TheuntoldstoryofatrailblazingdynastyofroyalwomenwhoruledtheMiddleEastandhowtheyperseveredthroughinstabilityandseizegreaterpower.In1187Saladin’sarmiesbesiegedtheholycityofJerusalem.HehadpreviouslyannihilatedJerusalem’sarmyatthebattleofHattin,andbehindthecity’shighwallsalast-ditchdefencewasbeingledbyanunlikelytrio-includingSibylla,QueenofJerusalem.TheycouldnotresistSaladin,but,iftheywerelucky,theycouldnegotiatetermsthatwouldsavethelivesofthecity’sinhabitants.QueenSibyllawasthelastofalineofformidablefemalerulersintheCrusaderStatesofOutremer.YetforallthemanybookswrittenabouttheCrusades,oneaspectisconspicuouslyabsent:thestoriesofwomen.Queensandprincessestendtobepresentedaspassivetransmittersoflandandroyalblood.Inreality,womenruled,conducteddiplomaticnegotiations,mademilitarydecisions,forgedalliances,rebelled,andundertookarchitecturalprojects.Sibylla’sgrandmotherQueenMelisendewasthefirstqueentoseizerealpoliticalagencyinJerusalemandruleinherownright.Sheoutmanoeuvredbothherhusbandandsontoseizerealpowerinherkingdom,andwasaforcetobereckonedwithinthepoliticsofthemedievalMiddleEast.ThelivesofherArmenianmother,herthreesisters,andtheirdaughtersandgranddaughterswerenolessintriguing.QueensofJerusalemisastunningdebutbyarisinghistorianandarichrevisionisthistoryofMedievalPalestine.
