John of Ibelin, the Old Lord of Beirut

John of Ibelin (c. 1179–1236), the Old Lord of Beirut, was the elder son of Balian of Ibelin and Queen Maria Komnene, and half-brother of Queen Isabella I. Constable of Jerusalem before 1198, he received Beirut around 1204 and rebuilt the city after Saladin's occupation, building the great Ibelin palace.

He was regent of Jerusalem for his niece Maria of Montferrat in 1205–1210 and of Cyprus for the young Henry I in 1228–1232, leading the barons against Emperor Frederick II's bids to seize Beirut. He resisted Frederick's ambitions in Cyprus and opposed imperial forces until Henry came of age.