Balian of Ibelin - A Biography

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A discussion of Balian of Ibelin, Crusader knight and diplomat. We look at Balian's early life, his involvement in the reign of King Baldwin IV, his conduct at the Battle of Hattin, his defense of Jerusalem in 1187, and his participation in Richard the Lionheart's Crusade. Narrated by Levi Barros. Written by J Stephen Roberts.
Levi is an excellent speaker with many interesting ideas. Check out his channel here:
/ @levibarros149
Dr. Helena Schrader's books about Balian of Ibelin are a great way to delve into the life of this fascinating medieval knight:
www.amazon.com...
defendingcrusad...

[@xxRIQUE]

This guy was more heroic than in the movie lol

[@georgeemil3618]

Well, they couldn't make the movie more accurate or nobody would believe it. ; )

[@rosaurobucu4551]

Yes. I agree. The movie didnt do him justice. He was as regal as saladdin.

[@upsidedownwithkris6754]

@@georgeemil3618 did u watched directors cut?

[@philipcallado5693]

Definitely. Came back to rescue his wife and kids before defending Jerusalem. Also when he met Richard, he goes with him to help out an end to the Crusades once and for all, instead of lying and running off like a little b-h. This guy would never have slept with Sibylla, no matter how hot she was.

[@marcusappelberg369]

@@philipcallado5693 Yeah even though I still like the directors cut, a historicaly true version would be better. Apparently Ridley wanted to make a movie based on the swefish novels about Arn the knight templar, by Jan Guillou. Guillou, who dislikes Hollywood, refused, so they made up Balian's backstory to be more like Arn's, with him not being born in the Holy land and such.

[@nykia31]

Your quality will be known among your enemies. Before ever you meet them my friend.

[@beren1898]

For me, the guy technically got the happiest ending among all the crusaders. He didn't get betrayed or imprisoned or killed in battle, instead he manage to survive, married, and created his own dynasty that survived for more centuries to go. He also heroic, smart, and honorable.

[@no_pseudo_idea6517]

His dynasty still exists. The last king of Bulgaria, Siméon II, is one of his descendants

[@ScharfeZungel]

"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that god may love thee. Speak the truth. Always. Even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong."

[@rambo32404]

That is your vow.... *hit and that your reminder

[@johnprice2718]

(Slap ) 👋😨 that is your oarh!

[@calvoaiza6111]

Very nice line

[@markjasonlucena4765]

God not god my friend because God is greater of all

[@ata-ayitehunlede5632]

@@rambo32404 The Oath of the Knight. Then finish it with a good slap. Thanks.

[@GunnersRange]

Well, at least he did defend Jerusalem and was respected by both sides which still makes him my idea of what a knight should have been.

[@sebastianoviedo4260]

He was also a Knight that did not commit cruel acts during war like others. A great warrior indeed.

[@beren1898]

@@sebastianoviedo4260 For me, the guy technically got the happiest ending among all the crusaders. He didn't get betrayed or imprisoned or killed in battle, instead he manage to survive, married, and created his own dynasty that survived for more centuries to go.

[@cadethumann8605]

@@beren1898 I guess he was like Perseus, one of the few Greek myth heroes who lived morally and got a happy ending.

[@earltontabut24]

The real story of balian is more interesting than movie..but still enjoy watching kingdom of heaven..

[@anangrylumberjack1229]

I’m happy to hear that the kingdom of heaven holds a candle of truth and portrays a hero of his time so well.

[@arispsaltis3290]

As usual history is more intriguing than fiction movies

[@scene2much]

History is about virtue, vice, vision, commitment, and execution. Movies are are a telling of stories (or their travesties) which appeal to a comfort-loving paying audience.

[@rogerhwerner6997]

It's strange that so little is known about the latter part of life for such a prominent historical figure. How of where he died is unknown. He's such a fascinating character of his era.

[@BrandonGiordano]

Yeah, it's possible that after everything he did in the crusades he just wanted to settle down and relax. He died relatively young even by his time's standards

[@al_marokan]

@@BrandonGiordano he died at 49

[@JuliusCaminus]

I have been telling people about this true history for years. I always maintain that this would make a better movie.

[@vimalpatel4060]

Do you know of a source which tells his story accurately. In prose format, a book or audiobook works too, Julius.. I know this is three years old, but..

[@BigL1999]

Time to rewatch Kingdom of Heaven ;)

[@nmjjmn663]

That's the last place you want to go for an accurate portrayal.

