- Philip of Montfort, Lord of Tyre
Philip of Montfort, (d.
March 17 ,1270 , Tyre) was Lord ofLa Ferté-Alais and Castres-en-Albigeois 1228–1270, Lord of Tyre 1246–1270, and Lord ofToron aft. 1240–1270. He was the son of Guy of Montfort andHelvis of Ibelin (daughter ofBalian of Ibelin ).At his father's death at the siege of
Vareilles in theAlbigensian Crusade in 1228, he succeeded to his French seigneuries. His first wife was Eleonore de Courtenay (d. bef. 1230), daughter ofPeter II of Courtenay . Philip joined the party of his uncle, John of Ibelin, against the representatives of Frederick II. In 1244, he was created Constable of Jerusalem, but was subordinate toWalter IV of Brienne at theBattle of La Forbie . Philip was one of the few Christian knights to escape the disaster there. In 1246,Henry I of Cyprus , then Regent of Jerusalem, created him Lord of Tyre as a reward for his services to the baronial party. While the legality of this grant was somewhat dubious, it was recognized by Hugh I c. 1269; but Hugh reserved the right to buy back the fief.Philip was married a second time, after 1240, to
Maria of Antioch-Armenia , the elder daughter ofRaymond-Roupen of Antioch and hence Lady of Toron and pretender of Armenia.He joined the
Seventh Crusade , and was employed as the ambassador of Louis IX in negotiations for a truce and retreat fromDamietta . In 1256, he expelled the Venetians from Tyre, an action which helped to precipitate theWar of St. Sabas . During that conflict, he attempted to relieve the Genoese in Acre in 1258, but was repulsed, which helped decide the struggle for the Venetians. In 1266, he lost Toron to the SultanBaibars ; but even in Philip's old age, Baibars feared both his energetic leadership and the possible success of his appeals toEurope for aid. He called upon theHashshashin , one of whom (feigning a desire to convert to Christianity) stabbed Philip as he prayed in his chapel and then fell upon his son John. Mortally wounded, Philip cried out for aid; guards immediately entered and dispatched theassassin . Seeing his son without serious injury, Philip threw up his arms and died.He was succeeded by his son Philip in his French possessions, and by his son John in
Outremer .Children
From his first marriage to Eleonore de Courtenay:
* Philip of Montfort, Lord of Castres-en-Albigeois (d.September 24 ,1270 ,Tunis ), married Jeanne de Levis-MirepoixFrom his second marriage to Maria of Antioch-Armenia:
* John of Montfort, Lord of Toron and Tyre (c. 1240 –November 27 ,1283 , Tyre), marriedSeptember 22 ,1268 Marguerite de Lusignan, titular Princess of Antioch
* Humphrey of Montfort, Lord of Toron and Tyre (d.February 12 ,1284 , Tyre), married c. 1270s Eschiva of Ibelin, Lady of Beirut andLapithos (Cyprus)
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