Lordship of Sidon

The Lordship of Sidon was one of the four major seigneuries of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, according to the 13th-century writer John of Ibelin. However, in reality, it appears to have been much smaller than the other major ones. It had the same level of significance as several neighbors, such as Toron and Beirut, which were sub-vassals. And Lordship of Sidon was located between certain sub-vassal fiefs under the Lordship of Galilee - thus, we may conclude that its independence of Galilee was an idiosyncrasy.

Sidon was captured in December, 1110 and given to Eustace I Grenier. The lordship was a coastal strip on the Mediterranean Sea between Tyre and Beirut. It was conquered by Saladin in 1187 and remained in Muslim hands until 1197. Julien Grenier sold it to the Knights Templar in the 13th century, but it was later destroyed by the Mongols after the Battle of Ain Jalut and its ruins were captured by the Mameluks. One of the vassals of the lordship was the Lordship of the Shuf.

Lords of Sidon

• Eustace I Grenier (1110-1123)
• Gerard Grenier (1123-1171)
• Renaud Grenier (1171-1187)
• Conquered by Saladin, 1187-1197
• Renaud Grenier (restored, 1197-1202)
• Balian Grenier (1202-1239)
• Julian Grenier (1239-1260)
• Balian II (titular)
• Phoebus of Lusignan (titular, c. 1460)
• Philip of Lusignan (titular, c. 1460)

Lordship of the Schuf

The Schuf was created out of the Lordship of Sidon as a vassal around 1170. It was centred on the Cave of Tyron. Julian of Sidon sold it to the Teutonic Knights in 1256.

• Andrew of Schuf (13th century)
• John of Schuf (13th century)
• Julian of Sidon (mid 13th century)

Sources

• John L. La Monte, Feudal Monarchy in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, 1100-1291. The Medieval Academy of America, 1932.
• Jonathan Riley-Smith, The Feudal Nobility and the Kingdom of Jerusalem, 1174-1277. The Macmillan Press, 1973.
• Steven Runciman, A History of the Crusades, Vol. II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Frankish East, 1100-1187. Cambridge University Press, 1952.
• Steven Tibble, Monarchy and Lordships in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, 1099-1291. Clarendon Press, 1989.