[@BigL1999]

nmj jmn Yeah of course i know, this video was about the main character. But its a very good movie. :)

[@delta2372]

nmj jmn it's a good movie just not good with being historically accurate.

[@mrjdgibbs]

Watch the director's cut. Promise me it was the director's cut.

[@sp1cychick3n]

@@nmjjmn663 ok, we know it’s not an accurate portrayal. But that doesn’t make it a bad movie. You can still enjoy the movie and love history.

[@dval4275]

The real story is better than the holy wood one

[@marcusaurelius7604]

Shortly after he made Kingdom of Heaven Ridley Scott made a Robin Hood movie with Russell Crowe. Originally Scott wanted to take the character Balian from KOH and turn him into Robin Hood. The plot as I heard it was that instead of telling Richard the Lionheart no at the end of KOH, Balian agreed to go back to the Holyland with Richard to try and retake Jerusalem. Some stuff happens and it is Balian's character that basically ends up being Russell Crowe's character. I think there was some conflicts with the studio about Ridley Scott's vision of Balian being Robin so they made him change it.

[@V2011F]

I also heard that he tried making Robin Hood out to be the villain of the movie and the Sheriff to be the good guy. An interesting idea, though I can understand why it would not have been all to popular with the average viewer who saw Robin Hood as a hero, still would've been cool to see though.

[@OutnBacker]

Perhaps it was because the story of Robin Hood is that of Robin of Locksloy - not a knight of French lineage who was born in Jerusalem. Thus, when Robin returned home, it was to his father's estate in England. Seeing the same face playing two prominent but different roles of the same era might have been a stretch.

[@antoinemozart243]

Robin hood is a myth !

[@twirajuda]

If Balian was given more of a say in the Crusaders’ councils instead of idiots like Guy de Lusignan or Reynald de Chatillon, the Kingdom of Jerusalem would have lasted longer than 1291

[@hughcapetien]

If Guy de Lusignan had not committed to meet Saladin without giving his army proper provisions such as an ample water supply, the battle of Hattin would not ever turned out the way it did, and as result the defense of Jerusalem was severely reduced.

[@hunter_norman]

Add Gerard de Ridefort who was grand master of the Knights Templar at the time who also wanted to go away from water to meet Saladin.

[@MinusTheRogue]

Honestly Balian deserved a lot of praise for his defense of Jerusalem. He was put in a very difficult spot but still succeeded to hold against Saladin.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Just want to let everyone know, I now have a new channel where I will be posting some music, non-Crusades related history, and possibly a little political commentary. Hope you all will check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGaZmoGYbpatgJI

[@Numba003]

Even if it’s not entirely accurate, I still enjoy Kingdom of Heaven. Excellent video my friends. Stay well out there everybody, and Jesus Christ be with you friends.😊

[@newsheed8007]

I saw just 3 mins and got to say he nailed hollywood.

[@katyp.2495]

I've been to Yavne where the castle of Ibelin was, or where the remains of it is, which is covered in a mound. In 2005 excavation of the site started. I'd love to go back someday to see how far they've got.

[@klaassiersma4892]

He was the perfect knight, i would have loved to know him.

[@nigelsheppard625]

I love the interpretation of She Moved Through the Fair. Thanks for the biography. Very interesting.

[@leeboi222]

That picture of Saladan at 2:00 was dope af

[@edwardnygma8533]

Can you provide your sources? I'm writing a paper and I can't very well site a KZbin video as an academic source, lol.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

For this video I used William of Tyre, Ashgate's The Conquest of Jerusalem and the Third Crusade, Malcolm Barber's Crusader States, and I think some God's War by Christopher Tyerman. Baha ad-Din's the Rare and Excellent History of Saladin is in there too I'm sure.

[@isaiasreaable]

As always hollywood getting things wrong..

[@Haywood2]

It has to make money.

[@123pajaron]

which they do intentionally often on based-on-true-story or historical movies. Most hollywood movies make history buffs to add flavor to the plot

[@eliasborsov8188]

Isaias Rea Not so wrong after all..

[@Konrad_Wallenrod]

This is more than just "getting it wrong" ! They went out of their way to turn this into a modern tale about a "self made man of the people", because Americans despise noblemen, even when they are honest people and good leaders! If you want to talk Mary Sue, the movie's Balian is the worst case of - he is blacksmith who grew up in a French village, but in a span of weeks, maybe two months at best, he suddenly knew more about irrigation that the native population and TAUGHT THEM how to do it! Not only that,he was giving a king who was a competent general in his own right - despite the leprosy - a lesson on how to defend a fortified city, which even back then was a complex science and fought off five well trained knights !

