Raynald of Châtillon

Raynald of Châtillon, born around 1124, was a prominent figure in the Crusader states, serving as the Prince of Antioch from 1153 to 1160 or 1161 and later as the Lord of Transjordan from 1175 until his death in 1187. He was the second son of a French noble family and joined the Second Crusade in 1147, eventually settling in Jerusalem as a mercenary. His marriage to Princess Constance of Antioch was viewed unfavorably by her subjects, marking the beginning of his tumultuous political career.

In his quest for wealth, Raynald resorted to extreme measures, including torturing Aimery of Limoges, the Latin Patriarch of Antioch, for financial support. His aggressive tactics included a devastating raid on Cyprus in 1156, which drew the ire of the Byzantine Empire. By 1160 or 1161, he was captured while raiding the Euphrates valley and was released for a substantial ransom in 1176, only to find that his wife had passed away during his absence.

Raynald's fortunes changed when he married Stephanie of Milly, the heiress of Transjordan, and gained significant wealth and power, including the grant of Hebron by King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. Appointed regent in 1177, he led a successful crusader army against Saladin at the Battle of Montgisard, becoming known for his offensive strategies against Muslim caravans. His actions, however, would ultimately lead to his downfall.

Despite a truce with Saladin, Raynald's refusal to adhere to it by attacking a caravan in late 1186 or early 1187 provoked the Sultan's wrath. Saladin retaliated by invading the kingdom, resulting in the catastrophic defeat of the crusader army at the Battle of Hattin. Captured on the battlefield, Raynald was executed by beheading after he declined to convert to Islam. Historians have debated his legacy, with some viewing him as a reckless adventurer whose greed contributed to the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.