Kingdom of Heaven / Characters

Character page for Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven.

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Balian and Allies

Balian

Baron Balian d'Ibelin

Played By: Orlando Bloom

Dubbed By: Anatole de Bodinat (European French)

A French blacksmith who is called to go on Crusade by his natural father.

The Ace: Balian is a good blacksmith, a fierce warrior, an engineer who sees solutions to many structural problems, a highly intelligent strategist and tactician and a highly respected leader. It doesn't hurt that he's exceptionally handsome either.
The Atoner: Murders the town priest and joins Godfrey on his journey to Jerusalem to absolve both his and his wife's sins.
The Blacksmith: His occupation.
Bring It: When Balian is attacked by three knights attempting to assassinate him.
"Is this why you came to the Holy Land!? Come on!"
Cain and Abel: He's the Abel to his Sinister Minister half-brother, who tries to take his land.
Crisis of Faith: Understandably goes under one the course of the movie since he feels abandoned by God after his family's death and feels this way while undertaking the crusade.
Despair Event Horizon: Is hit pretty hard with this following the death of his wife and his child and he tries to get out of this by embarking on the crusade.
Earn Your Happy Ending: After braving the Levant and surviving attacks from treacherous Templars and Saladin's army, Balian returns to his home in France with a new wife and a reaffirmation of God and life.
The Engineer: Balian has served as a military engineer in battles prior to the start of the story. When he arrives in Ibelin, he almost immediately goes about rebuilding the land and installing wells to improve quality of life in the area. When Saladin's forces assault Jerusalem, his eye for structural integrity comes into play when he fortifies the more vulnerable areas of the city.
Flaming Sword: Uses a rudimentary one to kill the Village Priest for dishonoring his dead wife.
Heroic Bastard: Godfrey and Balian's mother were never married.
The Hero: The movie revolves around him and trying to live up to the ideals and duties thrust upon him.
Historical Hero Upgrade: The real-life Balian was actually more religiously zealous than the one in the movie, who believed Jerusalem belonged only to the Christians unlike the fictional one, who was devoted to protect everyone regardless of faith. But more importantly, Balian was known for breaking his promise and vows to his enemies where the one in the movie is incapable of doing it, not even to condemn his own arch-enemy Guy and eventually save Jerusalem.
Honor Before Reason: He could have stopped the violence that breaks out if he had not been so incorruptible. If he had married Sybilla he could have brokered peace with the Muslims and either imprisoned or killed Guy de Lusignan. He didn't even have to marry Sybilla. He could have perhaps challenged Guy to a duel and killed him.
Improvised Weapon: Kills an assassin with a piece of pottery.
Martial Pacifist: He's a skilled warrior yet never seeks out a fight unless he truly has to. As Jerusalem becomes more and more unstable, his chief concern is keeping the peace and protecting the people. His only kill that would count as murder was the town priest and that was only after being goaded and provoked unnecessarily following his wife's suicide.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Refuses to marry his Love Interest to defeat Guy de Lusignan and stop a war. When King Baldwin dies, things go downhill.
Outliving One's Offspring: He had a stillborn child, which led to his wife's suicide.
Pretty Boy: He's played by Orlando Bloom, making him this by default.
The Stoic: Shows very little emotion throughout the film.
Tall, Dark, and Handsome: It comes standard with being played by Orlando Bloom.

Godfrey

Baron Godfrey de Ibelin

Played By: Liam Neeson

Balian's long-lost father.

