Queens of Jerusalem: The Women Who Dared to Rule

Most of what we know of Ancient Jerusalem comes from the Crusades, and the male rulers - those who were navigating through the tumultuous times.
However, there were queens that ruled, those who held power that was not seen in many other corners different kingdoms.
Katherine Pangonis has shared meticulous research, and bringing the stories of these women out of the shadows. The book begins with Melisande, touches on Empress Matilda (the Cousins War), and ends with Sibylla, a woman who managed to defend and hold Jerusalem against Saladin and the Saracen army.
I truly enjoyed reading through this book! As I stated, the research was well done, and these women are given their rightful place in history. While women are mostly relegated to the shadows, and the margins of books, the stories of these women are starting to be shared and told.

For history lovers, this is a book you need to read! Highly engaging, and there are some surprises hiding in the pages – but I am not going to spill those here!