17 Things Ridley Scott Got Very Wrong in Kingdom of Heaven
Ridley Scott's 2005 epic "Kingdom of Heaven" transports you to the time of the Crusades in the 12th century. While the movie provides a visually stunning spectacle, it doesn't always align with the historical facts.
Here are 17 ways historians agree the movie is inaccurate, or plain wrong.
17. Balian of Ibelin's Origins
In the film, Balian, played by Orlando Bloom, starts off as a humble blacksmith. Historically, he was actually born into nobility—a stark contrast from his cinematic portrayal.
16. Sibylla's Romance
The movie amps up a romantic subplot involving Sibylla of Jerusalem, played by Eva Green, which simplifies her significant political influence and complexities in the actual historical narrative.
15. Over-Simplified Political Dynamics
"Kingdom of Heaven" presents a straightforward conflict between Christians and Muslims, ignoring the intricate web of inter-Christian rivalries and Christian-Muslim alliances that shaped the era.
14. The Defense of Jerusalem
The film dramatizes the Defense of Jerusalem with exaggerated tactics and weaponry, straying far from the historically documented strategies and technologies used during the siege.
13. Saladin's Character
Saladin is portrayed as an almost exclusively noble and chivalrous leader. In reality, while respected, his military campaigns also involved ruthless tactics that the film chooses to overlook.
12. King Baldwin IV's Idealized Rule
The movie portrays King Baldwin IV with a sense of wisdom and majesty that glosses over the complexities and challenges of his actual reign over Jerusalem.
11. Guy of Lusignan as Pure Villain
Guy of Lusignan is depicted mainly as a warmongering antagonist. Historically, his character had more nuanced political and personal motivations than those shown in the film.
10. The Siege of Jerusalem
While the film captures the prolonged struggle during the Siege of Jerusalem, it simplifies and dramatizes siege tactics and the emotional intensity of the combat, moving away from historical accuracy.
9. The Battle of Hattin
The depiction of the Battle of Hattin emphasizes visual scale over historical accuracy, overlooking strategic nuances and the effects of the climate on the Crusaders.
8. Misrepresented Military Tactics
The film features military tactics and formations more characteristic of later historical periods, rather than the fragmented and chaotic nature of 12th-century medieval warfare.
7. Christianity and Islam Dichotomy
The film simplifies the complex relationship between Christianity and Islam, presenting a somewhat binary narrative that doesn't fully capture the era's religious and cultural nuances.
6. East Meets West
While the movie portrays interactions between Eastern and Western cultures, it often oversimplifies these complex historical relationships for the sake of a more straightforward narrative.
5. Faith and Piety Portrayals
Balian's journey from skeptic to devout defender is heavily dramatized, with the film taking significant liberties in depicting the personal faith and piety of historical figures.
4. Peace Treaty Negotiations
The film shows peace negotiations as overly simplified, focusing on dramatic exchanges and overlooking the political complexity and the multiple stakeholders involved in actual historical negotiations.
3. Coronation of Baldwin V
The coronation of Baldwin V is portrayed with cinematic flair but misses the dense web of intrigue and power struggles that surrounded the real historical event.
2. Inaccurate Armor and Weaponry
Knights in the film wear plate armor, which wasn't widespread until the 15th century. The weapons and armor featured are often more decorative and less historically accurate than what would have been used.
1. Misleading Architecture
The grand stone castles and majestic spires shown in "Kingdom of Heaven" are visually impressive but historically inaccurate. Many fortifications from the period would have been made from more practical materials like wood and earth.
While the film is a visual spectacle, it plays fast and loose with many details from the tumultuous period of the Crusades.