Maria Komnene, Queen of Jerusalem
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Maria Komnene, Latinized Comnena, was the queen of Jerusalem from 1167 until 1174 as the second wife of King Amalric. She occupied a central position in the Kingdom of Jerusalem for twenty years, earning a reputation for intrigue and ruthlessness.
13th-century depiction of Maria and Amalric riding with entourage
Death of King Amalric as depicted in the 13th century
Seal of Balian of Ibelin
Kerak Castle
Amalric of Jerusalem
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Amalric or Amaury I was King of Jerusalem from 1163, and Count of Jaffa and Ascalon before his accession. He was the second son of Melisende and Fulk of Jerusalem, and succeeded his older brother Baldwin III. During his reign, Jerusalem became more closely allied with the Byzantine Empire, and the two states launched an unsuccessful invasion of Egypt. He was the father of three future rulers of Jerusalem, Sibylla, Baldwin IV, and Isabella I.
Coin of Amaury (1163-1174): Amaury and his successors used the Holy Sepulchre on the obverse image for their deniers as a way of strengthening their relationship with the church where they were both crowned and buried. This helped to reinforce the legitimacy of the dynasty's claims to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Amalric engaging in theological discussions, from the Passages d'outremer
Marriage of Amalric and Maria