Kingdom of Heaven
Hello friends,
Today, we will remember a magnificent historical film directed by the legendary Ridley Scott. This movie transports us to one of my favorite historical periods—medieval times—with the Crusades, plague, knights, feasts, intrigue, and fair ladies. In my opinion, the film excellently captures the spirit of that era. But let’s not make baseless claims—let’s take a closer look.
The Bloody Crusade
The film is set in France in 1184, where a knight returns from the Crusades to finally see his son. Europe is groaning under the weight of poverty, ruin, disease, and corruption. Everyone, from the wealthy to the destitute, dreams of going to the Holy Land in search of fortune and happiness. From the very first minutes, we are shown how deeply the Church and some of its servants have decayed. A girl has taken her own life, and for this, her husband’s brother decides to bury her at a crossroads and behead her—a punishment for heretics according to Christian tradition. A vile priest steals her cross and a coin that a noble crusader had given to ensure a proper burial and mass. Right from the beginning, the film sets a tone, highlighting the vices in humanity that still exist to this day.
Kingdom of Heaven - Balian's father knight Godfrey
We are introduced to the film's main character, Balian, played by Orlando Bloom. His wife committed suicide, and it is his brother who is the despicable priest. Balian is locked away, but a bishop frees him, recognizing the young man’s talent as a blacksmith. That same evening, during a feast at the castle, we meet the local lord of the lands, whose brother has returned from the Crusades as a baron in Jerusalem. We are brought up to speed on the dire situation in the Holy Land, where the great leader Saladin the Wise is rallying locals under his banner. The crusader expresses doubts about how long they can hold Jerusalem.
Kingdom of Heaven - Father and son are ready for battle with duke's people.
The next day, the baron visits the forge to speak with Balian. The nobleman introduces himself as Godfrey, Balian's father. He wants his son to accompany him to the Holy Land, but Balian refuses, forcing his father to leave alone. Before departing, Godfrey explains how to find Jerusalem should Balian change his mind. Balian’s brother attempts to pressure him into leaving, manipulating him with talk of his wife's salvation through a crusade. But the brother goes too far, admitting that he beheaded Balian's wife. This revelation enrages Balian, who kills his brother and burns his body in the forge. Realizing that killing a priest is a crime punishable by death, Balian accepts his father’s offer and sets out for the Holy Land.
A Journey into Destiny
At a camp, Godfrey takes the opportunity to teach his son swordsmanship. As an none experienced fighter, Balian lost to his father. But soon, men sent by Godfrey’s brother arrive to arrest the murderer. Godfrey and his men refuse to surrender, and a bloody skirmish ensues. Despite being outnumbered, the crusaders miraculously fend off the attackers, though most of their party perishes. Godfrey, along with a few others, survives the day.
Kingdom of Heaven - Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani, right hand of Saladin the Wise.
Eventually, the group reaches Messina, but Godfrey’s health deteriorates. He speaks of creating a “Kingdom of Heaven” on earth—a place ruled by conscience and honor. We also see the deep divisions within society: despite the efforts of Saladin and King Baldwin, rebellion brews among the nobles, many of whom dream of massacring all Muslims. One of these radicals is Guy de Lusignan, an arrogant nobleman waiting for the king to die so he can seize the throne.
Kingdom of Heaven - Balian's arrival in the Holy lands after the shipwreck.
Understanding that his time is short, Godfrey officially names Balian as his heir, urging him to be noble and to protect the king and those in need. The journey to Jerusalem is perilous, and a storm sinks Balian’s ship, leaving him stranded on a deserted shore with only a horse for company. In the desert, he encounters local Muslims. A noble challenges him to a duel over the horse but pays with his life. Balian spares the servant in exchange for guidance to Jerusalem.
A New Life in Jerusalem
The city appears as a contrast, with Christians and Muslims coexisting, albeit with palpable tension. Balian, grateful for the guide’s help, gifts him the horse and lets him go free. After burying his wife's cross at the site of Christ's crucifixion, Balian enters the city, where his father’s knights promptly find him and escort him to his quarters. The life of a simple blacksmith takes a dramatic turn. In France, he was almost a slave; here, he is the head of a noble house. We are also introduced to Sibylla, the beautiful sister of King Baldwin.
Kingdom of Heaven - It was hard for young Balian not to feel in love with king's magnificent sister.
A holy man explains the difference between the Church and God, between fanatics and true believers. Holiness, he says, lies in the mind, actions, and heart; everything else is a farce—a wise statement. Meanwhile, we witness the tension between Reynald de Chatillon and Tiberias, the king’s trusted adviser. Reynald’s brigands attack Muslim caravans, undermining the fragile peace that Baldwin had established with Saladin. Tiberias warns that Saladin’s army in Damascus could annihilate the crusaders and their castles, seize Jerusalem, and drench the Holy Land in blood, spurred on by fanatics from Europe who see Muslims as nothing more than barbarians.
Kingdom of Heaven - Reynald de Chatillon: fanatic, racist and reckless person.
