John of Ibelin (1215– December, 1266), count of Jaffa and Ascalon, was a noted jurist and the author of the longest legal treatise from the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He was the son of Philip of Ibelin, bailli of the Kingdom of Cyprus, and Alice of Montbéliard, and was the nephew of John of Ibelin, the “Old Lord of Beirut”. To distinguish him from his uncle and other members of the Ibelin family named John, he is sometimes called John of Jaffa. Events June 15 - King John of England forced to put his seal to the Magna Carta, outlining the rights of landowning men (nobles and knights) and restricting the kings power. ... December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Events February 26 - French defeat Germans and Sicilians at Battle of Benevento. ... The Crusader state of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, created in 1099, was divided into a number of smaller seigneuries. ... The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a short-lived country established in the 12th century by the First Crusade. ... A Bailiff in a United States courtroom Bailiff (from Late Latin bajulivus, adjectival form of bajulus) is a governor or custodian; cf. ... Lusignan castle of Kantara in the Beşparmak mountains The Kingdom of Cyprus was a Roman Catholic Crusader kingdom on the island of Cyprus in the late Middle Ages. ... John of Ibelin (c. ... Ibelin was a castle in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 12th century. ...

His family was the first branch of Ibelins to have the seat in Cyprus, due to his father becoming regent (bailli) there on request of his niece Alice, Dowager Queen of Hugh I who died 1219 and left Alice to guard the kingdom of a minor, king Henry I. In 1229 he fled Cyprus with his family when Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor seized the Ibelin territories on the island. They settled temporarily in Northern Palestine, where the family had holdings. He was present at the Battle of Casal Imbert in 1232, when his uncle John of Beirut defeated Riccardo Filangiere, Frederick’s lieutenant in the east. Around 1240 he married Maria of Barbaron (d. 1263), the sister of king-consort Hethum I of Armenia. In 1241 he was probably responsible for drafting a compromise between the Ibelins and the emperor, in which Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester would govern the kingdom. This proposal did not work out and Simon never came to the Holy Land; the Ibelins continued to quarrel with the representatives of the Hohenstaufens, and in 1242 they captured Tyre from rivals. John participated in the siege. Events March 18 - Sixth Crusade of Emperor Frederick II ends in truce with Sultan al-Kamil and coronation of Frederick as King of Jerusalem. ... Frederick II (left) meets al-Kamil (right). ... Events Canonization of Saint Anthony of Padua, patron of lost items Pope Gregory IX driven from Rome by a revolt, taking refuge at Anagni First edition of Tripitaka Koreana destroyed by Mongol invaders Births Manfred of Sicily Arnolfo di Cambio, a Florentine architect (may have been born in 1245) Deaths... Events Batu Khan and the Golden Horde sack the Ruthenian city of Kyiv Births Pope Benedict XI Deaths April 11 - Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, also known as Llywelyn The Great Prince of Gwynedd Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona (reigned from 1213 to 1276) Castile... Events Detmold, Germany was founded. ... King Hetoum (right) and Queen Zabel (left) on a silver tram Hethum (or Hetoum) I of Armenia ruled the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia from 1226 to 1270. ... Events April 5 - Mongols of Golden Horde under the command of Subotai defeat feudal polish nobility, including Knights Templar, in the battle of Liegnitz April 27 - Mongols defeat Bela IV of Hungary in the battle of Sajo. ... Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (1208 – August 4, 1265) was the principal leader of the baronial opposition to king Henry III of England. ... Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of Kings of Germany, many of whom were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Dukes of Swabia. ... Events April 5 - During a battle on the ice of Russian forces rebuff an invasion attempt by the Teutonic Knights. ... Tyre (native Phoenician Ṣur, Latin Tyrus, Akkadian Ṣurru, Tiberian Hebrew צר Ṣōr, Greek Τύρος Týros, Arabic الصور aṣ-Ṣūr) is an ancient Phoenician city in Lebanon on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, about 23 miles, in a direct line, north of Acre, and 20 south of Sidon. ...