[@peterraab3411]

Liberals make the Christian's look like they do what the Muslin actually do

[@roguedisciple5961]

Great job, Levi!

[@levibarros149]

Thanks Peter! :D

[@helohi9701]

Fun fact - Balian was my 11th generations grandfather's brother

[@Tito_Barleti]

How do you know?

[@nikto618]

Cool if you are telling the truth.

[@stephengibson4823]

The facts are interesting. Still think the film was good

[@chucky0034]

You left off the part on how he was one of the 7 Knights that tried to help Lionheart travel across Eastern Roman Empire to get back to England getting captured at the last second.

[@Whiskey_and_Steel]

Great video

[@carloscastanheiro2933]

Thank you for making this video. What was his lineage or ancestry? Was he French? Was his name Balian or Baliani? It shows a coin in the video, it has written Baliani Sigillum (latin for seal or sigil) on it. Baliani would most likely be his surname, which would make it sound more Italian then French.

[@carloscastanheiro2933]

@Thib Skywalker Thanks

[@carloscastanheiro2933]

@Genius Thank you for clarifying.

[@DanielMorenoTV]

@@carloscastanheiro2933 so what was he?

[@georgewashington3032]

All I know is that the House of Ibelin claimed to descend from the Vicount of Chartres.

[@smal750]

French

[@keeroe2020]

I recognize the tune, once covered in the 60's by Fairport Convention called "She Moves Through The Fair." J, help us out here, who does the cover here?

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

That would be me :)

[@MrSh4des]

​@@RealCrusadesHistory that's awesome. Your channel is incredible

[@BrandonGiordano]

I wish Kingdom of Heaven was more historically accuarte because the true story is actually just as compelling IMO, but it at least got me interested in these real life figures and this period in history

[@afifihasan2134]

Still waiting for video about Russia battle Crimean Khanate, Kazan Khanate and Other Mongol Tatar Muslim Khanate. Also video about Battle of Alcacer Quibir 1578 (between Morocco and Portugal)

[@victoralvar7589]

This channels covers the crusades, not just any battle.

[@afifihasan2134]

Victor Alvar well go check it out Battle of Alcacer Quibir 1578, King Sebastion of Portugal ask Pope for Crusades to conquer Morocco. Also you can call Russia effort to conquer Muslim Tatar Khanate territory as Crusades. After all Russian Empire want to spread Christianity until Siberia

[@victoralvar7589]

You seem to be confused about what a crusade means. As for Alcazarquivir (as it is known where I live), to the best of my knowledge, no crusade was declared. As for Russia.... there is no such thing as an Orthodox Christian Crusade. I get the impression you think any war waged by any Christian nation against an Islamic nation is a Crusade, but that is not the case.

[@0hn0haha]

Victor is right. I study Russian history, and... we never Crusaded. We had wars that would be blessed as holy wars; but the Crusades were declared by the Catholic church. In a way, they had similar unifying effects; the Russian wars unified various Slavic tribes, and created an empire, while the European Crusades did a similar thing.

[@musicsavantaccountant5856]

Why wasn't he declared a saint?

[@that_lebanese4747]

A saint is a person who is in heaven bit but saint who are known and blessed by the pope like saint Francis saint paul ... Are people we are 100% percent sure they are in heaven beacause of the miracle they make if he did miracles he would be declared a saint

[@russell2890]

I just finished reading a book about king Richard and don't remember reading anything about Balian.

[@augustuscaesar1009]

You need to make video about Jan Sobieski and his victory at Vienna how Winged Hussars kicked Ottoman butts back to Anatolia

[@biocaster777]

Let's roll that Sabaton's song, shall we?

[@cjvipinosa3328]

@@biocaster777 when the Winged Hussars arrived!

[@nikhilguleria3429]

This is a crusades history channel. Ask kings and generals

[@alanrodriguez210]

I heard somewhere that he was offered to marry Sybilla just like the movie, but he rejected her for some reason despite having a short love affair with her.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

No, Philip, the Count of Flanders was offered her hand in marriage, but he refused. No evidence they had any kind of love affair. A royal princess would most likely not have been able to carry on an extra marital affair, it would've been too public and too scandalous.

