Melisende (born before 1177 – died after 1215) was the hereditary Lady of Arsuf from 1177 and the second wife of the powerful nobleman John, Old Lord of Beirut.

Melisende
Lady of Arsuf and Beirut
Arsuf fortress, in Israel, home of the Crusader Lords of Arsuf
Bornbefore 1177
DiedUnknown
Holy Land
Spouse(s)Thierry d'Orca
John of Ibelin, the Old Lord of Beirut
Issue
FatherGuy, Lord of Arsuf
MotherUnknown

Life

edit

She was born sometime before 1177, the eldest daughter of Guy, Lord of Arsuf. Her mother's name is unknown. She had a brother, Lord Jean, who married Helvis de Brie.[1] When Jean died childless, Melisende inherited the lordship of Arsuf.[1][2]

On an unknown date, Melisende married firstly Thierry d'Orca.[1] In 1207, she married secondly John of Ibelin, Lord of Beirut, former Constable of Jerusalem,[1] and Regent in Acre for his half-niece Queen Maria.

Upon their marriage, Melisende passed the lordship of Arsuf to John, increasing his territory in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Beirut was effectively an independent state under his rule, while remaining a vassal of the Sovereign. After rebuilding the city which had been destroyed by the forces of Saladin, during the latter's conquest of the Crusader kingdom, Ibelin constructed a magnificent palace.

John of Ibelin and Melisende had six sons and one daughter:

Death

edit

Melisende died on an unknown date.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Roll & Tal 1999, p. 14.
  2. ^ Lignages d'Outremer, Marciana MS Francese 20, CC LXXXIX, p.63
  3. ^ a b c d e Lock 2006, p. 490.

Sources

edit
  • Lignages d'Outremer, Marciana MS Francese 20, CCLXXXIX, p. 63[full citation needed]
  • Lock, Peter (2006). The Routledge Companion to the Crusades. Routledge.
  • Roll, Israel; Tal, Oren (1999). Apollonia-Arsuf: The Persian and Hellenistic periods. Tel Aviv University Press.
  • Women in Power (1150–1200)[full citation needed]