Sometime within the next few years, perhaps around 1250 and certainly no earlier than 1244, John became count of Jaffa and Ascalon and lord of Ramla, Ramla being an old holding of Ibelins but nearby Jaffa-Ascalon having belonged to others, most recently to the imprisoned Walter IV of Brienne, whose son Jean de Brienne (king Henry's nephew) was supplanted by this Ibelin acquisition. This probably occurred when king Henry I of Cyprus, John's first cousin, became regent of Jerusalem, and distributed continental lands to his Cypriot barons to create loyal base there. Jaffa was by now a minor port and Ascalon was captured from the Knights Hospitaller by the Mamluks in 1247, reducing the second county to titular status (and Jaffa being not very much). Jaffa (Hebrew alphabet יפו, Standard Hebrew Yafo, Tiberian Hebrew Yāp̄ô; Arabic يافا Yāfā; also Japho, Joppa), Israel, is part of the municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo in the Tel Aviv District. ... Ashkelon or Ashqelon (Hebrew אשקלון; Arabic عسقلان ʿAsqalān; Latin Ascalon) was an ancient Philistine seaport on the east coast of the Mediterranian sea just north of Gaza. ... Ramla (Hebrew רמלה Ramlāh; Arabic الرملة ar-Ramlah, colloquial Ramleh), is a city in the Center District of Israel in Israel. ... Gauthier, or Gualtero, was born around the same time (1205) as his father has lost his bud to sicilian throne and died in prison. ... Henry I of Cyprus (1217-1253) ruled the Kingdom of Cyprus underage from January 10, 1218 to 1253. ... The Knights Hospitaller (the or Knights of Malta or Knights of Rhodes) is a tradition which began as a Benedictine nursing Order founded in the 11th century based in the Holy Land, but soon became a militant Christian Chivalric Order under its own charter, and was charged with the care... An Ottoman Mamluk, from 1810 Mamluks (or Mameluks or Mamelukes) (the Arabic word usually translates as owned, singular: مملوك plural: مماليك) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim Caliphs and the Ottoman Empire, and who on more than one occasion seized power for themselves. ... Events Shams ad-Din disappears resulting in Jalal Uddin Rumi writing 30,000 verses of poetry about his disappearance. ...

In 1249 he joined the Seventh Crusade and participated in Louis IX of France's capture of Damietta. When Damietta was recaptured and Louis taken prisoner, John seems to have escaped the same fate. Louis was released in 1252 and moved his army to Jaffa; Louis' constable and chronicler Jean de Joinville portrays John very favourably. John was by now an extremely famous lord in the east, corresponding also with Henry III of England and Pope Innocent IV, who had confirmed Henry I's grant to John. Events University, the first College at Oxford founded Births Emperor Kameyama of Japan Pope John XXII Frederick I, Margrave of Baden Deaths July 6 - Alexander II of Scotland (b. ... The Seventh Crusade was a crusade led by Louis IX of France from 1248 to 1254. ... Only representation of Saint Louis known to be true to life - Early 14th century statue from the church of Mainneville, Eure, France King Louis IX of France or Saint Louis (April 25, 1214/1215–August 25, 1270) was King of France from 1226 until his death. ... Damietta is a port in Dumyat, Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea at the Nile delta, about 200 kilometres north of Cairo. ... Events Alfonso X of Castile, the Wise (el Sabio) Stockholm is founded by Birger Jarl (cf 1854) The widespread usage of torture by the Medieval Inquisition is introduced. ... Jean de Joinville (1224 - December 24, 1319) was one of the great chroniclers of medieval France. ... Henry III (October 1, 1207 – November 16, 1272) is one of the least-known British monarchs, considering the great length of his reign. ... Innocent IV, né Sinibaldo de Fieschi ( 1180/90 - December 7, 1254), pope from 1243 to 1254, belonged to one of the first families of Genoa, and, educated at Parma and Bologna, passed for one of the best canonists of his time. ...