Adaptation Name Change: His historical counterpart was also named Balian too (he was known as Balian the Elder) and he was renamed in the movie presumably to preserve One-Steve Limit.
Cain and Abel: Like his son, Godfrey has a brother who seeks to take his lands for himself.
Composite Character: He shares some traits with William of Tyre, an Archbishop and chronicler who tutored Baldwin IV and discovered that he was a leper. According to Baldwin in the movie, it was Godfrey who first noticed he was a leper and not the royal physicians.
Groin Attack: Mentions that he fought with an arrow in his testicle.
Hero of Another Story: He surely had many adventures of his own judging by his companions, one of them includes a Moor and states he once fought with an arrow through his testicles.
I Banged Your Mom: Brought up in an exchange of insults between him and Guy de Lusignan after the latter disparages Balian.
Guy de Lusignan: Would I have fought you while you were still capable of making bastards.
Godfrey: I knew your mother while she was making hers. Fortunately, you're too old to be one of mine.
Mentor: To his son.
Mentor Occupational Hazard: Sustains mortal injuries while in France. Manages to make it to Sicily and knights Balian before dying of his wounds.
Pre-Mortem One-Liner: Before killing the Village Sheriff, he shouts "Thank my brother for his love!"
So Proud of You: In his final moments, he confesses that he regrets all his sins except one, as he looks toward his illegitimate son.

Knight Hospitaller

The Knight Hospitaller

Played By: David Thewlis

A member of The Knights Hospitallers and associate of Godfrey.

Angel Unaware: Implied. He has a knack for disappearing into thin air, and at one point he appears out of nowhere to revive an apparently dying Balian with a touch. However, he seems to have a mortal body, as he is beheaded in battle.
Badass Preacher: An ordained priest, trained medic, and decent swordsman.
Black Knight: A member of the Order of Saint John and always seen in his black robes and chainmail.
Combat Medic: He's good with a sword and is well-versed in medicine to correctly diagnose Godfrey's wound.
Cultured Badass: Very worldly in medicine, history, religion, and mythology while still being able to contribute in battle.
Dark Is Not Evil: The Knight Hospitaller wears a black tabard with a white cross and is a good character, unlike the Knights Templar who wear white tabards with red crosses.
Historical Domain Character: While never named, it's possible that he was supposed to be, or at least was based on, Saint Nicasius of Sicily, a venerated martyr and member of the Knights Hospitaller who was beheaded in the aftermath of the Battle of Hattin.
Killed Offscreen: His head is seen in a pile of heads after the Battle of Hattin.
Mounted Combat: Rides a horse during the forest fight. He manages to duck to the side of the horse to appear almost invisible to enemy archers.
No Name Given: Only known by his membership in the Knights Hospitaller.
Stealth Hi/Bye: Has a habit of vanishing and popping up out of thin air.

Almaric

Played By: Velibor Topic

Balian's right-hand man at Ibelin.

Kill It with Fire: Kills several Muslims with a firebomb during the Siege of Jerusalem.
Number Two: To Balian.
You Are in Command Now: Balian tells Almaric that if he survives the siege of Jerusalem, he is to be the new Baron of Ibelin. (Presumably Balian had already decided he wasn't going to stay.)

English Sergeant

Played by: Kevin McKidd

The second-in-command of Godfrey's band of crusaders.

Dropped a Bridge on Him: The sergeant is established as a veteran warrior and friend of Balian's father, only to vanish and presumably drown in a shipwreck late in the first act.
Dual Wielding: Wields a falchion and warhammer in the forest ambush.
No Name Given: His real name is unknown.
Number Two: The sergeant is Godfrey's efficient and loyal second in command.
What the Hell, Hero?: Gives Balian a mild admonishment for his indifference to Guy de Lusignan, given the power the latter wields in Jerusalem.

Gravedigger

Played by: Martin Hancock

The philosophical gravedigger of Balian's village and the first character to appear onscreen. He later journeys to Jerusalem to participate in defending the Holy Land.

All for Nothing: As the siege grows more desperate, the gravedigger resignedly calls himself "a man who's traveled a long way to die for nothing."
Ascended Extra: Goes from being bossed around by the town priest to becoming a knight and loyally serving Balian.
The Atoner: Shows a conscience while doing the priest's dirty work and reveals to have a history of thievery, both being reasons enough to pilgrimage to the holy city.
Ear Ache: One of his ears is notched, apparently as punishment for theft.
Knighting: Balian knights him during the defense of Jerusalem.
Nice Guy: He's a friendly man, and like Balian, he goes to Jerusalem for soul-searching and altruistic reasons.
No Name Given: His real name is never mentioned.
Perma-Stubble: The gravedigger is an unshaven man but lacks a full beard.

