Barisan "the Old", lord of Ibelin

He was Seigneur de Yebna (Ibelin) (1141), and Constable of Jaffa and Askalon. His origin is unknown. His name was originally Barsian. He might have come from northern Italy, perhaps Pisa, Genoa, or perhaps from Sardinia. However, nothing is known of his life before 1115, when he appears as Constable of the County of Jaffa and Askalon.  Some sources suggest his father's name was Barisanus. There is also speculation that his father might have been Hugues du Puiset, 1st Count of Jaffa.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barisan_of_Ibelin

Barisan of Ibelin or Barisan d'Ibelin, later Balian of Ibelin or Balian d'Ibelin (died 1150/1152) was an important figure in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, and was the founder of the Ibelin family. His name was later written as "Balian" and he is sometimes known as Balian the Elder or Balian I.

From his name, Barisan was probably from northern Italy (perhaps Pisa or Genoa) or Sardinia. His father was perhaps also a Barisan(us). However, nothing is known of his life before 1115, when he appears as Constable of the County of Jaffa and Askalon. In 1120 he was present at the Council of Nablus, where the first laws of the kingdom were promulgated. Around and before 1122 (probably in 1120), his services were rewarded with a marriage to Helvis of Ramla, daughter of Baldwin I of Ramla. In 1134, when Hugh II of Le Puiset, count of Jaffa, rebelled against King Fulk, Barisan supported the king, and soon became prominent at Fulk's court. In 1141 he was named (some say he inherited it) lord of the newly constructed castle of Yebna, located in the County of Jaffa between Jaffa itself and the fortress of Ascalon, which was at this point still controlled by Fatimid Egypt, and from which his family took the Frenchified name, Ibelin, which also became the Frenchified name of the castle itself. In 1148 Barisan inherited the nearby lordship of Ramla, through his wife Helvis (d. after 1158), daughter of Baudoin I, Lord of Ramla, and wife, whom he married before 1122. That year (1148), Barisan was also present at the council convened at Acre after the arrival of the Second Crusade, at which it was decided to attack Damascus (see Siege of Damascus).

With Helvis, Barisan was the father of:

• Hugues d'Ibelin, Lord of Ramla
• Baudoin d'Ibelin, Lord of Mirabel and Ramla
• Barisan d'Ibelin the Younger (who was known as Balian from the 1160s), Lord of Nablus
• Ermengardis d'Ibelin (1160/1167), Lady of Tiberias, unmarried and without issue
• Stephanie d'Ibelin (d. after 1167), unmarried and without issue
• Barisan died in 1150/1152 and Ibelin was inherited by Hugh. Helvis then married Manasses of Hierges, Constable of Jerusalem.

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 {ML identifies a homonymous upper generation}  

*http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/JERUSALEM%20NOBILITY.htm#BalianIbel...

1. BALIAN [II] (-[1150/52]). His parentage is confirmed by William of Tyre referring to "Balianus senior" in 1132[788]. "Balianus miles" donated property "mea casale…Dargerboan" to the abbey of Notre-Dame de Josaphat with the consent of "dominus meus Hugo, comes Jope", by charter dated 1127[789]. It is assumed that this charter refers to the younger Balian as no primary source has yet been identified which suggests that Balian senior was no longer constable of Jaffa at that date. He supported Foulques King of Jerusalem in his dispute with Hugues du Puiset in 1132/33[790]. "…Barisanus…" subscribed the charter dated 5 Feb 1138 under which "Fulcho…rex Ierusalem Latinorum tercius" granted privileges to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem[791], although this could refer either to Balian or his father. In 1141, he was granted the castle of Yebna, francisised to "Ibelin", south-west of Lydda. The Lignages d'Outremer confirm that the king gave "Ybelin" to "Belleem a la Barbe"[792]. "Balianus…" subscribed the charter dated 1144 under which "Balduinus…sancte Ierusalem rex Latinorum quartus" granted privileges to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, signing first among the subscribers[793]. He succeeded his brother-in-law as Lord of Rama, by right of his wife. “Reinerius de Ramis”, fearing death, donated property to “infirmis Sancti Lazari secus muros Jerusalem”, in the presence of “...me Barisano, Hugone...ac Balduino filiis meis, nepotibus ipsius...atque muliere mea, sorore eius”, confirmed by “Barisanus et Hugo ac Balduinus filii mei”, by charter dated 1148[794]. William of Tyre records "Balianus senior" among the magnates in Palestine present at the council held at Acre recorded under 1148[795].

