Sibylla of Jerusalem
Overview
Biography
(See also Genealogical Table(s): 6, 7.)
Born 1160 in Jerusalem, Sibylla was the daughter of Amalric I, son of queen Melisende, and Agnes of Courtenay. Her parents’ marriage was annulled on the basis of consanguinity, but Amalric insisted their children, Sibylla and Baldwin, remain his legitimate heirs. Sibylla was the Countess of Jaffa and Ascalon from 1176 and Queen of Jerusalem from 1186 to 1190. She died in Acre, in 1190.
Sibylla was brought up in the care of her great-aunt, princess-abbess Joveta of Bethany (Melisende’s sister). Her brother, Baldwin IV, succeeded their father in 1174; he suffered from leprosy and as the disease progressed, Sibylla had to be married to succeed him. In 1175, she was married to William (Rufus) Long-Sword of Montferrat, a first cousin to Louis VII and to the emperor Frederick, in the hopes of support from Western powers for the kingdom of Jerusalem. But William died in 1177 of malaria before Sibylla gave birth to their son. Hugh of Burgundy was proposed as a second husband, and Baldwin of Ibelin may have wanted to marry her, but she was persuaded (probably by her mother, Agnes, who had influence over her) to marry Guy of Lusignan, a vassal of Henry II, who was then the only western ruler in a position to help the East, in 1180. With Guy, Sibylla had four daughters, all of whom died young. Guy was appointed regent as Baldwin declined but he fell out with the king, to whom he refused entry into Ascalon. Baldwin IV appointed Sibylla’s son Baldwin V, then six years old, his heir and Raymond of Tripoli regent. He considered having the marriage of Sibylla and Guy annulled, but Sibylla was loyal to Guy.
After Baldwin IV died in 1186, Joscelin of Courtenay tricked Raymond into leaving Jerusalem and declared Sibylla queen. There was division between those who had sworn loyalty to her son (among them Raymond, Balian of Ibelin, Baldwin of Ramleh) and those who supported her (Joscelin, constable Amaric, Guy’s brother, patriarch Heraclius, Gerard of Ridfort, master of the Temple). Sibylla held Jerusalem and the seaports; she represented hereditary right, as daughter, sister, and mother of kings, but her husband was disliked. Sibylla may have had to promise her supporters that she would divorce Guy, but she insisted on the right to choose a new husband for herself. After she was crowned alone by the patriarch, she chose to crown her husband Guy as co-ruler, against the wishes of her supporters. There was an attempt to bring in troops supporting her half-sister, Isabella, and her husband, Humphrey of Toron, but Humphrey demurred and swore allegiance to Guy. Guy was captured in battle by Saladin in 1187, and held until 1188, while Saladin took major cities. When he attacked Jerusalem, Sibylla led the defence, along with Patriarch Heraclius and Balian of Ibelin. After Jerusalem fell, Sibylla was permitted to escape to Tripoli with two of her daughters. After Guy was released, he and Sibylla marched on Tyre, which remained in Christian hands, but they were rebuffed. As Guy besieged Acre for two years, Sibylla and their daughters died in an epidemic. Sibylla‘s half-sister Isabel succeeded her.
Since Sibylla's consent was needed for various charters issued by her brother and both her husbands, those charters are included here.
Letters from Sibylla of Jerusalem
A letter to Constance of France, countess of Toulouse (1177)A letter to Joscelin, count and seneschal (1186, October 21)
A letter to Joscelin, count and seneschal (1186, October 21)
A letter to Public (1177)
A letter to Public (1179, December)
A letter to Public (1179, October 22)
A letter to Public (1181, September 10)
A letter to Public (1182, February 24)
A letter to Public (1183, March 19)
A letter to Public (1186, March 7)
A letter to Public (1190, mid September)
A letter to Torgis (1183)