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[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ICLRIE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000ICLRIE&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=9c4ccbf03b28480046f0dc3cc1b739e4 The Kingdom of Heaven ] is a 2005 historical epic directed by Ridley Scott, who directed some of the most memorable movies of recent decades such as Gladiator. The historical epic was produced in Spain and Morocco. The movie starred Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Liam Neeson, and Jeremy Irons, among others. The movie was scripted by Academy Award winner William Monahanscripted the movie. It was one of the most anticipated releases in 2005 , but the theatrical release did not live up to meet expectations. The motion picture was something of a box-office flop and was not liked by the critics who complained that it felt incomplete and fragmentary.

Most of the movie's problems because were a result of studio meddling in the film's final cut. Ridley Scott was forced to cut his original version of the picture by film to satisfy the studio executives. He did this against his will , and these cuts gutted the movie. Later, Scott was allowed to release a director's cut of the movie on Blu-ray and DVD. The new cut included many scenes that Scott was forced to delete and is fifty minutes longer than the theatrical release. The director's cut was a dramatic improvement and was widely praised by the critics. It is now regarded as the definitive version of the movie. This article evaluates the director’s cut of <i>Kingdom of Heaven </i> and its historical accuracy instead of the dramatically inferior theatrical version.

====The historical background==What is the real story that <i>Kingdom of Heaven</i> is based on? ==

The background to the British director’s movie was 's followed the decline and the fall of the First Kingdom of Jerusalem (1091-1087). This The Crusaders established this kingdom was established by the Crusaders after they had captured the city in 1081. They were The kingdom was created by Christian knights and soldiers who had taken took a religious vow to recapture the Holy Land's sacred sites in the Holy Land (modern Israel). The Kingdom of Jerusalem had been under near -constant attack from the Arabs and Muslims, for whom the city . Jerusalem is of great significant to three religious significance: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.<ref> Runciman, Steve. <i>A History of the Crusades, vol. II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem</i> (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1952), p 167</ref>

The movie captures the constant and brutal conflict between the Christians and the Muslims in the areaHoly Land. The Crusaders were motivated to fight in the Holy Land out of religious fervour and they fervor. They genuinely believed that they could save their souls from eternal damnation by fighting the Muslims. The movie concentrates on the growing threat posed to the Kingdom of Jerusalem by the rise of the Ayyubid Sultanate's rise. This was a kingdom founded by Saladin , who deposed the last Fatimid Caliph in Egypt and later captured Syria. He was the most powerful Islamic ruler in the region in a century. The movie captures the threat posed by Saladin to the Crusaders because he was often regarded as a military genius.

Scott’s movie accurately depicts the lead up to the Battle of Hattin (1187). While the Battle of Hattin is one of the most significant battles in world history, it was a one-sided slaughter. Scott does not spend much time on the Hattin , and the movie's climax of the movie focuses on the Jerusalem's defense of Jerusalem. Scott's decision makes a lot of sense because the Jerusalem's defense of Jerusalem is a far more compelling story.<ref> Runciman, p 189</ref>

Scott's depiction of the Crusaders near-annihilation at Hattin , and Saladin's siege of Jerusalem and Scott's are both fairly accurate. The capture of Jerusalem was a complete disaster for the Crusaders, and they lost most of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. In the movie , this is shown as leading to the start of the Third Crusade and an attempt by mainly English and French Crusaders to recapture Jerusalem.<ref> Runciman, p 189</ref>.. This is also historically accurate. In general, the movie's historical background of the movie and its portrayal of major events such as sieges and battles are not only accurate but extraordinarily well done.