Odo

Played by: Jouko Ahola

A German soldier serving under Godfrey.

Braids of Action: Odo has a long braid of hair on either side of his head and is one of Godfrey's most skilled and enthusiastic soldiers.
Made of Iron: Odo kills several opponents in battle after being shot through the neck with a crossbow bolt.
Only in It for the Money: Odo implies that he's joined the crusade for the money rather than the cause.
Odo: There's better game now: one God against another. The pay is proportionate.
Trial by Combat: Invokes this after hearing of the murder charge against Balian.
Odo: I say he's innocent of the charge. If you say he's guilty then we'll fight and God will decide the truth of it.

Firuz

A Muslim companion of Godfrey.

Played by: Eriq Ebouaney

In the Back: Thrice during the forest ambush; first from an arrow that he shrugs off, a sword slash across the back from the Sheriff, and a spear through the spine to finish him off.
Red Is Heroic: Firuz is a loyal and honorable man who wears a red shirt beneath his breastplate. Unfortunately, that red shirt is also an accurate indicator of his life expectancy.
Token Enemy Minority: Firuz is a Saracen, but is fighting alongside European crusaders.

Jerusalem

King Baldwin IV

King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem

Played By: Edward Norton

The King of Jerusalem at the beginning of the film.

Adaptational Ugliness: While he's not uglier per se, in the mentioned European Spanish dub Baldwin's vocal traits are clearly played up for creepiness: he is given a thicker mask filter, is much colder than the original, and acts ethereal and distant rather than kind and personable.
Beware the Nice Ones: King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem might be the most moral and righteous character of the story. Still, it didn't save Reynald from beatdown and imprisonment
Big Good: He is the one thing keeping war and bloodshed from spilling out of control.
Body Horror: Due to his leprosy, his hands and face are frightening to behold.
Deathly Unmasking: After barely managing to resolve a diplomatic incident between Saladin and Reynald de Chatillon, Baldwin's exertions end up worsening his illness, and he finally dies. While his body is lying in state, his grieving sister removes his mask in order to see his face one last time - naturally finding it horribly disfigured.
Dub Personality Change: The European Spanish dub makes him much more somber and existential. While the original chuckles upon pondering how unfair would it be going to the Hell, in the dub he instead dons a bitter, even snarky tone, implying he believes this to be a very real possibility he is still not very afraid of. In general, while Norton makes Baldwin sound brave and matter-of-factly in the face of his approaching death, the Spanish voice actor is instead eerie, as if his version of Baldwin was already dead.
The Faceless: Baldwin suffers from leprosy, and wears a mask to hide his appearance. Sibylla does remove his mask after his death and... it's not pretty.
Fisher King: As a fair-minded King of Jerusalem, he is the only thing keeping the Muslims and Christians from fighting each other. When he dies, Guy seizes power and proceeds to start a war with the Muslims.
The Good King: He's a capable administrator and strategist and a fair-minded man.
Handicapped Badass: You'd think that being slowly dying of leprosy would stop him from riding out with his army and staring down Saladin. Well, you'd be wrong.
Masking the Deformity: He wears wears a metal mask in to cover the damage inflicted on his face by leprosy.
Not Afraid of Hell: Laughs at Muslims' claims that he is condemned to an eternity in Hell, although it is likely because he, as a Christian, doesn't believe God will be really so unfair with him.
Teen Genius: Won a great victory against Saladin when he was in his teens.
Worthy Opponent: Saladin sees him as this, calling him a "great king".

Princess Sibylla

Princess Sibylla of Jerusalem

Played By: Eva Green

King Baldwin IV's sister, wife of Guy de Lusignan, and mother of King Baldwin V.

