Humphrey II of Toron

Who was Humphrey II of Toron?

Humphrey II of Toron 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. 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. 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. Humphrey had been married before, to an unknown woman, and his marriage with Philippa produced no children.