Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world – its history, spanning all the way back to the 4th century BCE – is long and chequered. Over the centuries, it has been ruled by emperors, kings and caliphs, all leaving an indelible mark on the region. But there is one category of ruler that is often forgotten when it comes to Jerusalem: its queens.
When the Crusades saw the kingdom of Jerusalem born, it was at a time when men were considered to have the right to rule, and women less so. But from Jerusalem’s second king, there was almost always also a queen. In fact, there were a fair few years with queens regnant ruling the roost. So here are 11 of the medieval women who made their mark alongside their husbands, as regents for family members or on their own in a male-dominated world.
ALICE OF CHAMPAGNE Reigned: 1243-46
Regency was a second-best option for Alice. She had tried to put her name forward as queen in 1229, but her divorce from Bohemond V, Prince of Antioch, saw her claim rejected. It undoubtedly stung - her grandmother was Maria Komnene (queen
