One of the most controversial figures in the history of the Crusades is Guy de Lusignan (1150-1194) – the ill-fated king of Jerusalem between 1186 and 1192. It’s fair to say his reign is regarded as nothing short of a disaster. Despite the revisionist efforts of some historians to portray him positively – he’s viewed negatively by the vast majority. Let’s take a look at this hapless monarch.
Guy was the youngest son of Hugh VIII of Lusignan and the younger brother of Aimery of Lusignan. He arrived in the Holy Land with his brother and was married to Sibylla (1159-1190), sister of King Baldwin IV (1161-1185) of Jerusalem, in 1180 to prevent a political crisis. After Baldwin IV’s death and the brief reign of his nephew Baldwin V, Sibylla became queen and married Guy. They reigned as co-rulers, with Guy as regent for Baldwin V before Baldwin’s death.
His decision to engage the Saracen leader Saladin at Hattin in 1187, despite the advice of some of his advisors, resulted in a crushing defeat and the loss of a large portion of the kingdom. While some historians offer more nuanced interpretations, portraying Guy as a victim of circumstances, his overall reputation remains largely negative. He is remembered as the king whose reign led to the fall of Jerusalem and the beginning of the end of the Crusader kingdom.
There were two types of westerner in the crusader kingdoms by the late 12th century – those who had been there for decades and sunk roots into the region. These “Franks” had often intermarried with local women and adopted Middle Eastern customs, diet, and dress. They were viewed with hostility and suspicion by the newcomers from Europe who were seen to be more brash, vulgar, and disrespectful of local etiquette. Their view was that there was a job of work to be done – the conquering of Muslim lands for Christ – and that the former group had gone soft – even…gone native.
Guy was in the newcomer camp. His political nemesis, Raymond III of Tripoli (1140-1187), was one of those grounded in the region and more tactful in his approach. By marrying Sibylla, Guy put himself directly in the line of succession to the throne. Nobles like Raymond were resigned to Sibylla becoming queen of Jerusalem but not to Guy being crowned king.
But fortunately for Guy, he had powerful allies in the form of the Knights Templar, under the grand master Gerard de Ridefort (1140-1189), and the very combative noble, Raynald of Chatillon (1125-1187). They saw Raymond as a double dealing traitor prepared to do underhand deals with the Saracen to protect his interests in the Holy Land. From Raymond’s point of view, Guy and his Templar allies were hotheads who were going to destroy the crusader position with their rashness.
Sibylla was declared Queen of Jerusalem on the death of her brother, Baldwin IV who succumbed to leprosy without an heir. Before her coronation, she promised to divorce Guy to please the nobility. But as the big day approach, it was obvious she had no intention of doing so. This provoked an amusing split between the Knights Templar and Hospitaller.
On coronation day, the Templar and Hospitaller grand masters were summoned to open a strongbox containing the royal regalia. Each of them had one of the two keys. So, it needed each grand master to insert his key and turn to open the strongbox. The Templar obliged, keen to see Sibylla and Guy crowned. But the Hospitaller grand master threw his key out of the palace window in disgust. You have to picture the scene as the Templars dashed outside to retrieve it.
Guy de Lusignan is blamed for the crusader defeat at the Battle of Hattin in 1187 and the rest of his career was spent being the official King of Jerusalem, but ruling from outside the city. In historical fiction, from the works of Sir Walter Scott to Jan Gillou, he has been portrayed as a brooding and incompetent figure.
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The Cross-legged Templar
The Monumental Effigies in Temple Church London are considered an enigma; some believing that the Knights with crossed legs were Crusader Knights. The true purpose of the nine stone effigies and the coffin however is far more interesting and was well understood by Grand Masters of the Order and those who placed the Effigies.
When the original Knights returned from excavating under Temple Mount in Jerusalem they brought back much treasure that was concealed at various locations known only to those Knights and successive Grand Masters. The secret of the treasure sites was recorded on the Chess Board which symbol became the Templar Banner. One of the sites is the ‘key’ to the rest. Of the other eight sites six are identified as being on black squares, depicted by the Knight Effigies with ‘crossed legs’, such as that of William Marshall 2nd Earl of Pembroke and the three effigies with footrests. Interestingly the effigy of a ‘member of the de Ros family’ is without armour and feminine in character (a French Female Knight, Chevaleresse). If so this would be consistent with the square it would occupy on the Chess Board and the location of the treasure.
In the Church of St Mary at Aldworth (near Newbury) there are almost identical stone effigies known as the ‘Aldworth Giants that tell the same story
Geoffrey Morgan
I love this. Thanks!
Modernwitchcraft.org
smithsonianmag.com has some great articles as well
thank you for post, Happy Sunday!