Long captivity of Raynald of Châtillon

Background

After submitting to Byzantium in 1159, Reynald continued raiding the frontier regions of Antioch. In autumn 1160 he led a raid into the area between Marash and the Euphrates to plunder the flocks of Syriac and Armenian herdsmen.

Course of events

Returning with booty, Reynald's troop was ambushed by the forces of Majd al-Din ibn al-Daya, governor of Aleppo. Reynald and his companions were captured and taken to the citadel of Aleppo. Among his fellow captives was Joscelin III, heir to the county of Edessa.

In Reynald's absence government in Antioch passed first to Constance and, after 1163, to her son by her first marriage, Bohemond III. No serious attempt was made to ransom Reynald; Nur al-Din kept him as a valuable hostage.

Outcome and significance

After Nur al-Din's death in 1174, Gümüştegin, who governed Aleppo, wanted an understanding with the Franks against Saladin. In 1176 Reynald and Joscelin III were released for a large ransom; the ransom paid for Reynald is said to have been 120,000 dinars.

Having lost his principality in Antioch, Reynald moved to the Kingdom of Jerusalem and, by marrying Stephanie of Milly, heiress of Oultrejourdain (Kerak and Shawbak), became one of the kingdom's most powerful barons. It has been suggested that his long captivity shaped his later uncompromising attitude toward Muslims.

Sources and debates

William of Tyre attributes the capture to Reynald's greed. Michael the Syrian and Ibn al-Athir also mention the episode. The capture is dated to 1160 or 1161 in the sources, and the ransom also varies.