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
- List of abbreviations
- 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
Objective & Thematic Focus
This research project critically examines the controversial marriage of Isabella I of Jerusalem and Conrad de Montferrat in 1190, investigating whether it was a medieval scandal or a politically expedient solution. It aims to explore the events leading to the dissolution of Isabella's first marriage and her remarriage to Conrad, considering the perspectives of contemporary chroniclers and modern historians, as well as the short-term and long-term consequences for the Latin East.
- Analysis of the historical perception and reality of the Isabella/Conrad marriage.
- Deep dive into the motivations and agency of key figures, especially Isabella.
- Examination of canonical and secular legal validity of the marriages involved.
- Exploration of the short-term and long-term political and dynastic consequences of the marriage.
- Assessment of primary sources and modern historiography for bias and accuracy regarding the marriage.
- Investigation into the succession crises and factional infighting in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Excerpt from the Book
3. THE MARRIAGE: AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHRONICLES
The marriage between Isabella I of Jerusalem and Conrad de Montferrat was almost universally condemned in contemporary chronicles and those which followed shortly afterwards or were based on the Itinerarium, Ambroise, Roger of Hoveden and Jacques de Vitry. While the latter four chronicles are said to be eyewitness accounts, three of the chroniclers were not in the Latin Kingdom in 1190 and none of the chroniclers appear to have played an active role in the ecclesiastical enquiry into the dissolution of Isabella’s pre-existing marriage to Humphrey de Toron and her remarriage to Conrad. To that extent, it is difficult to discern how much of the accounts are camp gossip dismissed by Gillingham as notoriously unreliable, how much is propaganda directed at blackening the reputation of Conrad and how much is accurate. Nevertheless, there is enough similarity in the accounts to suggest a basis in truth. Indeed, even if there is an element of exaggeration or bias in the eyewitness accounts, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that Isabella’s second marriage was the source of controversy, a fact which was also noted in at least two of the Arab sources. In this chapter, it is proposed to discuss not just the facts which are common to the contemporary chronicles but also to explore their differences as these may assist in ascertaining what happened. It is also proposed to consider whether there is any evidence to suggest if Isabella was, as the chroniclers conclude and most contemporary historians assume, a passive victim or an active participant in the divorce from Humphrey and re-marriage to Conrad.
Summary of primary source accounts of the marriage
Before discussing the similarities and differences between the chronicles to construct a likely narrative of the marriage, it is proposed to include a short description of each account. These descriptions will also be used in chapter four to assist in the analysis of the validity of the Isabella/Humphrey annulment and the Isabella/Conrad marriage respectively.
Jacques de Vitry who is the only chronicler likely to have been at the siege in 1190 relates that, after the death of Sibylla, the kingdom devolved by hereditary right on Isabella. His account of events is very short. He merely records that Conrad had an ambition to seize the throne and in pursuance of this, carried Isabella off, separated her from Humphrey de Toron and married her. He does not refer to any ecclesiastical enquiry or determination concerning the dissolution of the Isabella/ Humphrey marriage, which suggests that his knowledge of events was limited. Nevertheless, he accuses Conrad of bribery to garner support for the marriage. Jacques further claims that Humphrey was discouraged by the barons from seeking redress because they could not afford to upset Conrad due to his control of the food supply to the army. There is no evidence cited to support these claims.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces the controversial marriage of Isabella I of Jerusalem and Conrad de Montferrat in 1190, outlining the paper's aim to analyze its historical perception, validity, and consequences for the Latin East.
1. Review of primary sources and historiography: This chapter assesses the reliability and biases of primary accounts and modern historical writings related to the Third Crusade and the central marriage, categorizing them by relevance.
2. Pre-cursors to the marriage: This chapter details the historical context leading to the marriage, focusing on the succession crisis after Queen Sibylla's death, persistent factionalism within the Latin Kingdom, and the methods for selecting a ruler.
3. The marriage: an analysis of the chronicles: This chapter analyzes various chronicles to construct a narrative of the Isabella/Conrad marriage, examining both common assertions and discrepancies, and exploring Isabella's role in the events.
4. Analysis of Validity: This chapter delves into the legal and canonical justifications for the annulment of Isabella's first marriage and evaluates the validity of her subsequent marriage to Conrad, considering aspects like age, consent, and allegations of bigamy or incest.
5. Post-marriage consequences: This chapter examines the short-term and long-term impacts of the Isabella/Conrad marriage on the political landscape of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Cyprus, Champagne, and Isabella's personal and monarchical development.
Conclusion: This chapter re-evaluates the traditional view of the Isabella/Conrad marriage as a scandal, presenting an alternative interpretation of it as a pragmatic political solution and identifying areas for future research.
Keywords
Isabella I of Jerusalem, Conrad de Montferrat, medieval marriage, political expediency, Third Crusade, Latin Kingdom, succession crisis, historiography, canon law, primary sources, Queen Sibylla, Humphrey de Toron, female agency, Crusader States, royal succession.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work fundamentally about?
This work fundamentally examines the controversial marriage of Isabella I of Jerusalem and Conrad de Montferrat in 1190, questioning whether it was a scandalous affair or a pragmatic political decision amidst the complex dynamics of the Latin East.
What are the central thematic areas?
The central thematic areas include the historical perception of the marriage, the political and legal validity of medieval royal marriages, factionalism and succession crises in the Latin Kingdom, and the short-term and long-term consequences of such alliances for regional power structures.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The primary objective is to critically analyze the events leading to the Isabella/Conrad marriage and its aftermath, to determine if it was a medieval scandal or a matter of political expediency, and to understand Isabella's agency in these decisions.
Which scientific method is used?
The primary research methodology employed is qualitative, involving a detailed examination of primary historical sources and a thorough consideration of relevant historiography to construct and analyze narratives.
What is covered in the main part?
The main part of the work covers a review of primary sources and historiography, the pre-cursors to the marriage including the succession crisis, an in-depth analysis of the marriage based on various chronicles, an assessment of the canonical and secular validity of the marriages, and a discussion of the post-marriage consequences.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by keywords such as Isabella I of Jerusalem, Conrad de Montferrat, medieval marriage, political expediency, Third Crusade, Latin Kingdom, succession crisis, historiography, canon law, and female agency.
Why was the marriage of Isabella I and Conrad de Montferrat considered scandalous by contemporary chroniclers?
Contemporary chroniclers viewed the marriage as scandalous due to Isabella having a living spouse (Humphrey de Toron) at the time, suggestions that Conrad also had a living wife, and a potential claim of technical incest due to Conrad's brother having been married to Isabella's half-sister.
What challenges arose regarding the validity of Isabella's first marriage to Humphrey de Toron?
Challenges to Isabella's first marriage included her being underage (eight at betrothal, eleven at marriage) and her alleged lack of free consent, which were canonical grounds for annulment, alongside questions about consummation.
How did the Isabella/Conrad marriage impact the succession in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem and other regions?
The marriage secured the succession for the Kingdom of Jerusalem through Isabella's daughter Maria la Marquise, led to civil wars and claims in Champagne due to Isabella's subsequent marriage to Henri, and eventually established the de Lusignan dynasty in Cyprus when Guy de Lusignan bought the island from Richard I.
What role did female agency play in Isabella's marriage decisions, according to this research?
This research suggests that Isabella, contrary to being a passive victim, made a pragmatic and reasoned decision to dissolve her first marriage and marry Conrad, acting in the best interests of the kingdom to secure its leadership and her rightful inheritance, reflecting a strong sense of duty as a ruler.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Tricia Hutton Jackson (Autor:in), 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?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1618272
