Guy of Lusignan Biography: Parents, Siblings, Wife, Children, Wikipedia, Age, Net Worth, Kingdom

Guy of Lusignan served as King of Jerusalem from 1186 to 1192, initially ascending to the throne as the husband and co-sovereign of Queen Sibylla.

A French nobleman from the House of Lusignan, he assumed kingship following the deaths of Baldwin IV and Baldwin V—Sibylla‘s brother and stepson, respectively.

His reign is chiefly remembered for the catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Hattin in 1187, where he was captured by Saladin.

This loss precipitated the fall of Jerusalem to Saladin later that year, representing a pivotal blow to the Crusader states. Upon his release, Guy led the siege of Acre in 1189, a major campaign of the Third Crusade.

Profile

• Full Name: Guy of Lusignan
• Stage Name: Guy of Lusignan
• Born: 1150
• Died: 18 July 1194
• Age: 44 years old
• Birthplace: Lusignan, France
• Nationality: French
• Occupation: King of Jerusalem
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Hugh VIII of Lusignan, Burgundia of Rancon
• Siblings: Aimery of Cyprus, Hugues de Lusignan
• Spouse: Sibylla, Queen of Jerusalem (m. 1180)
• Children: Alix and Maria
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life And Education

Guy of Lusignan was born circa 1150 in Lusignan, Poitou, France, he is the youngest son of Hugh VIII of Lusignan and Bourgogne de Rancon, Dame de Fontenay.

His brother, Aimery of Lusignan, also played a significant role in the affairs of the Holy Land.

While specific details about Guy‘s education are not documented, his noble upbringing would have included training appropriate for a knight and courtly life.

He belonged to a noble French lineage and was of Roman Catholic faith.

Career

Guy of Lusignan arrived in the Holy Land in the late 1170s, drawn in part by the established influence of his family, particularly his brother Aimery.

In 1180, he married Sibylla, the sister and heir to King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, in a politically motivated union designed to stabilize the kingdom amid growing internal tensions.

As Baldwin IV‘s health deteriorated due to leprosy, Guy was appointed regent but quickly fell out of favor with the nobility, who viewed him with suspicion and resisted his authority.

After the deaths of Baldwin IV and his young successor Baldwin V, Sibylla was crowned queen in 1186 and named Guy as her co-ruler, sparking further disputes over his legitimacy.

Guy‘s reign was marked by deep internal divisions and growing external threats, particularly from Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria.

These political fractures weakened the Crusader states at a critical time.

The most consequential event of Guy‘s rule occurred in July 1187 at the Battle of Hattin, where his forces suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of Saladin.

Guy was captured, and Jerusalem fell to Muslim control shortly afterward, marking a turning point in the Crusades and dealing a severe blow to Christian power in the region.

Released from captivity in 1188, Guy attempted to reclaim his authority by leading the siege of Acre during the Third Crusade.

However, following Queen Sibylla‘s death in 1190, his claim to the throne was further contested, most notably by Conrad of Montferrat.

Ultimately, Guy was forced to relinquish the crown of Jerusalem.

In 1192, as compensation, he was granted control of Cyprus by Richard the Lionheart, establishing a new realm under Lusignan rule.

He governed Cyprus until his death in 1194, after which his brother Aimery succeeded him, laying the foundation for the Lusignan dynasty’s continued influence in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Social Media

Guy of Lusignan does not have social media accounts.

Personal Life

Guy of Lusignan married Sibylla, the sister and heir of King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, in 1180.

The union was strategically arranged to strengthen Guy‘s political standing and prevent competing factions from seizing control of the throne.

Sibylla had a son, Baldwin V, from her previous marriage to William of Montferrat, who briefly reigned as king before his early death.

With Sibylla‘s accession to the throne in 1186, Guy became King of Jerusalem as her co-ruler, a position he held until her death in 1190.

The couple had two daughters together, Alix and Maria.

After losing the crown of Jerusalem and being granted the lordship of Cyprus, Guy ruled there until his death on 18 July 1194 in Nicosia, at approximately 43 or 44 years of age.

Net Worth

Guy of Lusignan‘s net worth is not precisely known, but his wealth stemmed mainly from his royal titles and landholdings as King of Jerusalem and later Lord of Cyprus, with income generated through taxes, feudal dues, and control of key ports and fortresses in the Crusader territories.