m ( [1130] ) as her first husband, HELVIS of Rama, daughter of BAUDOUIN Lord of Rama & his wife Stephanie --- ([1115]-after 1158). The Lignages d'Outremer name "Helvoys" as the daughter of "mesire Baudoyn" & his wife, recording that she married "Belleem a la Barbe"[796]. Another manuscript of the Lignages expands by naming her "Helvis, la seur Phelipe de Naples de mere, qui estoit dame de Rames, fille de Bauduin seignor de Rames"[797]. Her parentage is confirmed by the charter dated 1160 under which "Hugo de Ybelino…Ramathensis domino" names "Balduini avi mei"[798], which can only refer to his maternal grandfather as his paternal grandfather's name is deduced as Balian from other sources. She became heiress of Rama on the death of her brother in [1148]. “Reinerius de Ramis”, fearing death, donated property to “infirmis Sancti Lazari secus muros Jerusalem”, in the presence of “...me Barisano, Hugone...ac Balduino filiis meis, nepotibus ipsius...atque muliere mea, sorore eius”, confirmed by “Barisanus et Hugo ac Balduinus filii mei”, by charter dated 1148[799]. William of Tyre describes her as "domini Baliani senioris viduam" when recording her second marriage[800]. She married secondly (1152) Manassès de Hierges, Constable of Jerusalem, first cousin to Mélisende Queen of Jerusalem, thus creating the first link between the Ibelin family and the royal family of Jerusalem. The Lignages d'Outremer record her second marriage to "le conestable Manassier" after the death of her first husband[801]. "Balduinus…in sancta Iherusalem Latinorum rex quartus" confirmed the donation by "Hugo de Hybelino et…fratris sui Balduini et sororis sue Hermengardis domine Tiberiadis et matris sue Helois…" to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem by charter dated 14 Jan 1155[802].

 Balian [II] & his wife had six children:  

international studies published on the official Italian encyclopedia in 2005 have no doubts: "certainly originating in  Norman Italy"

La famiglia di G., noto come il 'vecchio signore di Beirut', era senz'altro originaria dell'Italia normanna. ... ...

• Il nonno di G., Barisano, ricevette dal re Folco d'Angiò il feudo d'Ibelin, a sud-ovest di Gerusalemme, che divenne il patronimico della famiglia.
  • Suo figlio Baliano (1143-1193) vi aggiunse la signoria di Nablus e intorno al 1177 sposò la vedova di re Amalrico di Gerusalemme, Maria Comnena, un'unione che fece degli Ibelin i parenti più prossimi dei sovrani di Gerusalemme,
    • G. -http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/giovanni-d-ibelin_(Federiciana)/

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Ibelin Castle

"The castles were built on the initiative of the then king, Fulk I, but with wide community co-operation. Castrum Arnaldi was built in 1132 by the patriarch and citizens of Jerusalem at a notorious ambush spot on the Jerusalem road. This was followed in 1136 by the castle at Beth Gibelin, to the east of Ascalon, "by the patriarch William, the magnates", and "the people of the whole kingdom". In 1141 king Fulk, the leading barons, the patriarch and the bishops, made a joint decision to build a castle north of Ascalon at Ibelin, their name for the town of Yibna. The site was a tell to the east of the town, an artificial mound marking an ancient ruins of previous settlements stretching back to biblical times. The castle itself took the form of a square enclosure with four towers, and was entrusted to Barisan, who took his name from the castle and whose family became one of the most influential in the kingdom. The following year the king and the people of the kingdom built Blanchegarde, to the east of Ibelin.[1]"

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibelin_(castle)_

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