====The historicity How realistic is the portrayal of Balian of Ibelin in <i>Kingdom of the main characters==Heaven</i>? ==

The main character of the Balian who is played by the English actor Orlando Bloom. The screenwriter loosely based this character on a real-life character. In the movie, Balian is a young blacksmith who decides to go on Crusade when he meets his natural father, who is a knight , and who is played plays by Liam Neeson. Balian is shown as both as both an illegitimate and a humble young man who goes on a Crusade to help to secure his wife’s salvation after her suicide. The character played by Bloom was based on Balian of Ibelin's. Unlike the movie version, he was a member of the nobility and the legitimate son of his father , Barisan of Ibelin. He also was not a blacksmith.<ref> William of Tyre, A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea. E. A. Babcock and A. C. Krey, trans (Columbia, Columbia University Press, 1943), p 114</ref>

Instead of using Bailin's real birth father, the movie created a character, Godfrey of Ibelin, played by Liam Neeson. Neeson has played this type of role (the father-like mentor who dies in the movie) several times. In the movie, Neeson's character knights his son right before his death. By recognizing Bailian as his son, Bloom's character inherits his father's holding in the Holy Land. In reality, the knighting of an illegitimate son 's knighting would not have been legally possible in the Middle Ages without some dispensation from a monarch or the Catholic Church. Ridley Scott introduces Balian as living in France, but his origins are unknown, and his family may have been Italian.

The character is also shown as making his way to the Holy Land, and he did make this journey at some time. His father in the motion picture is shown to be a crusader, and this was indeed the case. The motion picture shows Godfrey of Ibelin as a noble knight who went on Crusade for religious reasons. Balian's father was one of the most powerful lords in the Crusader States. He ruled the County of Jaffa (modern Israel) and . He was a vassal of the King of Jerusalem .<ref> William of Tyre, p 201</ref> In the movie , we see Balian going on crusade with his father , who died before arriving in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. It is likely that Balian had been living in the Crusader kingdom since he was a young man. He was not the only son of Barsian of Ibelin and was, in reality, his youngest son. His father gave Balian a large area of land and a castle and he too became a vassal of the King of Jerusalem. <ref>William of Tyre, p 212</ref> He would have been very familiar with the culture and politics of the region. Scott's depiction makes sense from a storytelling perspective. Most viewers would have been unfamiliar with the Crusader Nation. Balian provides a window into this world for the audience. While it is inaccurate from a historical perspective, it allows Scott to introduce this bizarre world to a modern audience.

Balian is portrayed as a young man had likely been living in Kingdom of Heaven, but the Crusader kingdom since he was a mature young man. The movie does correctly show that in the 1180s that Balian He was a major figure in not the politics only son of the Kingdom Barisan of Jerusalem. He Ibelin and was very involved , in the power struggles that greatly weakened the realm. In the movie the hero is shown as struggling to save the Kingdom from various factions who were only interested in power. In reality, Balian was quite Machiavellian and sought to increase his own power and influence at the expense of his rivalsyoungest son. However, the movie does accurately show that the character played by Bloom was His father gave Balian a great large land area and a brave knight. In the movie castle, and he is portrayed as a great swordsman and too became a brave leader. The commander vassal of the Christian garrison King of Jerusalem during . <ref>William of Tyre, p 212</ref> He would have been very familiar with the Ayyubid army, was indeed Balain region's culture and he provided to be politics. Scott's depiction makes sense from a brilliant commander, as portrayed by the British Directorstorytelling perspective. He was able to beat off countless attacks by Most viewers would have been unfamiliar with the Muslims as in the 2005 motion pictureCrusader Nation. In the movie we seen Balian and Saladin reaching provides a negotiated settlement that ended window into this world for the bloody siegeaudience. 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 While 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 inaccurate from a blacksmith in his native village and refusing the entreaties of English knights to go on the Third Crusade. In facthistorical perspective, 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 Scott can introduce this bizarre world 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 Saladinmodern audience.

