Table of Contents

Introduction

List of Illustrations

Chronology

Part I: A History of the Women of Outremer

Chapter 1 Women in the Era of the Crusades

Women in Western Europe

The Ancient World

The Impact of Christianity

The Impact of Feudalism

The Impact of Chivalry

Women in the Muslim World

Women in Outremer ’ A Unique Status?

Chapter 2 The First Crusade and the Establishment of the Crusader States

Casus Belli: Jerusalem

A New Kind of War: The Combination of ‘Just War’ and Religious Pilgrimage

The People’s Crusade

The First Crusade

Chapter 3 The Crusader States, 1099–1190

Jerusalem Without A Queen

Godfrey de Bouillon, Protector of the Holy Sepulchre 1099–1100: The Bachelor

Baldwin I, 1100–1118: The Bigamist

Jerusalem’s First Queen: Morphia of Armenia

Jerusalem’s First Ruling Queen: Melisende

The Byzantine Brides

The Beautiful Queen Theodora

The Wise Queen Maria

The Queen Mother: Agnes de Courtenay

Jerusalem’s Most Disastrous Queen: Sibylla

Chapter 4 The Crusader States, 1190–1291

A Queen for All Seasons: Isabella I

The Bartered Brides

Maria de Montferrat

Isabella II (Yolande)

Jerusalem Again Without a Queen: The Absentee Kings

The Regent: Alice de Champagne in Cyprus and Jerusalem

Part II: Crusading Women

Chapter 5 Crusading Women

Policies and Attitudes

Supporting Roles

Participation

Part III: The Women of Outremer

Chapter 6 Mortar for a Multicultural Society

Putting Down Roots: Local Brides for Foreign Settlers

Eastern Brides for Frankish Lords

Western Consorts for Frankish Heiresses

Women at the Crossroads of History: Three Case Studies

Eschiva d’Ibelin: Founder of a Dynasty

Maria Comnena: The Key to Cyprus?

Marguerite d–Ibelin: Bridge Between Rebels

Chapter 7 The Legal Status of Women in the Crusader States

Feudal Lords

The Marriage of Heiresses

Wives and Widows: Rights of Property, Dower and Guardianship

Judicial Status Before the Courts

Hostages and Captives

Chapter 8 The Political Power of Women in the Crusader States

Direct Power: Feudal Lords

Queen Melisende

Queen Sibylla

Isabella d–Ibelin, Lady of Beirut

Delegated Power: Consorts and Regents

Alice of Antioch, Regent for Constance of Antioch

Beatrice of Edessa, Regent for Joscelyn III

Indirect Power: Dowagers

Agnes de Courtenay

Maria Comnena

Non-Feudal Forms of Power: Abbesses, Envoys and Spies

Abbesses

Envoys

Spies

Chapter 9 The Economic Position of Women in the Crusader States

The Role of Women in the Western Mediaeval Economy

Unique Economic Characteristics of the Latin East

Women as Patrons of the Arts and Church

Chapter 10 In Defence of the Holy Land: The Women of Outremer in Times of War

Contemporary Perceptions of Women Warriors

Women at War: Commoners

Women at War: Noblewomen

Chapter 11 Defeat and Captivity for the Women of Outremer

Female Slaves

Escaping Slavery

Women Post-Captivity

Summary and Conclusions

Biographies

Agnes de Courtenay, Queen Mother of Jerusalem

Alice of Antioch, Princess of Jerusalem and Antioch

Alice de Champagne, Princess of Jerusalem, Queen Consort of Cyprus and Regent of Cyprus and Jerusalem

Constance of Antioch, Ruling Princess of Antioch

Eschiva d–Ibelin, Lady of Cyprus

Eschiva de Montbéliard, Lady of Beirut

Isabella I, Ruling Queen of Jerusalem

Isabella II (Yolanda), Ruling Queen of Jerusalem

Iveta, Princess of Jerusalem, Abbess of St Lazarus at Bethany

Maria Comnena, Princess of Constantinople, Queen Consort of Jerusalem and Lady of Ibelin

Maria de Montferrat, Ruling Queen of Jerusalem

Melisende, Ruling Queen of Jerusalem

Sibylla, Ruling Queen of Jerusalem

Notes

Bibliography