Guy of Lusignan

Guy of Lusignan (lüsēnyäN'), d. 1194, Latin king of Jerusalem (1186-92) and Cyprus (1192-94), second husband of Sibylla, sister of King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. In 1183 he was briefly regent for his brother-in-law, who was incapacitated by leprosy, but Baldwin made Guy's stepson king as Baldwin V, and the Latin nobles forced Guy to yield command to Raymond of Tripoli. On Baldwin V's death (1186) Guy became king with the support of both his wife and Reginald of Châtillon. He was defeated and captured (1187) by Saladin at the decisive battle of Hattin, which led to the fall of Jerusalem. Released in 1188, he laid siege (1189) to Acre (see Akko), which was captured (1191) in the Third Crusade with the help of Richard I of England and Philip II of France. After the death (1190) of Sibylla, Guy's right to the throne was contested by Conrad, marquis of Montferrat, who was supported by Philip II. In spite of Richard I's support, Guy was compelled (1192) to resign his title, but was given the island of Cyprus. His descendants (see Lusignan) ruled Cyprus and Lesser Armenia. His brother, Amalric II, succeeded him in Cyprus.