Arranged Marriage: With Guy.
Important Haircut: Cuts off most of her hair toward the end of the film.
Kill the Ones You Love: Poisons her son so he won't live with leprosy.
Offing the Offspring: what she did to her son.
Second Love: To Balian.

Tiberias

Count Tiberias, Marshal of Jerusalem

Played By: Jeremy Irons

Marshal of Jerusalem and Baldwin's right-hand man.

Good Scars, Evil Scars: He has a rather large one close to his left eye.
Heroic BSoD: Has one, leading him to leave Jerusalem before the final battle, after realizing the kingdom he fought so many years for is about to fall and there's nothing they can do to impede it.
Knight in Sour Armor: He's cynical but still strives to do his best in the Holy Land.
Reasonable Authority Figure: Since King Baldwin is in poor health, Tiberias is the highest in the chain of command and the main figure keeping the peace.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After the Battle of Hattin, Tiberias and his men leave Jerusalem, leaving Balian to lead the defense.
Secret Secret-Keeper: His expression and tone in one scene all but imply he's aware of Balian's affair with Sybilla, but he doesn't act on it.

Guy de Lusignan

Played By: Marton Csokas

Sibylla's husband, a greedy, ambitious man who seeks to become King of Jerusalem.

Authority Equals Asskicking: He's a top commander in Jerusalem and an effective fighter.
Ax-Crazy: He's positively gleeful while slaughtering caravans.
Beard of Evil: Guy's a vicious, greedy man with a full, dark beard.
Big Bad Ensemble: With Saladin. Balian has to defend against Saladin's army that wants to conquer Jerusalem, but Guy's goal of wanting to impose his vision of Christianity on the Holy Land causes just as much trouble.
Blood Knight: He is always eager to start a fight and is clearly in the throes of ecstasy as blood splashes on his face when he is massacring innocents. Deconstructed when the very first thing he gets when becoming king is to declare war on the Muslims; because of his poor planning, his army is slaughtered in the Battle of Hattin.
Egocentrically Religious: Seeks to impose HIS view of Christianity on the Holy Land and treats any Christian who disagrees with him with scorn.
Even Evil Has Standards: He is visibly unimpressed with Reynald when he begins pouring water on his face to cool himself down during a long, forced march when he is on horseback and many of their own guys who are marching on foot are dying of thirst.
General Failure: Most of the conflict in the film comes from Guy's ambition, battle-lust, and recklessness turning a delicate situation into a disastrous one. His strategy basically amounts to "take our whole army into battle against the hated Saracens and it should work itself out from there because GOD WILLS IT."
Historical Villain Upgrade: Though he probably had the same views of Muslims as the Christians of that time, Guy was a weak, indecisive king who wanted to avoid the war and in fact hated Reynald - not even historical Muslim accounts describe him as the War Hawk we see in the movie.
- The movie suggests Guy's Fee Fi Faux Pas in the face of Saladin (giving the offered cup of water to Reynald) was deliberate. In Real Life, he didn't know about this custom.
Inadequate Inheritor: Saladin calls him out for being this to Baldwin IV.
Saladin: (to a captive Guy) Were you not close enough to a great king to learn from his example?
"It" Is Dehumanizing: Never calls Balian by name, referring to him as "this" because Balian was born out of wedlock and Balian's father Godfrey was an opponent of Guy.
Jerkass: On quite a few levels. He's unpleasant to be around on an everyday basis, only married Sibylla as part of a power grab, and seeks to annihilate all Muslims. For example, he refuses to eat at the same table as Balian because the latter is a bastard.
Knight Templar: He is a ranking member of the order.
Light Is Not Good: He wears white Templar robes and is a terrible person.
Shameful Strip: He's paraded naked in front of Jerusalem. He still has enough pride to come back to try and kill Balian after the Final Battle... in the extended edition that is.
Shoot the Messenger: When an emissary comes to Jerusalem to demand the return of Saladin's murdered sister, Guy proceeds to stab him in the throat and decapitate him.
Stupid Evil: Opts to march his army out into the desert away from water to fight Muslims... with predictable results.
Too Dumb to Live: Marches his whole army out of a perfectly defensible position into a scorching, sun-parched desert with many of his men in full plate mail, all so his exhausted army that is dying of thirst can engage the larger, more logistically sound Saracen forces at the end of it. Predictably, his army is massacred.
Villainous Valour: After being captured by Saladin, humiliated by Balian's courageous defense of Jerusalem and subsequently released, Guy challenges Balian to a duel to at least regain some shred of dignity and satisfaction. After Balian disarms him, Guy lowers his head in defeat and awaits death, only for Balian to spare his life instead.
What Happened to the Mouse?: In the theatrical cut, he disappears after being paraded in front of Jerusalem.

