Raynald of Châtillon Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Raynald of Châtillon
Lord of Hebron and Montréal
Raynald of Châtillon tortures Aimery of Limoges, Latin Patriarch of Antioch (from a late-13th-century manuscript of William of Tyre's Historia and its Continuation).
Prince of Antioch together with Constance
Reign	1153 to 1160 or 1161
Predecessor	Constance
Successor	Constance
Lord of Oultrejordain together with Stephanie of Milly
Reign	1176 to 1187
Predecessor	Miles of Plancy
Successor	Humphrey IV of Toron

Born	c. 1125
Died	4 July 1187 (aged 61–62) Hattin
Spouse	Constance of Antioch Stephanie of Milly
Issue	Agnes of Antioch Alice
Father	Hervé II of Donzy
Religion	Catholicism

Raynald of Châtillon (born around 1125, died July 4, 1187) was a French knight. He became a powerful leader in the Crusader kingdoms in the Middle East. From 1153 to 1160 or 1161, he was the Prince of Antioch. Later, from 1175 until his death, he was the Lord of Oultrejordain.

Raynald joined the Second Crusade in 1147 and stayed in the Kingdom of Jerusalem as a soldier. He was known for being brave but also very aggressive. He often sought wealth and power. His actions sometimes caused big problems with his neighbors, both Christian and Muslim. He played a major role in the events leading up to the Battle of Hattin, a key battle in the Crusades.

Who Was Raynald of Châtillon?
- Raynald's Rule in Antioch
What Happened During Raynald's Captivity?
Becoming Lord of Oultrejordain
- Raynald's Role in the Kingdom
Raynald's Influence on the Throne
- Breaking the Truce
Capture and Death
Family Life
Images for kids
See also

Who Was Raynald of Châtillon?

Raynald was born around 1125. He was the younger son of a noble family from France. He came to the Kingdom of Jerusalem before 1153. He fought as a mercenary, which means he was a soldier hired to fight for money.

In 1153, he married Constance, the Princess of Antioch. This made him the new Prince of Antioch. Many people in Antioch were surprised because Raynald was not from a royal family.

Raynald's Rule in Antioch

Raynald often needed money. He had a big disagreement with Aimery of Limoges, the wealthy leader of the church in Antioch. Aimery refused to give Raynald money. In response, Raynald captured Aimery and treated him very harshly before putting him in prison. Aimery was only freed after the King of Jerusalem stepped in.

In 1156, Raynald attacked the island of Cyprus. Cyprus was part of the Byzantine Empire. His raid caused a lot of damage and he took many valuable things. Four years later, the Byzantine Emperor, Manuel I Komnenos, made Raynald apologize publicly for his actions. Raynald had to walk barefoot to the Emperor's tent and beg for forgiveness.

In 1160 or 1161, Raynald was raiding near the Euphrates River. He was captured by the governor of Aleppo and put in jail. He remained a prisoner for 15 years.

What Happened During Raynald's Captivity?

Raynald was held in prison in Aleppo for a long time. While he was away, his wife Constance died. This meant he lost his claim to be Prince of Antioch.

However, Raynald still had important family connections. His stepdaughter, Maria of Antioch, married the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos. His own daughter, Agnes, married Béla III of Hungary, who became a king. These connections made him a valuable person.

In 1176, Raynald was finally released from prison. A large ransom was paid for him, possibly by the Byzantine Emperor.

Becoming Lord of Oultrejordain

After his release, Raynald did not return to Antioch. Instead, he married Stephanie of Milly. She was a very rich noblewoman who owned the important region of Oultrejordain. This area included strong castles like Kerak and Montréal.

Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, the king, also gave Raynald the city of Hebron. This made Raynald one of the wealthiest and most powerful lords in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. His castles controlled important trade routes between Egypt and Syria.

Raynald's Role in the Kingdom

In 1177, King Baldwin IV, who suffered from leprosy, made Raynald a regent. This meant Raynald helped rule the kingdom. Raynald then led the Crusader army that defeated Saladin, the powerful Muslim ruler of Egypt and Syria, at the Battle of Montgisard.

Raynald was known for his aggressive actions against Saladin. He often attacked trade caravans that passed near his lands. These caravans traveled between Egypt and Syria. Raynald believed these attacks were a way to weaken Saladin.

In 1183, Raynald even built ships and sent them into the Red Sea. His fleet raided coastal areas and threatened the route used by Muslim pilgrims traveling to Mecca. Saladin was very angry about this and swore he would never forgive Raynald.

Raynald's Influence on the Throne

Raynald strongly supported Sybilla, King Baldwin IV's sister, and her husband, Guy of Lusignan. When King Baldwin IV died in 1185, and his young successor, Baldwin V, died in 1186, there was a fight over who would be the next ruler.

Raynald helped Sybilla and Guy take the throne in 1186. He convinced people in Jerusalem to accept Sybilla as queen. He was a very important figure in the new king's court.

Breaking the Truce

In late 1186 or early 1187, Raynald attacked a rich caravan traveling from Egypt to Syria. He claimed that a truce (peace agreement) between Saladin and the Kingdom of Jerusalem did not apply to him. He took all the goods and captured the merchants.

Saladin sent a message to King Guy, demanding that Raynald release the prisoners and goods. King Guy agreed, but Raynald refused to obey the king. He said he was the master of his own land and had no truce with Saladin.

Saladin was furious. He declared a holy war against the kingdom and swore he would personally kill Raynald for breaking the peace.

Capture and Death

Saladin invaded Raynald's lands in April 1187. The Christian army gathered at Sepphoris. Raynald and other leaders convinced King Guy to attack Saladin's army directly, even though others advised against it.

On July 4, 1187, Saladin's army crushed the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin. Many Christian leaders, including King Guy and Raynald, were captured.

Raynald was brought before Saladin. Saladin offered King Guy a cup of iced rose water. King Guy drank from it and then offered it to Raynald. Saladin made it clear that he, Saladin, had not offered the drink to Raynald. This was important because, by custom, if a captor gave a prisoner food or drink, they could not then kill them.

Saladin then spoke to Raynald. He accused Raynald of many crimes, including attacking innocent people and disrespecting Islam. Saladin offered Raynald a choice: convert to Islam or die. Raynald refused to convert. Saladin then personally killed Raynald.

Many historians believe Raynald's actions, especially breaking the truce, were a major reason for the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. However, some historians also say he was the only Crusader leader who actively tried to stop Saladin from uniting the Muslim states around the Crusader lands.

Family Life

Raynald's first wife was Constance of Antioch. They had two daughters:

Agnes (also known as Anna) married Béla III of Hungary, who became king.
Alice married Azzo VI of Este.

Raynald's second wife was Stephanie of Milly, Lady of Oultrejordain. She was a wealthy noblewoman who brought him the important lands of Oultrejordain.

Images for kids

The Crusader states around 1165
Raynald imprisoned at Aleppo (from a mid-14th-century manuscript)
Raynald's seal
Kerak Castle, a major fortress in the Lordship of Oultrejordain
Coronation of Guy of Lusignan, by his wife, Sybilla of Jerusalem, who was proclaimed queen with Raynald's assistance
Tomb of Raynald's daughter, Agnes (or Anna), and her husband, Béla III of Hungary