Henry I died in 1253, and Louis IX left for France in 1254, leaving John as bailli of Jerusalem. John made peace with Damascus and used the forces of Jerusalem to attack Ascalon; the Egyptians besieged Jaffa in 1256 in response. John marched out and defeated them, and after this victory he gave up the bailliage to his cousin John of Arsuf. For broader historical context, see 13th century. ... Events December 2 - Manfred of Sicily defeats army of Pope Innocent IV at Foggia. ... Damascus by night, the green spots are minarets Damascus (Arabic officially دمشق Dimashq, colloqially ash-Sham الشام) is the capital city of Syria and one of the worlds oldest cities. ... Events Hanseatic League formed. ... A bailiwick is the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff. ...

Meanwhile the Genoese and Venetian trading communities in Acre came into conflict, in the "War of Saint Sabas." John supported the Venetians. In order to bring some order back to the kingdom, John and Bohemund VI of Antioch summoned Plaisance of Antioch and Hugh II of Cyprus to take over the regency of the kingdom for the absentee king, Conradin. Nevertheless the Venetians defeated the Genoese in a naval battle in 1258 and the Genoese left Acre. With Plaisance and Hugh in Acre, the Ibelin family began to decline in importance, but around 1263 John began a scandalous affair with Plaisance. Location within Italy Flag of Genoa Christopher Columbus monument in Piazza Aquaverde Genoa (Italian Genova (jeno-vah), Genoese Zena (zaynah), French Gênes) is a city and a seaport in northern Italy, the capital of Liguria. ... Location within Italy Venice is known for its waterways and gondolas Venice (Italian Venezia), the city of canals, is the capital of the region of Veneto, population 271,663 (census estimate 2004-01-01). ... The Old City of Akko in the 19th or early 20th century, looking south-west from atop the Land Wall Promenade, the open space now a parking lot. ... Bohemund VI of Antioch (1237-1275), was ruler of the principality of Antioch (a crusader state) between 1251 and 1268. ... Queen Plaisance of Cyprus, born Plaisance of Antioch (b c 1235 died 1261) was a daughter of Bohemund V of Antioch and his second wife, an Italian noblewoman Lucienne dei Conti di Segni, kinswoman of Pope Innocent III. She became Queen consort and Queen regent of the Kingdom of Cyprus... Hugh II (1253-1267) was king of Cyprus and, from the age of 5 years, also Regent of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. ... Portrait of Conradin from the Codex Manesse (Folio 7r). ... Events= February 10 - Mongols overrun Baghdad, burning it to the ground and killing 800,000 citizens Llywelyn the Last declares himself Prince of Wales. ... Events Detmold, Germany was founded. ...

John could do little while Baibars, the Mamluk sultan of Egypt, fought with the Mongols in Palestine. Baibars may have reduced Jaffa to vassalage, and certainly used its port to transport food to Egypt. During this time, John wrote his detailed legal treatise, now known simply as the "Livre des Assises." This was the longest of the so-called Assizes of Jerusalem, detailing the procedures of the Haute Cour. John's truce with Baibars did not last, and he himself died in 1266. By 1268 Baibars had captured Jaffa. al-Malik al-Zahir Ruk al-Din Baibars al-Bunduqdari (also spelled Baybars) (1223 – July 1, 1277) was a Mamluk Sultan of Egypt and Syria. ... Sultan of Egypt was the title used for the leader of a number of Muslim dynasties that ruled over Egypt. ... Honorary guard of Mongolia. ... The term Palestine may refer to: Palestine: A geographical region in the Middle East, centered on Jerusalem. ... As Peter Edbury says, one group of sources from the Latin East that have long excited the attention of scholars are the legal treaties often known collectively, if somewhat misleadingly, as the Assises of Jerusalem. ... The Haute Cour (High Court) was the feudal council of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. ... Events February 26 - French defeat Germans and Sicilians at Battle of Benevento. ... Events May 18 - the Principality of Antioch falls to Mameluk Sultan Baibars. ...