Reynald de Châtillon

Played By: Brendan Gleeson

Dubbed By: Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu (European French)

A Knight Templar and Guy's main supporter.

Beard of Evil: A longer one than his boss, with red streaks that resemble bloodstains.
Blood Knight: When Guy warns him that a caravan is armed, Reynald replies "Good. No sport otherwise."
Captain Oblivious: When Saladin comes to attack Kerak in retribution for attacking said caravan, Reynald is pleasantly surprised by the civilians including the Princess Sibylla fleeing to the safety of his castle, and is just happy to have some visitors; he either doesn't notice or doesn't particularly care that the Saracens are coming for his head. Moments later, he's vaguely interested in Balian's Suicide Mission to hold off the Saracen army with a handful of knights, but it seems to be only because it's what everyone else's attention is on.
The Dragon: To Guy de Lusignan.
The Enemy Weapons Are Better: Possibly as an act of mockery, he wears a Saracen helmet into battle.
Evil Feels Good: Reynald clearly loves being a raping, pillaging, murdering bastard, even while he thinks that's what his world needs of him.
Evil Redhead: Reynald is the only red-haired character in the film and thoroughly despicable.
Face Death with Dignity: He reveals he knows Saladin isn't going to spare him, and his only reaction is putting up a resigned kind of face before being beheaded.
Fat Bastard: Reynald's an evil man and the only character close to overweight.
Hate Sink: The only crusader character with no redeeming attributes whatsoever, and it is made clear that even many on his own side loathe him on a personal level.
Historical Villain Downgrade: While the movie keeps his characterization as a reckless warlord consistent, it shies away from showing his other atrocities like flaying the Patriarch of Antioch and his naval raids which were akin to piracy (although they are referenced by Tiberias). The film also makes Reynald Guy's henchman, so that most of the actual decisions are ultimately on Guy; in reality, it was Reynald making many of these decisions and then arm-twisting Guy to go along with them and ignore more sensible advice.
I Am What I Am: Says it word for word, followed by "someone has to be", implying that he considers himself Necessarily Evil. His next immediate act scene is to rape and killing Saladin's sister.
Jerkass Has a Point: Reynald knows a war with the Saracens will happen sooner or later, and he'd rather have it happen now. He's very wrong about the best strategies, though.
Light Is Not Good: Like his boss Guy de Lusignan, he wears white Templar robes with a red cross and is thoroughly despicable.
Not Afraid to Die: His stoicism in front of imminent death is laudable for all his evilness.
Pet the Dog: Subverted. Has surprisingly one when he sends a harbinger to ask Balian to take refuge in Kerak instead of fighting Saladin in open field, but given that Balian and company are precisely waiting outside to give time to the Kerak villagers to take refuge instead, this ironically only makes Reynald look more callous towards his own people.
Say My Name: While Locked in the Dungeon, he spends a lot of time shouting his own name, to the point that the jailer slams the door to his room shut out of annoyance.
Slashed Throat: What Saladin does to him, followed by Off with His Head!.
Too Dumb to Live: Goes on to disrespect Saladin, who at this point is aware that Reynald murdered his sister, while being held prisoner by him. The results are predictable.
Villain Respect: He says that Sibylla is a greater person than anyone for being willing to Mercy Kill her son.
Villainous Glutton: Wolfs down a chicken dinner while in prison and spent the Battle of Kerak watching the battle and eating.
Would Hit a Girl: He personally murders Saladin's sister. It's also implied he raped her.
Wouldn't Hurt a Child: In the director's cut, Reynald is impressed by Sibylla for mercy killing her own son who has leprosy. He comments that she has more backbone than he does for doing the deed.