Balian is summoned to an audience with King Baldwin. The king’s unusual appearance, with a silver mask covering his face, immediately catches the eye. Tragically, Baldwin suffers from leprosy, which is rapidly taking his life. In a meaningful conversation, the king reminds Balian that one is responsible for their own soul and actions, even when following the orders of a king. After discussing Jerusalem’s defenses, Baldwin sends Balian to his inherited castle to maintain peace between Christians and Muslims and to protect pilgrims.
Balian quickly earns the respect and love of his people by addressing their needs, like finding water. During this time, he is visited by Sibylla, and a romantic relationship blossoms between them.
The Siege of Kerak and the King's Justice
Meanwhile, Renaud and his comrade Guy, Sibylla's husband, continued their reckless raids on Muslim caravans. Driven by arrogance, they seemed utterly convinced of their impunity. However, one must question the wisdom of provoking the lion in its cage. Even Saladin's vast authority couldn't eternally hold back his people's thirst for blood vengeance against such provocations. News of these actions quickly reached King Baldwin, who ordered a formal trial to address Renaud and the Templars' offenses. Guy attempted to manipulate the court, accusing Baldwin's supporters of being disloyal to Christ and too closely aligned with the Arabs. Fanatical voices called for war yet again, but King Baldwin silenced them, declaring that he would personally lead the army to prevent further bloodshed.
Kingdom of Heaven -Knight Tiberias, one of most loyal and honorable people in Jerusalem.
As expected, the Saracens sought justice. Saladin's forces advanced upon Kerak, Renaud's fortress. Strangely, Renaud appeared untroubled by the looming siege. Meanwhile, the noble Balian chose to stay behind in the fortress to cover the evacuation of civilians, despite the evident danger. His valor was nothing short of suicidal. A small force led by the baron was swiftly overwhelmed, and Balian, along with a few of his men, was captured.
Fate, however, had other plans. Among Saladin's men, Balian encountered a familiar face—the very man he had once spared and helped reach the Holy City. Grateful, the man revealed his noble status, stating that he was never anyone's servant but a lord himself. The Crusader army, led by Baldwin, arrived just in time to intercept Saladin's forces. Baldwin, the only man to have ever defeated Saladin in battle years ago, now stood as their best hope, despite his frail condition. The two great leaders met, their dialogue steeped in mutual respect and political pragmatism. Saladin demanded only Renaud's life, but Baldwin, determined to prevent unnecessary slaughter, negotiated a truce. This decision, however, did not come easily. Both leaders faced internal opposition from their respective camps, where powerful factions clamored for war rather than peace. Nevertheless, Saladin agreed to Baldwin's terms, sparing countless lives.
Kingdom of Heaven - Saladin meet with King Baldwin near Kerak.
With the truce secured, Baldwin turned his attention to Renaud, who was held accountable for his provocations. His punishment was severe—not only was he publicly humiliated, but he was also forced to kiss the leprous hand of the king. This act symbolized both Baldwin's authority and Renaud's degradation. Yet, there was little doubt that Renaud’s days were numbered; his fate seemed sealed, either by disease or execution.
Not all was peaceful in Saladin's camp, either. Local aristocrats were dissatisfied with their leader's decision to retreat, viewing it as a missed opportunity to crush the Crusaders. Saladin was reminded of his vow to reclaim the Holy City, Jerusalem. The Arabs anticipated that the Christians would restart the war as soon as Baldwin succumbed to his illness, and they prepared for the inevitable.
The end of peaceful life
King Baldwin, now gravely ill, began making preparations for his nephew's coronation. However, the royal succession was fraught with tension. Many sought the throne, and some were willing to kill for it.
Guy confronted Sibylla about her romantic indiscretions and made it clear that without his support and knights, her son would not rule long or happily. Baldwin, aware of the fragile state of his kingdom, proposed a controversial deal: if Balian married the king's sister, Sibylla, Guy would be executed. While the arrangement seemed logical, even just, Balian's honor prevented him from agreeing to such a scheme—a choice that may have doomed Jerusalem to chaos. In prison, Renaud offered Guy advice: eliminate Balian, his political rival, to consolidate power.
Kingdom of Heaven - Guy de Lusignan, future king and very controversial person.
As Baldwin lay dying, he bid farewell to his beloved sister. His illness claimed him, and with his death, Guy's influence surged. Sibylla’s son ascended to the throne, but during a peace treaty signing with Saladin, hot wax dripped onto the boy's hand—yet he felt nothing. This was an alarming sign, as it mirrored the early symptoms of Baldwin’s leprosy. Fearing the implications, Sibylla took matters into her own hands and ended her son's life to spare him from a cursed fate.
Kingdom of Heaven - King of Jerusalem Baldwin - the only one who managed to defeat Saladin on battlefield.
The Templars, ever opportunistic, wasted no time orchestrating an assassination attempt on Balian. Miraculously, he survived. Guy, in turn, freed Renaud, hoping to spark a war. Despite the chaos, Sibylla crowned her husband as king. Meanwhile, Renaud unleashed a wave of massacres across the land, including the brutal capture of Saladin’s sister. Her tragic fate infuriated the Sultan, who demanded justice: the return of his sister's body, punishment for those responsible, and the Christian evacuation of Jerusalem.
