Background
She was born sometime before 1177, the eldest daughter of Guy of Arsuf. Her mother"s name is unknown.
She was born sometime before 1177, the eldest daughter of Guy of Arsuf. Her mother"s name is unknown.
She had a brother, Jean, Lord of Arsuf who married Helvis de Brie. When Jean died childless, Melisende inherited the lordship of Arsuf. She had two younger sisters whose names are not recorded.
One married the Chamberlain of Antioch, and the other married Adam of Antioch, by whom she had a son, John, Marshal of Antioch.
Arsuf or Arsur, as it was known by the Crusaders, was a lordship in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Melisende"s uncle, Jean of Arsuf is recorded as having subscribed the charter, in 1177, under which King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem donated property to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Melisende died on an unknown date. Melisende had many descendants, some of which included Anne of Lusignan, King Charles VIII of France, Anne of France, and all of the Dukes of Savoy, beginning with Amadeus IX.
