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Secondary sourcePainting15th century

Saladin and Balian of Ibelin

Jean Colombe · 15th century

A 15th-century miniature from Les passages d'outremer showing Saladin with Balian of Ibelin during the crusades.

This miniature shows Saladin interacting with crusader leader Balian of Ibelin, reflecting his legendary status in later retellings.

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Illuminated manuscript page with red and black text in two columns above a painted miniature. On the left, a walled city with towers under a blue sky. In the center, a large crowd of armored medieval soldiers in dark mail and helmets gathers beside blue drapery. A kneeling man in red clothing is at the lower center, facing a standing figure in a tent opening. On the right, lines of armored knights in silver armor stand in formation. An ornate gold initial letter S decorates the text.
Jean Colombe (illustrator), Saladin et Balian II d'Ibelin, in Les passages d'outremer, 15th century.

About this source

What it is

This miniature comes from Les passages d'outremer, a 15th-century illuminated manuscript created by Sébastien Mamerot and illustrated by Jean Colombe. It shows Saladin meeting Balian of Ibelin, a crusader-era nobleman, with soldiers and a walled city in the background.

Why it matters

The manuscript was made centuries after the events it depicts, during a period when European readers were fascinated by crusading history. It reveals how Saladin and his dealings with Christian leaders like Balian were remembered and retold in later medieval storytelling.

Look closer

  • What does the composition suggest about the relationship between the two men shown?
  • Why might the artist have chosen to show armored soldiers lined up on one side?
  • How might this image differ from an account written by someone who was actually there?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Saladin on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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