== Sibylla Balian is portrayed as a young man in the Kingdom of Jerusalem==In Heaven, but the movie we see real Balian having was already a passionate affair with Sibylla of Jerusalemmature man by this time period. She was a real-life character and a sister of one King of Jerusalem and later became Queen of The movie does correctly show that in the Kingdom1180s, for Balian was a brief time ref>Bernard Hamilton, "Women major figure in the Crusader States: The Queens Kingdom of Jerusalem", in Medieval Women, edited by Derek Baker. (London, Ecclesiastical History Society, 1978), p 17</ref>'s politics. She He was a very powerful woman and had great influence among the Crusaders. This is captured involved in the movie and especially in power struggles that greatly weakened the performance of Eva Greenrealm. In real life she was married to Guy de Lusignan (1150-1194). Balian did not have an affair with Sibylla as shown in the movie. They did not return , the hero struggles to Europe and live save the Kingdom from various factions interested in a remote village as shown in the climax of the 2005 workpower. In reality, Balian was married to a Byzantine Princess quite Machiavellian and Sibylla remained married sought to Guy increase his own power and did not leave himinfluence at his rivals' expense. However, in fact she died of an epidemic while campaigning with Guy in 1190, dying at the age of thirty <ref> William of Tyre, p. 178</ref>. The love affair between Sibylla of Jerusalem movie accurately shows that Bloom's character was a great and Balian is a complete fictionbrave knight.

== Guy de Lusignan==The ‘bad’ guy in the movie is the nobleman Guy de Lusignan's credit does a good job accurately portraying Jerusalem's defense by Balian and his forces. He Balian was an outstanding swordsman, a real-life historical character brave leader, and one who was very important an outstanding tactician in the history movie. Bloom's character became the commander of the Crusades. In Scott’s movie he was an evil man, and this was pretty much Christian garrison of Jerusalem before the caseBattle of Hattin. He had been expelled from France for murder and he had had fled to devised the Kingdom defense of Jerusalemthat effectively beat off countless attacks by the Muslims. Guy later married Sibylla as shown in Balian was the commander, but the moviediminishes the importance of other leaders who were also pivotal in Jerusalem's defense. In the motion picture he Balian is shown as very antiessentially a composite character for this battle. <dh-Muslim and aligning with the fanatical Knights Templers <ref> Runciman, p 212<ad/ref>. Scott’s movie shows him Balian and his allies treacherously attacking Saladin reached a caravan negotiated settlement that ended the bloody siege. This is accurate. The Christians did agree to surrender the city on terms in 1187. In one of Muslims and slayingthe most memorable scenes, every man, womanwe see the main character leading the Christians safely out of Jerusalem as he hands it over to Saladin. This actually happened, and child the Muslims did allow the garrison and this prompted Saladin the Christian population to invade leave the Kingdom of city unmolested. After Jerusalem's surrender to the Muslim Sultan, which was a disaster for he returns to Europe with Sybilla in the Crusadersmovie. This He is shown as living happily as a historical fact blacksmith in his native village and Guy’s massacre refusing English knights' entreaties to go on the Third Crusade in one scene.  After the fall of innocent Muslims did provoke Saladin Jerusalem, Balian stayed in the region and became one of the Crusader states' leaders. He actually participated in the Third Crusades and this led was a key advisor to the ultimate capture of Jerusalem by legendary Richard the Muslims <ref>Runciman, p 213</ref>Lionheart. The movie Scott shows Balian and Guy the main character as implacable enemies having good relations with Muslims, and this is only partially true. The men indeed, in real -life , Balian of Ibelin had a complex good relationship and were at times enemies but occasionally also allieswith Saladin. Guy  == Who was captured and later released by Saladin as shown in the movie. Sibylla of Jerusalem? ==In the finale <i>Kingdom of the scene there is Heaven</I>, Balian has a great duel between Balian and Guypassionate affair with Sibylla of Jerusalem. The hero is shown as defeating his enemy and utterly humiliating him and Scott suggests that Guy She was a broken man who was utterly disgraced. The duel probably did not take place real-life character and there are no records a King of Balian Jerusalem and later became Queen of the Kingdom after she married Guy engaging in hand to hand combatLusignan. Moreover<ref>Bernard Hamilton, Guy after "Women in the fall Crusader States: The Queens of Jerusalem ," in Medieval Women, edited by Derek Baker. (London, Ecclesiastical History Society, 1978), p 17</ref> She was a potent woman and had a claim on the kingship an extraordinary amount of influence among the Crusader states through his wife SybillaCrusaders. He began a civil war in a desperate bid I In real life, she was married to become king Guy de Lusignan (1150-1194), but was defeated Sibylla did not have an affair with Balian. Additionally, Sybilla did not return to Europe and live in a remote village, as shown in the movie's climax. Balian was forced married to flee from the Holy Land. Howevera Byzantine Princess, this rather unpleasant character was very fortunate. He was able and Sibylla remained married to seize control of the island of Cyprus Guy and become its Lordnever left him. IndeedUltimately, he established a dynasty and his successors ruled the islands as kingsshe succumbed to an epidemic while campaigning with Guy in 1190, until the coming of the Ottomans in 1476 dying at thirty.<ref> EdburyWilliam of Tyre, Peterp. 178</ref> The Kingdom love affair between Sibylla of Cyprus Jerusalem and Balian, while an important part of the Crusadesmovie, 1191–1374 (Cambridge, 1991), p 22 was complete fiction.<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'>====Related Articles===={{#dpl:category=Medieval History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=6}}</div>==Did <i>Kingdom of Heaven</refi>. accurately depict Guy de Lusignan? ==

