Kingdom of Heaven

After losing his family and faith, Balian is living with a deep sense of grief when he discovers a truth that will change the course of his life. Godfrey of Ibelin, a battle-hardened knight returning from the Crusades, reveals that he is Balian’s father and takes him from France on an extraordinary journey to the Holy Land. Along the way, Godfrey teaches his son not only the art of combat, but also the honor, responsibility and compassion expected of a true knight. When Balian arrives in Jerusalem, he finds a fragile peace holding between Christians and Muslims during a tense period between the Crusades. King Baldwin IV is determined to preserve the truce and protect the people of the kingdom. After his father’s death, Balian inherits his sword and oath, dedicating himself to defending Jerusalem against those who would plunge the city back into war. His courage and skill with the sword quickly earn Balian a reputation, as well as the respect and admiration of Princess Sibylla, the king’s sister. But his growing influence also makes him enemies, particularly Guy de Lusignan, Sibylla’s husband and a powerful Templar leader, and Reynald de Châtillon, whose actions threaten the fragile balance in the region. With war drawing closer, Balian must choose what kind of knight he wants to become and what he is willing to sacrifice for Jerusalem. Taking up his father’s sword, he is drawn into an epic struggle that will place him at the center of one of history’s most dramatic conflicts.