CRUSADERS. Antioch. Raynald of Châtillon (?), 1153-1160/1. Seal (Lead, 40 mm, 34.00 g, 12 h). S PETRVS S PAVLVS (or similar) Two half-length figures of Saints Peter and Paul, nimbate, facing each other. Rev. ...O RAI[NAL]D[V]S ANTIOCEN... Prince on horseback galloping to left, holding shield and bannered spear. Cf. Schlumberger, Sigillographie de l'Orient Latin p. 33 (for a seal of Renaud de Chatillon with the legend "Rainaldus Princeps Antiochenus"). Apparently unpublished and unique, a highly interesting piece. Somewhat corroded, otherwise, about very fine.
Unfortunately, the name of the prince on the reverse of this highly interesting seal is not clearly readable. It could be that of Raymond, prince of Antioch in 1139-1149, but it is more likely that of the infamous Raynald of Châtillon. Raynald was a Frankish knight who married Constance, Raymond's widow, in 1153, which made him the new prince of Antioch. However, he is much more famous for his later actions as Lord of Oultrejordain, where his capture of a Muslim caravan led to Saladin's proclamation of a jihad against the Crusader states. In 1187, the first Ayyubid sultan decisively defeated the Christians in the Battle of Hattin and personally decapitated Raynald after the knight's refusal to convert to Islam. Viewers of the 2005 historical drama film 'Kingdom of Heaven' with Orlando Bloom in the role of a Frankish blacksmith Balian may recall the memorable acting performance of Brendan Gleeson as the vicious red-haired Raynald