| Bassett, Hayley 2025. Queen Melisende and Queen Sybil: Queenship, co-rule and conflict in the Kingdom of Heaven. Edbury, Peter and Webster, Paul, eds. Military Orders and Crusades: Essays Presented to Helen J. Nicholson, London: Routledge, pp. 84-96. (10.4324/9781003376286-9) |
Abstract
The queens of Jerusalem, Melisende (d.1161) and Sybil (d.1190), are considered by Hayley Bassett, exploring female succession, authority and co-rulership as their status changed at different stages of their lives. Bassett establishes factors that made both women become politically active, leading to their demonstration of co-rulership and agency. In Melisende’s case, co-rulership was possible with her father, husband and son, whilst widowhood presented an opportunity to exercise independent royal power, for a time, although her decision to step aside so that Baldwin III could rule alone demonstrates the precarity inherent in her position. Later, Sybil’s skilful manipulation of the political community resulted in Guy de Lusignan becoming king.
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > History, Archaeology and Religion |
| Publisher: | Routledge |
| ISBN: | 9781032452906 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Jan 2026 16:32 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183878 |
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