Instead of diplomacy, Guy escalated the conflict by beheading Saladin's envoy and sending his head back as a message of defiance. Against all logic, Guy resolved to march his army into the desert to confront Saladin’s forces. Balian warned them of the dangers, particularly the lack of water, but his advice fell on deaf ears.
The Battle for Jerusalem
While Guy led his army to certain doom, Balian, Sibylla, and Tiberias fortified Jerusalem. Saladin’s forces, unsurprisingly, annihilated the Crusader army, capturing both Guy and Renaud. This marked the end of Renaud de Châtillon’s blood-soaked path. Tiberias, understanding the city's dire position, departed for Cyprus with his men. Balian, however, stayed, determined to defend Jerusalem to the last. Before the final battle, he delivered a rousing speech, reminding the defenders that they fought not for stones or relics, but for their lives and freedom.
Kingdom of Heaven - Final day of Jeurasilime sieged.
The siege began under a hellish rain of fiery projectiles that devastated Jerusalem’s defenses. Saladin’s forces made it clear there would be no mercy, parading the captured Guy before the city’s walls. Despite heavy losses, the defenders put up a fierce resistance. Balian’s innovative tactics, such as toppling siege towers onto each other, bought precious time.
Eventually, the walls were breached, and the streets ran red with blood. Yet, against all odds, the defenders held the line. Negotiations ensued, and Saladin offered merciful terms: surrender the city, and its people would be spared. Balian, recognizing the futility of further resistance, accepted the deal. Saladin’s enigmatic response to Jerusalem’s significance—"Nothing, and everything"—reflected his profound wisdom.
Kingdom of Heaven - The day of greatest Saladin's triumph.
As the Crusaders left the city, Balian once again encountered the Arab whose life he had spared. The man returned Balian’s horse, remarking that divine favor must be upon him to achieve all that he had.
The Journey Home
Balian and Sibylla returned to their native village in France. Passing armies of King Richard en route to reclaim Jerusalem asked for directions, which the simple blacksmith provided, as his father had once advised. Balian chose to remain behind, rebuilding his burnt home and embracing a new life with his wife.
Final Thoughts
Friends, revisiting this movie after so many years has reminded me just how brilliant it is. Kingdom of Heaven masterfully portrays the brutality, political intrigue, and human arrogance that have accompanied humanity for millennia. At its core, the story of the Crusades is both a tale of faith and a harsh critique of human folly. For the people of that era, the Crusades were a way to cleanse their souls, atone for sins, and spill blood in the name of Christ. Yet, as the film asks: how can the slaughter of hundreds of thousands ever be considered an act of piety?
Kingdom of Heaven - Saladin pays tribute to Christian religion and God.
The movie doesn’t shy away from exposing the hypocrisy of those times. Most participants hid behind noble intentions while succumbing to bloodlust and greed. But questioning such actions during that period was dangerous. The Church, wielding immense power, competed fiercely with royal authority. Any dissent could result in being labeled a heretic, leading to torture and death without trial. This oppressive backdrop sets the stage for Balian’s journey—a man who dares to ask profound questions: What is faith? Can the Church and God truly be seen as one and the same? And is a crusade a divine mission or a bloody campaign of plunder?
The answer, as the film suggests, leans heavily toward the latter. Europe was riddled with disease, poverty, and political strife. The Crusades served as a convenient distraction, shifting focus to external “enemies”—the Arabs. Guy de Lusignan’s observation rings painfully true: “In France, becoming a noble is nearly impossible. But here, without order or law, anyone can rise to power.” This “land of opportunity” appealed to many, yet their arrogance and underestimation of Saladin led to devastating consequences.
Saladin was no ordinary opponent. Chosen to reclaim the Holy City and unite his people, he was a leader of unmatched wisdom and strategy. The Crusaders’ overconfidence culminated in a catastrophic massacre, leaving their forces decimated and Jerusalem once again under Saladin’s control. For his followers, this victory was monumental, cementing his legacy as the one who would lead them to prosperity.
While the film may contain historical inaccuracies, it doesn’t claim to be a precise documentary. Instead, it’s an evocative historical adaptation that captures the spirit of the era. Ridley Scott delivers an atmospheric masterpiece filled with political machinations, morally complex decisions, and pivotal historical moments. The attention to detail is remarkable, immersing viewers in the gritty realities of medieval life.
Yes, the film has its flaws. Some scenes feel overly drawn out, and the pacing isn’t always perfect. But these minor issues don’t detract from the overall experience. The narrative remains compelling, constantly moving forward, with no significant lapses. In today’s cinematic landscape, a project like this would be almost unthinkable. Grand historical epics of this caliber are a rarity, making Kingdom of Heaven even more special.
I wholeheartedly recommend this film to anyone who appreciates a well-crafted historical drama. It’s not just about epic battles and knightly duels; it’s an invitation to grapple with complex moral questions. Can war ever truly be holy? And what do we sacrifice in the pursuit of power and glory? Watching this film isn’t just entertainment—it’s an opportunity for introspection.
That’s all from me for today. Enjoy the movie, and stay tuned!
To leave comments, please log in.
