Editing Raynald of Châtillon (section)

=== First years ===

After his return from Constantinople early in 1177, Raynald married [[Stephanie of Milly, Lady of Oultrejordain|Stephanie of Milly]], the lady of [[Oultrejordain]], and Baldwin{{nbsp}}IV also granted him [[Hebron]].{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=117}} The first extant charter styling Raynald as "Lord of Hebron and Montréal" was issued in November 1177.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=100 (note 22)}} He owed service of 60 knights to the Crown, showing that he had become one of the wealthiest barons of the realm.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=117}}{{sfn|Baldwin|1969|p=593 (note 2)}} From his castles at [[Kerak Castle|Kerak]] and [[Montreal (Crusader castle)|Montréal]], he controlled the routes between the two main parts of Saladin's empire, Syria and Egypt.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=268}} Raynald and Baldwin{{nbsp}}IV's brother-in-law, [[William of Montferrat, Count of Jaffa and Ascalon|William of Montferrat]], jointly granted large estates to [[Rodrigo Álvarez]], the founder of the [[Order of Mountjoy]], to strengthen the defence of the southern and eastern frontier of the kingdom.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=117}} After William of Montferrat died in June 1177, the king made Raynald regent of the kingdom.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=118}}

[[File:Seal Reynald of Chatillon 2.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A seal depicting a bird of prey and a fortress |Raynald's seal]]

Baldwin IV's cousin Count [[Philip I of Flanders]] came to the Holy Land at the head of a crusader army in early August 1177.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=268}} The king offered him the regency, but Philip refused the offer, saying that he did not want to stay in the kingdom.{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=268–269}} Philip declared that he was "willing to take orders" from anybody, but he protested when Baldwin confirmed Raynald's position as "regent of the kingdom and of the armies" as he thought that a military commander without special powers should lead the army.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=123}} Philip left the kingdom a month after his arrival.{{sfn|Hamilton|2000|p=133}}

Saladin invaded the region of [[Ascalon]], but the royal army launched an attack on him in the [[Battle of Montgisard]] on 25{{nbsp}}November, leading to his defeat.{{sfn|Barber|2012|pp=270–271}} William of Tyre and [[Ernoul]] attributed the victory to the king, but [[Baha ad-Din ibn Shaddad]] and other Muslim authors recorded that Raynald was the supreme commander.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=100 (note 24)}} Saladin himself referred to the battle as a "major defeat which God mended with the famous battle of Hattin",<ref>''The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin'', p. 54.</ref> according to Baha ad-Din.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=101 (note 25)}}

Raynald signed a majority of royal charters between 1177 and 1180, with his name always first among signatories, showing that he was the king's most influential official during this period.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=101 (note 26)}} Raynald became one of the principal supporters of [[Guy of Lusignan]], who married the king's elder sister, [[Sibylla, Queen of Jerusalem|Sybilla]], in early 1180, although many barons of the realm had opposed the marriage.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=275}}{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=101}} The king's half sister, [[Isabella I of Jerusalem|Isabella]] (whose stepfather, [[Balian of Ibelin]], was Guy of Lusignan's opponent), was engaged to Raynald's stepson, [[Humphrey IV of Toron]], in autumn 1180.{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=275}}

Baldwin{{nbsp}}IV dispatched Raynald, along with [[Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem|Heraclius]], the [[Latin patriarch of Jerusalem]], to mediate a reconciliation between Bohemond III of Antioch and Patriarch Aimery in early 1181.{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=101 (note 27)}}{{sfn|Barber|2012|p=277}} The same year, [[Ruben III, Prince of Armenia|Roupen III, Lord of Cilician Armenia]], married Raynald's stepdaughter, [[Isabella of Toron]].{{sfn|Hamilton|1978|p=101 (note 29)}}