The Patriarch of Jerusalem

Patriarch Heraclius of Jerusalem

Played By: Jon Finch

The Catholic Patriarch of the city of Jerusalem.

Dirty Coward: Like Guy de Lusignan, he too wanted all-out war with the Saracens and was one of Guy's first supporters for such when he was crowned king of Jerusalem. After the disastrous Battle of Hattin, the Patriarch shamelessly advised Balian to abandon the city and its people while chalking it all up to his God's will. Once Jerusalem's fall became truly imminent, his first suggestion was for the survivors to pretend converting to Islam to save themselves.
Dub Personality Change: In the original, he quickly advises Balian and Almaric to convert to Islam and repent later so they can escape. The European Spanish dub instead makes him muse bitterly that Saladin might force them to convert to Islam and repent from Christianity, implying he would never consider doing it voluntarily even to save his own skin.
The Fundamentalist: When Balian claimed that Jerusalem belongs to all peoples, the Patriarch angrily called Balian's words blasphemous and he is immediately silenced by Almaric.
Hate Sink: The Patriarch is designed to be self-centered, cowardly, bigoted so that the audience can revile him better. It's really telling when Baldwin refuses to receive last rites from him because of his corruption.
Hiding Behind Religion: Like the town priest of Balian's village, he used his faith to hide his less-than-admirable motives and traits.
Historical Villain Upgrade: While his real-counterpart Heraclius could had been somewhat corrupt, he was at least devoted in defending the city by stripping all the gold and silver he could find to pay the defenders (even from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre) and attempted to ransom several of the common people when the city finally fell. This was likely because:
1. Heraclius tried to save holy relics for religious reasons and Muslim accounts mistook him for a greedy man.
2. The Christian historian who recorded the siege was his political rival.
No Name Given: Despite his high rank within the city, his name is never uttered in the movie though he is supposedly inspired on Heraclius, the Latin Patriarch that served during the time of the siege.

Baldwin

Prince (later King) Baldwin V of Jerusalem

Played By: Unknown

Sibylla's son and King Baldwin IV's heir.

Adapted Out: He is completely absent from the theatrical cut.
Children Are Innocent: He is an earnest and mild-tempered boy who is eager to learn.
A Child Shall Lead Them: Becomes King of Jerusalem after his uncle dies.
Delicate and Sickly: He also suffers from leprosy, like his uncle.
Feel No Pain: The first indication of his condition is when he burns his hand on a candle and doesn't react.
Mercy Kill: Sibylla poisons him so he won't live with leprosy.

Saracens

Saladin

Played By: Ghassan Massoud

The leader of the Saracens.

