History of the year 1100. Episode 47, the year 1180.

Hello again.

Last week we looked at the rise of Sullardin. By the end of last week's episode, Saladin had extended his

rule out from Egypt and across Neuridin's former territory in Syria, making him the most powerful Islamic ruler for two centuries.

This week we are going to take a closer look at two important events which occurred in the year 1180.

The first of these events is the marriage of King Baldwin's sister, Sabilla, and the second is the death of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel.

Right, marriage first, death later.

So, when we last left Sebelailla she was 14 years old and had been married to

William Longsword a well-connected European nobleman. Unfortunately her husband died a few months into their marriage of malaria.

The young widow gave birth to a boy whom she unsurprisingly named Baldwin.

Now at this time King Baldwin was really starting to get sick

and everyone knew it was vital that Zebilla marry again

for the future security of the kingdom.

Her husband would need to be chosen carefully, as he may be required to take over the

Regency and rule the kingdom if King Baldwin's illness worsened.

In the Muslim world, Saladin was emerging as a formidable foe, and a strong Latin Christian leader will be needed to counter him.

It really is difficult to overstate just how important it was that Zabilla marry an appropriate husband.

From the year 1178 onwards after the birth of her son, King Baldwin started including Sirbela's name in official documents.

She was becoming an important figure in the complex web of politics and intrigue in the Holy Land and as stated by Christopher Tyaman in his book God's

War a new history of the Crusades and I quote her remarriage became a central issue of Jerusalem politics, taking precedence

over the threat from Sulladin.

End quote.

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