[@joedaddy4714]

He wasn't at all like the Holy wood potrayal. I'm glad

[@notafool3178]

Kingdom of Heaven was a British production.

[@jaegerbomb269]

The real Balian of Ibelin is way cooler than what was shown in the movie. For once I hope there's a remake of Kingdom of Haven that's more accurate.

[@a.b.b35]

what happened to tancred of hauteville prince of antioch biography?

[@waynepurcell6058]

I love the Kingdom of Heaven movie but I think Arn the Knight Templar is a bit better.

[@brostugen]

The movie depicts Balian wrongly then, I really like the movie though

[@klicknkreate7077]

There are some elements of truth in the film though like the fact that he was a great warrior and defended Jerusalem brilliantly against Saladim.

[@LairNobleza]

Much better Balian than the movie

[@ivandevera7665]

When the character from history was too good for Hollywood that they had to change his backstory and nerfed his prominent achievements in the history of the crusades

[@ivanwithers8085]

Brilliant thank you

[@ItsAlriar]

Did you do this with all the main characters?

[@GamalielElbarki]

Godspeed!

[@arainbowinthedark2]

Would you say that the Characters of Godfrey and Bailin in the movie could be combined to be more accurate to the historical one since late stage Bailin sounds like Godfrey in the movie. Glad to see the end battle for Jerusalem was close to accurate to history, barring Bailins family.

[@michaelzatkovich6754]

It all makes perfect historical sense now. ,God Will's It.

[@askariraza9201]

I think a movie (Kingdom of Heaven 2) is required for recapturing, period battle between Salahudin & Richard

[@paulfrantizek102]

Unfortunately, a sequel would likely be as inaccurate and Islamophilic as the first.

[@GorrilazWarfare]

the movie isn't about war but morality and christians who lost their morality for fame and glory, it's not meant to be centered around battle but instead moral duty.

[@kuzakani4297]

Therere some old ones More or less good.

[@tsti1es]

Why is kingdom of heaven so wrong?

[@andretavares6827]

Loved kingdom of heaven

[@RipWanWinkle-vg8ld]

Thats the man we should all aspire to be like

[@Tem209]

can anyone give the name of the soundtrack ??? plzzzz

[@daikhan1]

what is the intro music? love that shit

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Me playing guitar.

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Here is some more of my music: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGaZmoGYbpatgJI

[@juansanchez5001]

The perfect Knight.🗡️💀🛡️

[@michielburger1406]

Saluut! Kryger!

[@sunnysmiles8211]

Just watched Kingdom Of Heaven

[@donkeldoothedapperdog]

Dapper!

[@Souljainbattle]

Richard could have captured jerusalem

[@notafool3178]

coulda , woulda shoulda

[@nikto618]

Charlmangle could

[@askariraza9201]

Your information is likely good

[@pedrovct._]

Você disse, Balian!?

[@aviation4326]

I fought besides him and im proud

[@Constantine_IA]

Orlando SoyBloom.Second worst casting choice ever(Colin Farrel as Alexander being first)

[@hughcapetien]

Hollywood just doesn't produce any more "he-men" anymore. The actor James Purefoy, who played the crusader in "Ironclad" in 2011 would have made a good Balian de Ibelin.

[@fumaaa5643]

The blonde alexander was such a shitty movie

[@paulfrantizek102]

Disagree, worst casting choice ever was replacing Alain Delon with Matt Damon in the Purple Noon remake.

[@notafool3178]

@@hughcapetien Sorry sport, it was a British production.

[@anthonyhargis6855]

J. Stephen has left us!

[@zoesdada8923]

None of the characters in the movie are anything like the way they were portrayed.

[@stupidmonkey86]

Yes, Sibylla! She had a pussy in the movie just as in real life.

[@vc6596]

But his horse was not a very good horse

[@thethirdjegs]

the real ibelin is more admirable to the admirable hollywood version

[@csprcute]

''like a King''

[@ajdinsolakovic9501]

Your source is writer of FICTIONAL history,and have a thing for Balian :P

[@kwalitywalls1251]

Lion ❤️

[@arielg7000]

OMG COOL

[@timmullens9479]

the saracens won b/c of superior numbers -only way they could -man for man the crusaders were better fighters

[@adamdurham16]

I wish the movie was more accurate

[@vlastakadric4206]

Movie is a movie. It doesn’t have to be 100% history.

[@albinthomas2065]

✝️✝️✝️