibelin, capitulated to Saladin, who agreed to allow the inhabitants to leave once they had paid a ransom. Though Saladin’s offer included the poor, several thousand apparently were not redeemed and probably were sold into slavery. In Jerusalem, as in most of the…
Read More