[QUOTE=Hurin_Rules]Their making him an illegitimate son from what I hear; so he's not REALLY a peasant (with a patronym like Ibelin, you wouldn't be a peasant in the Middle Ages). [QUOTE]

Indeed. Balian d'Ibelin (died 1193) was one of the great lords of the Kingdom of Jerusalem (he was lord of Nablus). His contingent was the only one to escape from the battle of Hattin, after which he fled to Tyre. He was allowed by Saladin (who seems to have held him in high regard) to go back into the city of Jerusalem to get his wife and son. However, patriarch Heraclius and the people of Jerusalem persuaded him to stay and lead the defenders against the besieging muslem army.

Doesn't look like a peasant to me...