Marriage and Children

With Maria of Armenia, John had the following children:

• James (c. 1240– July 18, 1276), count of Jaffa and Ascalon 1266, married Marie of Montbéliard c. 1260
• Philip (d. aft. 1263)
• Guy (c. 1250–February 14, 1304), titular count of Jaffa and Ascalon 1276, married his cousin Marie, Lady of Naumachia c. 1290
• John (d. aft. 1263)
• Hethum
• Oshin
• Margaret (c. 1245– aft. 1317), Abbess of Notre Dame de Tyre, Nicosia
• Isabelle (c. 1250– aft. 1298), married Sempad of Saravantikar c. 1270
• Marie (d. aft. 1298), married firstly Vahran of Hanousse, secondly Gregorios Tardif October 10, 1298

Events Batu Khan and the Golden Horde sack the Ruthenian city of Kyiv Births Pope Benedict XI Deaths April 11 - Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, also known as Llywelyn The Great Prince of Gwynedd Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona (reigned from 1213 to 1276) Castile... July 18 is the 199th day (200th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 166 days remaining. ... Events January 21 - Innocent V elected Gregory Xs successor as Pope March 9 - Augsburg becomes an Imperial Free City June - Rudolph I of Germany declares war on Ottokar II, king of Bohemia July 11, Adrian V elected Innocent Vs successor as Pope John XXI succeeds Adrian V as... Events February 26 - French defeat Germans and Sicilians at Battle of Benevento. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Go-Fukakusa of Japan Emperor Kameyama ascends to the throne of Japan September 3 - Mongols defeated by Mameluks at Battle of Ain Jalut Samogatians and Curonians defeats Teutonic knights in Battle of Durbe Births Maximus Planudes, Byzantine grammarian and theologian Deaths Monarchs/Presidents... Events Detmold, Germany was founded. ... Events December 13 - Death of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Louis IX of France is captured by Muslims and has to ransom himself Mabinogion appears Albertus Magnus isolates the element arsenic Vincent of Beauvais writes proto-encyclopedic The Greater Mirror City of Stockholm founded Alphonso III of Portugal takes Algarve... February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events 20 July - Fall of Stirling Castle: Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold in the Wars of Scottish Independence. ... Events January 21 - Innocent V elected Gregory Xs successor as Pope March 9 - Augsburg becomes an Imperial Free City June - Rudolph I of Germany declares war on Ottokar II, king of Bohemia July 11, Adrian V elected Innocent Vs successor as Pope John XXI succeeds Adrian V as... Events King Edward I of England banishes all Jews from Britain. ... Events Detmold, Germany was founded. ... Events Rebellion against king Sancho II of Portugal in favor of his brother Alphonso. ... Events The Great Famine of 1315-1317. ... Events December 13 - Death of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Louis IX of France is captured by Muslims and has to ransom himself Mabinogion appears Albertus Magnus isolates the element arsenic Vincent of Beauvais writes proto-encyclopedic The Greater Mirror City of Stockholm founded Alphonso III of Portugal takes Algarve... Events End of the reign of Emperor Fushimi of Japan Emperor Go-Fushimi ascends to the throne of Japan 21 July - Battle of Falkirk (1298): Englands Edward Longshank defeats William Wallaces Scottish rebels While in prison in Genoa, Marco Polo dictates his Travels to a local writer Births... Events The Eighth Crusade is launched against Tunis, and ends when its leader, Louis IX of France, dies. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Fushimi of Japan Emperor Go-Fushimi ascends to the throne of Japan 21 July - Battle of Falkirk (1298): Englands Edward Longshank defeats William Wallaces Scottish rebels While in prison in Genoa, Marco Polo dictates his Travels to a local writer Births... October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Fushimi of Japan Emperor Go-Fushimi ascends to the throne of Japan 21 July - Battle of Falkirk (1298): Englands Edward Longshank defeats William Wallaces Scottish rebels While in prison in Genoa, Marco Polo dictates his Travels to a local writer Births...

References

• Peter W. Edbury, John of Ibelin and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Boydell Press, 1997.
• Jonathan Riley-Smith, The Feudal Nobility and the Kingdom of Jerusalem, 1174-1277. MacMillan Press, 1973.
• W.H. Rüdt de Collenberg, Familles de l'Orient latin XXe-XIV siècles. Variorum Reprints, 1983