Comparing Historical Fiction to Historical Reality: Balien of Ibelin

"It is a kingdom of conscience, or nothing," Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom) tells Tiberius (Jeremy Irons), the rugged Marshall of Jerusalem. He says this after turning down the chance to head the armies of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, because it would result in the death of one of his political rivals. This goes with Ridley Scott's theme of Ibelin, appearing more as an agnostic than a Christian, striving to be the "perfect knight" amid a chaotic region torn apart by religious zealotry. Ultimately, however, he both betrays the history of the real Baron of Ibelin and misses an excellent chance for a plot tool.

Throughout the film, Kingdom of Heaven, the constantly morose Balian is struggling with his faith. He is distressed at his wife's suicide over the loss of their child, he is disgusted with his half brother member of the clergy, and he is unimpressed with what he sees when he arrives in Jerusalem. He constantly attempts to tip-toe a line of cultural understanding for both sides with a favoritism towards the Saracens whom he must do battle with because of the zealots on both sides. In this case, a composite character made up of Gerard de Ridefort and Guy de Lusignan and his goon Reynald de Chatillon of Kerak represent the Christian fanaticism while an unnamed aide of Saladin's represents the aggressive nature of the Muslims. The Muslims have a legitimate gripe with the Christians, Balian suggests- which he more or less takes back during a speech to the city about how necessary it is to defend the walls of Jerusalem to protect the people inside.

Faced with the chance to exterminate an order of fanatical knights who are responsible for the majority of mischief in the kingdom and the removal of a challenger to the throne of Jerusalem and belligerent commander of the army, Balian makes it a point to remind those around him that he made a vow to his father strive to become a "perfect knight". He would defend the weak, uphold the righteous, and tell the truth even if it led to his death.

Even in spite of the brazen historical misconception Scott grants to the time period, there is still a point to be made that Balian the character showed very little aptitude for the high-level politics on which he is thrust by those around him. In a film where this lowly siege engineer for an obscure French fiefdom shows remarkably little initiative, he is constantly thrust before kings, lords, and struggling titanic figures. Meanwhile he consistently puts his own personal morality before the good of the nation.

Obviously not a fan of Machiavelli, who strongly believes that a personal morality should be kept separate from a state morality, Balian continues to make decisions of an almost selfish nature, willing to let the world burn around him so long as he does not deviate from the path laid out in a vow he made to a father he knew for a week before his death.

The real Balian was actually born in the Kingdom of Jerusalem - and played a hand as an adviser to Guy de Lusignan for some time. He was very active in regional, political affairs and felt that the brazen attacks against Saladin were strategically foolish, not necessarily morally deviant. He ostensibly stood behind King Baldwin and constantly attempted to rectify grievances between the various political factions that vied for dynastic dominance, but believed firmly that war with Saladin and his numerically superior army would be the downfall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

The real Balian rode off to the Battle of Hattin - contrary to the fictional one who stayed behind, protesting the battle - where he was faced with a difficult decision. After being captured by Saladin, he pleaded with the Sultan to let him go so that he could evacuate his wife and children from Jerusalem to Tripoli. Upon arriving in Jerusalem however, the people implored him to stay and protect them, by all rights they knew the slaughter that was imminent.

Therefore, accepting the advice that a Christians' duty to other Christians superseded his vow to a non-Christian, Balian stood behind and tended to the defenses of the city. His efforts were admirable - even though Saladin knocked down several walls, the defenders kept the Saracens at bay until both armies had fallen to the point of exhaustion. Unable to enter the city, the Sultan demonstrated he was willing to discuss terms.

In the film, Balian of Ibelin rises from a stalwart defense and goes to meet the king, where he warns that he would kill every soldier trying to enter the city as well as destroy the Muslim holy sites inside. In the film, Saladin felt a moment of understanding with this fellow agnostic who was likewise impressed into bloody, holy warfare, and suggested that that might even be a good idea. He then agrees that everyone can leave the city in peace and the city was surrendered.

Balian triumphs as the perfect knight and leaves Jerusalem for France.

In reality, Balian was not quite so kind. Saladin's soldiers had made it very clear that they intended to turn the city into a bloodbath - Saladin himself nearly faced a revolt for not allowing his soldiers to plunder and massacre the town after successfully taking it as was normal Medieval custom. Here, the fictional Balian had the chance to finally mature, the result of all of his battles and trials finally coming to this moment: it is time for Balian to put his selfish desire to be a "perfect knight" behind the good of the people and act like the real Balian. Indeed, he did threaten to destroy the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque - he also threatened to kill every single Muslim in the city; man, woman, and child. Rather than offer an agreeable nod, Saladin was petrified by this notion - he was absolutely terrified, knowing this knight was certainly not bluffing.

This was Ridley Scott's chance to redeem Balian. Brutal though it may have been, it would have been his chance to realize that he was in many regards being childish and petty, he took on the responsibilities of a leader but refused to carry out the actions necessary to be one.

And thus, this character comes off as little more than an agnostic paladin with a mild case of bipolar disorder.