Honfroy II de Toron, seigneur de Toron

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_II_of_Toron

Humphrey II of Toron (1117–1179) was lord of Toron and constable of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

Humphrey had become lord of Toron sometime before 1140, when he married the daughter of Renier Brus, lord of Banias (the Herodian city of Caesarea Philippi). Through this marriage Banias was added to Toron. Humphrey became castellan of Hebron in 1149 when Hebron became a domain of the royal family of Jerusalem. In 1153 he became constable of Jerusalem when Baldwin III became sole ruler after a struggle with his mother Melisende. That year he was present with the king at the Siege of Ascalon.

Humphrey was defeated by Nur ad-Din Zangi at Banias in 1157 and was besieged in its castle until Baldwin III arrived to lift the siege. That year Humphrey also sold Banias and Chastel Neuf to the Knights Hospitaller (Chastel Neuf was captured by Nur ad-Din in 1167). Also in 1157 he helped negotiate the marriage of Baldwin III and Theodora, niece of Byzantine emperor Manuel I Comnenus. Humphrey himself later married Philippa, sister of Bohemund III of Antioch, who had previously had an affair with future Byzantine emperor Andronicus I Comnenus, Manuel's cousin.

His marriage with Philippa produced no children.

In 1173 Humphrey relieved Nur ad-Din's siege of Kerak in Oultrejordain. In 1176 his importance at the royal court was somewhat lessened due to the influence of Agnes of Courtenay, but he kept his position as constable. In 1177 this lessened importance was manifested when the lordship of Hebron was recreated and given to Raynald of Châtillon, lord of Oultrejordain, rather than Humphrey, who was still castellan. Nevertheless he was one of the supporters of the Raymond III of Tripoli, regent for Baldwin IV. Raymond, Humphrey and others represented the faction of old families at court, who were opposed to newcomers like Raynald, and later Guy of Lusignan.

Humphrey rebuilt Chateau Neuf in 1179, after it had been destroyed in various sieges. Also in 1179 he helped negotiate a truce between the Knights Hospitaller and Knights Templar. Later that year he accompanied Baldwin IV in an attack on a small Muslim force near Banias, but, although he saved Baldwin IV's life, he suffered mortal wounds and soon died. He was succeeded in Toron by his grandson Humphrey IV, son of Humphrey III and Stephanie of Milly; Humphrey III was his son by his unknown first wife.

- http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/JERUSALEM%20NOBILITY.htm#HonfroyIIT...

HONFROY II (-castle of Hunin 22 Apr 1179). The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified. He succeeded his father as Lord of Toron. William of Tyre records "Hunfredus de Torono" among the magnates in Palestine present at the council held at Acre recorded under 1148. Baudouin III King of Jerusalem appointed him Constable of Jerusalem in 1152. William of Tyre records "Henfredus de Torono" among the magnates in Palestine present at the siege of Ascalon in 1153. "…Humfredus constabularius…" subscribed the charter dated 27 Jun 1155 under which "Balduinus…Iherusalem Latinorum rex quartus" granted privileges to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. "Humfredus de Torono constabularius…" subscribed the charter dated 13 Jul 1155 under which "Balduinus…in sancta Iherusalem Latinorum rex quartus" granted property previously granted to "Eustachius Ganerius…Galterius predicti Eustachii filius" to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, listed first among the subscribers. Baudouin III King of Jerusalem confirmed the donation of "medietatem castelli Paneadensis" by "Humfredus de Torono constabularius regis voluntate filii Humfredi et filiarum" to the Knights Hospitallers, with the consent of "Gualterii Berytensis de cujus feodo est et fratrum Guidonis atque Bernardi", by charter dated 4 Oct 1157. "Henfredus de Torono constabularius et filius eius Henfredus…" subscribed the charter dated 26 Jul 1160 under which "Balduinus…in sancta Iherusalem Latinorum rex quartus" granted privileges to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, listed first among the subscribers. "…Humfredus de Toreno constabularius et filius eius Umfredus…" subscribed the charter dated 16 Jul 1164 under which "Amalricus…in sancta civitate Ierusalem Latinorum rex quintus" granted privileges to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. Lord of Banyas. He relieved Nur ed-Din's siege of Karak, capital of the fief of Oultrejourdain, in 1173. He was mortally wounded in the forest of Banyas where he was holding up an advancing Muslim army to enable Baudouin IV King of Jerusalem to escape.

m firstly ---. The name and origin of Honfroy´s first wife is not known. One possibility is that she was --- Brus, daughter of Renier Brus Lord of Banyas & his first or second wife ---. William of Tyre records that "Henfredus de Torono, regius constabularius" held "urbem Paneadem…hereditaria possessio" when recording that he donated part of the town to the Knights Hospitallers, dated to 1156 from the context. It is therefore possible that Honfroy II de Toron held Banyas by right of his wife, who could have been the daughter and heiress of Reiner Brus.

m secondly PHILIPPA of Antioch, daughter of RAYMOND [de Poitiers] Prince of Antioch & his wife Constance Pss of Antioch (c1148-1178, bur St Marie, Josaphat). The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not yet been identified.

Honfroy [II] & his first wife had [three or more] children:

• i) HONFROY [III] (before 1148-1173). .. ... .... .... ......
• ii) daughters (-after 4 Oct 1157). Baudouin III King of Jerusalem confirmed the donation of "medietatem castelli Paneadensis" by "Humfredus de Torono constabularius regis voluntate filii Humfredi et filiarum" to the Knights Hospitallers, with the consent of "Gualterii Berytensis de cujus feodo est et fratrum Guidonis atque Bernardi", by charter dated 4 Oct 1157[1188]. The number of daughters is not known.

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