Synopsis

Hollywood made him a blacksmith; Arab chronicles said he was “like a king.” He served a leper, but defied Richard the Lionheart. He fought Saladin to a standstill, yet retained his respect. Rather than dally with a princess, he married a dowager queen — and founded a dynasty. He was a warrior and diplomat both: Balian d’Ibelin

Defender of Jerusalem is Book II in a three-part biographical novel about Balian d’Ibelin, who defended Jerusalem against Saladin and saved 60,000 Christians from slaughter and slavery.