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Hugh of Ibelin
Hugh of Ibelin (died c. 1170) was an important noble in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Hugh was the eldest son of Barisan of Ibelin and Helvis of Ramla. After Barisan died in 1150, Hevlis married the constable of Jerusalem, Manasses, who was one of the strongest supporters of Queen Melisende in the power struggle against Melisende’s son Baldwin III. Manasses was exiled in 1152 when Baldwin was victorious in this struggle, allowing Hugh to inherit Ramla from his mother. Hugh took part in the capture of Ascalon in 1153, and in 1157 was captured in battle at Banias, being released probably the next year. In 1159 he visited the Principality of Antioch and met with Byzantine emperor Manuel I Comnenus, who had arrived to assert his suzerainty over the principality. In 1163 Hugh married Agnes of Courtenay, the former wife of King Amalric I and mother of Baldwin IV. It is possible that Agnes had already been betrothed or married to him before 1157, but she married Amalric after Hugh was taken prisoner; Amalric was forced to divorce her before becoming king in 1163.
Hugh participated Amalric's expedition Egypt in 1167, and was responsible for building a bridge over the Nile. The crusaders allied with the sultan against Shirkuh, the general of Nur ad-Din who was also fighting for control of Egypt, and Hugh was sent to protect Cairo along with the sultan's son Kamil. Hugh was the first crusader ever to see the sultan's palace. At the siege of Bilbeis during the same Egyptian campaign, according to Ibelin family tradition, Hugh's life was saved by Philip of Milly after breaking his leg and falling under his horse. Hugh died around 1170 during a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Ibelin passed to his brother Baldwin.
Another Hugh of Ibelin was the son of John of Ibelin, the Old Lord of Beirut, and the grand-nephew of this Hugh.
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