To the movie's credit, it does a good job accurately portraying the defense of Jerusalem by Balian and his forces. In the movie, Balian was shown as an outstanding swordsman, a brave leader, and an outstanding tactician. Bloom's character became the commander of the Christian garrison of Jerusalem before the Battle of Hattin and he devised the defense of Jerusalem that effectively beat off countless attacks by the Muslims. Balian was the commander, but the movie diminishes the importance of other leaders who were also pivotal in the defense of Jerusalem. Balian is essentially a composite character for the purposes of this battle.
<dh-ad/>Balian and Saladin reaching a negotiated settlement that ended the bloody siege. This was actually the case and the Christian did agree to surrender the city on terms in 1187. In one of the most memorable scenes , we see the main character as leading the Christians safely out of Jerusalem as he hands it over to Saladin. This actually happened and the Muslims did allow the garrison and the Christian population to leave the city unmolested. In the movie after the surrender of Jerusalem to the Muslim Sultan that he returns to Europe with Sybilla. In one scene he is shown as living happily as a blacksmith in his native village and refusing the entreaties of English knights to go on the Third Crusade. In fact, after the fall of Jerusalem Balian stayed in the region and he became one of the leaders of the Crusader states. He actually participated in the Third Crusades and was a key advisor to the legendary Richard the Lionheart. Scott shows the main character as having good relations with Muslim and indeed in real-life Balian of Ibelin had a good relationship with Saladin.
==== Sibylla of Jerusalem====
==== Guy de Lusignan====
[[File: Kingdom of Heaven four.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Ridley Scott in 2015]]
One of the key characters in the Kingdom of Heaven is Guy de Lusignan. He was a real-life historical character and critical in the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He is the villain in <i>Kingdom of Heaven</i> , and that's essentially correct. He had been expelled from France for murder , and he had fled to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Guy later married Sibylla and became King of Jerusalem after the death of Sibylla's brother. In the motion picture, he is shown as a radical anti-Muslim and is closely aligned with the Knights Templars.<ref> Runciman, p 212</ref> In the movie, Guy repeatedly made horrible decisions. Each of the decisions was driven by his hatred of Muslims and his desire to expel them from the Holy Land. Essentially, his choices led to the Battle of Hattin, the slaughter of the army of Jerusalem, and the expulsion of the Crusaders from Jerusalem. In one of the key scenes in the movie, Guy and his allies are to shown attacking a caravan of Muslims. The then kill every man, woman, and child in the caravan in violation of their agreement with Saladin. This attack forced Saladin to invade the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which was a disaster for the Crusaders. This attack occurred, and Guy’s massacre of innocent Muslims provoked Saladin. This incident precipitated the capture of Jerusalem by the Muslims.<ref>Runciman, p 213</ref> The movie shows Balian and Guy as implacable enemies, and this is only partially true. The men in real life had a complicated relationship. Occasionally, they were enemies and other times allies. In the movie, there is a duel between Balian and Guy. Balian easily defeats Guy and utterly humiliates him. Balian's victory elevated him and disgraced Guy. While it's enjoyable to watch Balian school Guy, it is unlikely that the duel ever took place. There are no records of Balian and Guy engaging in hand to hand combat.
In one Moreover, Guy, after the fall of Jerusalem, still had a claim on the key scenes in kingship of the movieCrusader states through his wife, Guy and his allies are to shown attacking a caravan of MuslimsSybilla. The then kill every man, woman, and child He remained in the caravan former Kingdom of Jerusalem and began a civil war in violation of their agreement with Saladina desperate bid to become king but was defeated. This attack Ultimately, he was forced Saladin to invade flee from the Kingdom of JerusalemHoly Land. Despite his repeated failures, which he was a disaster for able, after he fled, to seize control of the Crusadersisland of Cyprus and become its Lord. This is He even established a historical fact dynasty, and Guy’s massacre of innocent Muslims did provoke Saladin and this led to his successors ruled the islands as kings, until the ultimate capture coming of Jerusalem by the MuslimsOttomans in 1476.<ref>RuncimanEdbury, Peter. The Kingdom of Cyprus and the Crusades, 1191–1374 (Cambridge, 1991), p 21322 </ref> T
he ====Conclusion====Despite its rocky start, <i>Kingdom of Heaven</i> after the release of the Director’s Cut has been hailed by critics and has been discovered by audiences. Remarkably, the movie shows Balian does a good job balancing historical accuracy and Guy as implacable enemies and this is only partially truetelling a story. The men historical background and major events such as the Battle of Hattin are portrayed in real life had a complex relationshipfairly accurate way. Occasionally, they were enemies It does a good explaining the decline and other times alliesfall of the First Kingdom of Jerusalem. In The nature of warfare at the movietime is shown very well. Moreover, there is it does present a duel between Balian and Guyrealistic portrait of Saladin. Balian easily defeats Guy and utterly humiliates him. This helped push Balian into leadership and disgraced Guy. While it's enjoyable to watch Balian school GuyIn essence, it is unlikely that this the duel ever took place. There are no records type of Balian and Guy engaging in hand to hand combathistorical accuracy most movies should strive for.
Moreover, Guy, after The Kingdom of Heaven does take liberties with the historical figures involved in the fall Fall of Jerusalem, still had but these choices made a claim on the kingship lot of the Crusader states through his wife Sybillasense. He remained in Balian, Sibylla, and Neeson's character were either heavily fictionalized or created specifically for the former Kingdom movie, but each of Jerusalem and began a civil war in a desperate bid these characters is critical to become king but was defeatedtell the story. UltimatelyBalian, he was forced in addition to flee from being the hero, serves as a guide for the Holy Landviewer. Despite It is through his repeated failureseyes that the viewers are introduced to the Crusades, he was able, after he fled, to seize control learn about the history of the island Kingdom of Cyprus Jerusalem, and become are shown the divisions with the Kingdom that lead to its Lorddestruction. He even established a dynasty and his successors ruled Sibylla also helps connects the islands as kings, until the coming of viewer to the Ottomans in 1476.<ref> Edbury, Peter. The decaying Kingdom of Cyprus and humanizes the CrusadesKing of Jerusalem, 1191–1374 (Cambridge, 1991), p 22 </ref>played by Edward Norton.
==Conclusion==The 2005 movie especially after the release of the Director’s Cut is now regarded very highly by critics. With regard to the question of the historical accuracy of the movie it is broadly accurate. The historical background and major events such as the Battle of Hattin are portrayed in a very accurate way. It shows very well the decline and fall of the First Ultimately, <i>Kingdom of Jerusalem. The nature of warfare at the time is shown very well. Moreover, it Heaven</i> does present a realistic portrait of Saladin. The main issue with the movie is that while its main characters are based on historical figures they are also heavily fictionalized. For example, Balian is shown as a typical Hollywood hero but in reality he was a much more complex pretty good job telling an exciting and ambiguous figure. The love affair between him and Sybilla is a complete fabrication. The portrayal of Guy de Lusignan captures the character of this rather repulsive person. In real life he did not receive his due deserts as shown in the final scenes’, but he became a powerful Lord he even founded a royal dynastysurprisingly historically accurate story. ====Further Reading====
Bernard Hamilton, "Women in the Crusader States: The Queens of Jerusalem", in Medieval Women, edited by Derek Baker. (London, Ecclesiastical History Society, 1978).
Hillenbrand, Carole. The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives (London, Routledge, 2000).
====References====<references/> [[Category: Historically Accurate]] [[Category: Middle Eastern History]] [[Category:History of the Middle Ages]] [[Category:Wikis]]