==Conclusion==The 2005 movie especially 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>. 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 release death of Sibylla's brother. He is shown as a radical anti-Muslim in the Director’s Cut motion picture and is now regarded very highly 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 criticshis 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 Jerusalem's army, and the Crusaders' expulsion from Jerusalem. In one of the movie's key scenes, Guy and his allies attack a Muslim caravan. They then kill every man, woman, and child in the caravan to violate their agreement with Saladin. With regard This attack forced Saladin to invade the question Kingdom of Jerusalem, which was a disaster for the historical accuracy 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 broadly accurateunlikely that the duel ever took place. There are no records of Balian and Guy engaging in hand to hand combat.  Moreover, after the fall of Jerusalem, Guy still had a claim on the Crusader states' kingship through his wife, Sybilla. He remained in the former Kingdom of Jerusalem and began a civil war in a desperate bid to become king but was defeated. Ultimately, he was forced to flee from the Holy Land. Despite his repeated failures, he was able, after he fled, to seize control of the island of Cyprus and become its lord. He even established a dynasty, and his successors ruled the islands as kings until the Ottomans took control in 1476.<ref> Edbury, Peter. The Kingdom of Cyprus and the Crusades, 1191–1374 (Cambridge, 1991), p 22 </ref> == Is the <i>Kingdom of Heaven</i> realistic? ==Despite its rocky start, <i>Kingdom of Heaven</i> after the Director’s Cut release has been hailed by critics and discovered by audiences. Remarkably, the movie does a good job balancing historical accuracy and telling a story. The historical background and major events such as the Battle of Hattin are portrayed in a very accurate wayfairly. It shows very well does a good explaining the decline and fall of the First Kingdom of Jerusalem. The nature of warfare at the time is shown very well. Moreover, it does present a realistic portrait of Saladin. In essence, this the type of historical accuracy most movies should strive for.  The main issue Kingdom of Heaven does take substantial liberties with the movie is that while its main characters are based on historical figures they are also involved in the Fall of Jerusalem, but these choices made a lot of sense for a movie. Balian, Sibylla, and Neeson's character were either heavily fictionalizedor created specifically for the movie, but each of them is critical to tell the story. For exampleBalian, in addition to being the hero, Balian is shown serves as a typical Hollywood hero but in reality he was a much more complex guide for the viewer. Through his eyes, the viewers are introduced to the Crusades, learn about the history of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and ambiguous figureare shown the divisions with the Kingdom that lead to its destruction. The love affair between him Sibylla also helps the viewer see the decaying Kingdom and Sybilla is a complete fabricationhumanizes the King of Jerusalem, played by Edward Norton. The portrayal  Critical opinions of Guy de Lusignan captures the character <i>Kingdom of this rather repulsive personHeaven</i> are pretty mixed. In real life he did not receive his due deserts as shown in Whatever you do, avoid the theatrical release version and watch the final scenes’, but he became a powerful Lord he even founded a royal dynastylonger edition released on blu-ray.  ====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).

====References====<references/> [[Category: Historically Accurate]] [[Category: Middle Eastern History]] [[Category:History of the Middle Ages]] [[Category:Wikis]]