The marriage of Isabella I of Jerusalem to Conrad de Montferrat has been variously described as a medieval scandal, bigamous and incestuous, a power grab by Conrad and the Ibelin faction and a pragmatic solution to two potentially damaging crises. The death of Queen Sibylla and her children during the siege of Acre led to a succession crisis in the kingdom of Jerusalem.
Contemporary chroniclers point to the growing tension between the Court faction which supported Sibylla’s husband, Guy de Lusignan, as king and the Ibelin faction who supported Sibylla’s sister Isabella as the rightful ruler. For the marriage to take place, Isabella’s existing marriage to Humphrey of Toron needed to be canonically annulled. No detailed examination has been made of the validity of the annulment, the validity of the Isabella/Conrad marriage, its reflection on 12th century marriage laws, the short-term and long-term importance of the marriage for the future of the kingdom and in Europe, and its personal impact on Isabella. This dissertation addresses these omissions and seeks to establish that this contentious marriage is more important than just being the medieval scandal portrayed by contemporary chroniclers and later historians.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Review of primary sources and historiography
2. Pre-cursors to the marriage
3. The marriage: an analysis of the chronicles
4. Analysis of Validity
5. Post-marriage consequences
Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix 1 Chronology
Appendix 2 Short biographies of key figures
Research Objectives and Topics
This research aims to critically examine the marriage of Isabella I of Jerusalem and Conrad de Montferrat in 1190, moving beyond contemporary accounts that label it a scandal to determine whether it was a calculated political solution to a succession crisis.
- The role of contemporary chroniclers and their potential bias.
- Canonical validity of the dissolution of Isabella's first marriage.
- The impact of factional infighting and succession rules in the Latin Kingdom.
- The level of personal agency exercised by Isabella I of Jerusalem.
- Long-term historical consequences for the Latin East and Europe.
Excerpt from the Book
1. REVIEW OF PRIMARY SOURCES AND THE HISTORIOGRAPHY
There is a plethora of writings about the period of the Third Crusade possibly because of the widespread fame of characters such as Saladin, Richard I of England, Philip Augustus of France and the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. While neither the primary sources nor the historiography focuses exclusively on the marriage, most mention it in varying degrees of detail. Further, as they relate the events occurring from the defeat at Hattin through to the end of the Third Crusade, taken together they provide a comprehensive explanation of the events leading to the marriage.
Primary sources
Some of the primary sources are documents which as Murray posits are more useful than narratives for prosopography because they place individuals at clearly identified places on specified dates. There are two sets of charters reviewed for this project. While there are some inaccuracies in dating, the charters are a valuable resource if the movements of an individual need to be tracked or the existence or content of a document needs to be examined. Other documents used include witness testimony at a papal enquiry in 1213 and original letters.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Summarizes the background of the marriage of Isabella I of Jerusalem to Conrad de Montferrat and the diverse views of chroniclers and historians regarding its validity and nature.
1. Review of primary sources and historiography: Evaluates the reliability, bias, and relevance of chronicles and secondary historical texts regarding the Third Crusade and the marriage.
2. Pre-cursors to the marriage: Analyzes the succession crisis and endemic factionalism in the Latin Kingdom that necessitated a strong leader and defined the context for the marriage.
3. The marriage: an analysis of the chronicles: Compares contemporary accounts of the marriage to identify common assertions, discrepancies, and the underlying historical facts.
4. Analysis of Validity: Investigates the canonical and legal grounds for the dissolution of Isabella’s first marriage to Humphrey de Toron and the legitimacy of her second marriage.
5. Post-marriage consequences: Examines the short-term and long-term impacts of the marriage on the Latin Kingdom, Cyprus, and the county of Champagne.
Conclusion: Reinterprets the marriage as a pragmatic political response rather than a scandal and identifies areas for further research.
Keywords
Isabella I of Jerusalem, Conrad de Montferrat, Third Crusade, Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, Succession Crisis, Humphrey de Toron, Canon Law, Marriage Annulment, Factionalism, Historiography, Primary Sources, Agency, Latin East, Medieval Politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research?
The research investigates the 1190 marriage between Isabella I of Jerusalem and Conrad de Montferrat, challenging the traditional portrayal of the event as a medieval scandal.
What are the central thematic fields?
The study centers on political succession, canon law, the agency of royal women in the Crusader States, and the reliability of medieval chronicles as historical sources.
What is the core research question?
The paper asks whether the marriage was a result of illicit scheming and bigamy, or a pragmatic and necessary political solution to a critical succession crisis in the Latin Kingdom.
Which methodology is employed?
The work utilizes a qualitative approach, involving a detailed critical analysis of primary historical documents and a historiographical review of texts from the 17th to the 21st century.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It provides an in-depth examination of the events leading to the marriage, an analysis of the primary sources, a discussion on the validity of the dissolution of Isabella's prior marriage, and a study of the long-term consequences of the event.
Which keywords define this dissertation?
Key terms include Isabella I of Jerusalem, Conrad de Montferrat, Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, Third Crusade, Succession, Canon Law, and Factionalism.
How is the marriage assessed in terms of canonical law?
The dissertation argues that the dissolution of the marriage between Isabella and Humphrey was procedurally valid and legally grounded, contrary to the claims made by contemporary biased chroniclers.
What role does the High Court of Jerusalem play in the narrative?
The High Court's function as an elective body is analyzed, with the research highlighting how its role as arbiter was often sidelined by the competing interests of factional players.
- Quote paper
- Tricia Hutton Jackson (Author), 2024, An examination of the marriage of Isabella I of Jerusalem and Conrad de Montferrat in 1190. Medieval scandal or a matter of political expediency?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1618272