Anti-Villain: Even though he's on the opposing side as Balian, he’s a man of honor and respect, unlike Guy de Lusignan.
(when told that previous Christian victors had slaughtered the Muslim inhabitants of Jerusalem) I am NOT those men. I am Salahudin. Salahudin. ("Righteousness of the Faith")
A Father to His Men: During the siege of Jerusalem, he personally gave last rites to the fallen soldiers who had died during the day, and then openly wept for the loss of so many.
Big Bad Ensemble: He's the biggest outside threat.
Bling of War: Wears a golden nasal helmet.
The Chessmaster: Every attempt by Muslim armies for the past 90 years to recapture Jerusalem has failed, because they rushed to attack. Saladin's patient strategy was to slowly build up his armies for years, and their logistic support, and avoid wasting soldiers on direct conflicts with the Christians, waiting for the day when he was absolutely sure that all of his pieces were in the right place. He withdrew from the siege of Kerak, even though he had somewhat larger numbers, citing that he didn't want to fight with the enemy on two fronts, plus he had to worry about their water supply and absence of disease among the troops. Contrast this with Guy de Lusignan, whose "plan" was to march his entire army headlong across a scorching desert, with no thought to logistics whatsoever.
Historical Hero Upgrade: According to his own biographer, Saladin did watch in joy as Christian prisoners were being beheaded, and when Balian negotiated the surrender of the city, those who couldn't pay the ransom and weren't fortunate enough for Saladin to pay on their behalf (he also paid for the elderly among them unable to pay, though) were taken as slaves. The movie omits these details completely and has him allow everyone evacuate freely.
Hypocrite:
- A small example, but he reassures Guy he will not harm him as 'a king does not kill a king.' Stripping him naked and humiliating him to demoralize Jerusalem's remaining defenders is apparently fair game, though. (To be frank, though, you probably won't end up feeling particularly sorry for Guy).
- Another minor example is that when he learns that Balian leading the defense is the same one who Imad spared, telling him he should have killed Balian instead. Imad responds that he should have had a different teacher, then. And Saladin accepts it.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Saladin's more restless lords are frustrated that he will not immediately attack the Christians, and starting to question his rule. His general assures him that they don't need to provoke Jerusalem to attack, as it's only a matter of time before their leper-king dies, after which the hawkish Christian lords Baldwin IV was restraining will rush to attack the Muslims, giving Saladin the war he needs. After Baldwin dies, Reynald promptly massacres a caravan of unarmed Muslim pilgrims, in which he personally rapes and murders Saladin's own sister. Saladin's unstated sense of guilt over this probably fuels how he reacts to Reynald when he is captured.
Pay Evil unto Evil: Personally executes Reynald for raping and murdering his sister.
Reasonable Authority Figure: Much like the The Chessmaster and Worthy Opponent entries suggest, Saladin is one of the smarter and wiser figures fighting over the Holy City. When Balian threatens to burn all of Jerusalem - Christian holy sites as well as Muslim ones, "Everything that drives men mad" - to the ground during their final parley, Saladin openly muses "I wonder if it would not be better if you did."
Sacred Hospitality: After defeating Guy at the Battle of Hattin, Saladin gives him a cup of ice water as a gesture that he will not be killed. However, this does not extend to Reynald when Guy passes the cup to him.
"I did not give the cup to you"
Surrounded by Idiots: He definitely seems to believe there are not many competent Muslims to hold his job, as when the Mullah says Saladin might get dethroned for his unwarlike attitude, Saladin fires back that in case that happens, he will fear for Islam.
Tranquil Fury: Calmly points out that Reynald is being impolite, right before slashing his throat open.
What the Hell, Hero?: Heavily implied that despite his chivalry, he let prisoners from military order including the Hospitaller after the Battle of Hattin to be executed to sate his men's bloodlust, just like in real life. In the script he directly orders the execution just like in real life, stating that they are fanatics and no peace could be made with them. To Muslims back then men of military orders were considered ideological and strategical threats equivalent to Nazi SS or Soviet commissars.
Worthy Opponent: Considers King Baldwin IV a great king and chastises Guy de Lusignan for not following his example.
"A King does not kill a King. Were you not close to a great King to learn by his example?"
- By the end he views Balian the same way he did with Baldwin.

Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani

Played By: Alexander Siddig

A general in Saladin's army who develops a friendship with and respect for Balian.

Badass Boast: You may go into Kerak, but you will die there. [indicates Saladin's approaching army] My master is here.
The Dragon: To Saladin.
I Owe You My Life: Balian spares his life when they encounter each other in the desert. Imad repays the favour when Balian is his prisoner.
Mistaken for Servant: He uses this trope to his advantage when Balian first meets him, pretending to be the servant of a Saracen knight travelling with him.
Odd Friendship: His relationship with Balian is this, mixed with Worthy Opponent.
Oh, Crap!: His reaction when he sees Jerusalem's army approaching to defend Kerak.
Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani: Tell my lord Saladin that Jerusalem has come.
Reasonable Authority Figure: Compared to some in Saladin's inner circle.
What the Hell, Hero?: Invoked in one discussion with Saladin during the siege of Jerusalem; when Saladin learns Imad spared Balian, now commanding Jerusalem's defences, at Kerak, Saladin muses that perhaps he should have killed Balian. Imad seems to imply that Saladin taught him to be merciful and questions if his mentor has forgotten his old teachings.
Saladin: The one you let live? Perhaps you should not have.
Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani: Perhaps I should have had a different teacher.
Worthy Opponent: He considers Balian this.
Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani: Your quality will be known among your enemies before ever you meet them, my friend.
You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Tells Balian this just before he leaves Jerusalem.
Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani: [to Balian] If God does not love you, how could you have done all the things you have done?

The Mullah

Played By: Khaled Nabawy

One of Saladin's lieutenants.

Evil Gloating: Offers his sword and smiles when Saladin executes Reynald.
Foil: As described above and below, he is a Saracen counterpart to Raynald and Guy; and as fanatical as both of them. That said, the one thing they lack that he seems to possess is respect for his more noble and moderate leader. The Mullah respects and listens to Saladin; thus Christian civilians are spared. Raynald and Guy were more than overjoyed when King Baldwin died and they could have war.
The Fundamentalist: He is essentially to the Muslims what Guy and Reynald are to the Christians.
Hollywood Tactics: Chastises Saladin for withdrawing from Kerak, saying the results of battles are entirely pre-determined by God. Good thing he's not the one in charge, as Saladin notes.
Implied Death Threat: Gives one to Saladin when he says that he won't be king for long if he doesn't return Jerusalem to their control, which is enough to anger him.
Karma Houdini: Easily the most bigoted and unsympathetic character on the Saracen side who expresses delight in murdering Christian civilians. He lives till the end and enters the conquered Jerusalem with Saladin.
No Name Given: His name is never uttered and he is only credited and identified by his role.
Token Evil Teammate: On the Saracen side, he is the most unsympathetic character who is eager for bloodshed.

Other Characters

The Town Priest

Played By: Michael Sheen

The town priest of Balian's village.

Cain and Abel: He is the Cain to Balian's Abel, though he is the one to get killed.
Consummate Liar: Everybody in authority believes his lies because he is a man of the cloth and therefore must not be dishonest and self-serving, which is exactly what he is. Balian sees through the priest's bullshit instantly but usually lets it pass.
Disc-One Final Boss: The priest prepares Balian to deal with the many people in authority in the medieval world he lives in who are dishonest, corrupt and self-serving to the core.
Inferiority Superiority Complex: He fancies that he is more holy and pious than Balian, despite the fact that Balian is quiet, passive and humble and truly believes himself to be unworthy of God's love for his wife's suicide. This irks the priest no end because Balian's humility before God is genuine, while the priest's piety is utterly false and self-serving.
Kick the Dog: Orders the grave diggers to behead the corpse of Balian's wife because she comitted suicide and takes her only possession - her crucifix - for himself. The Director's Cut also shows him trying to provoke and mock Balian while he is grieving for her and his unborn child.
Man on Fire: Balian throws him into his forge after stabbing him with his sword.
Morton's Fork: The priest assumes Balian must consider himself sinless because of his own humility, which he points out is a sin in and of itself.
No Name Given: His name is never uttered nor does it appear in the credits.
Oh, Crap!: His reaction when Balian sees his wife's cross around the priest's neck, realises how he got it and the priest can see Balian's Tranquil Fury about to explode into an Unstoppable Rage.
The Resenter: The Director's cut makes it more clear that he resents Balian for having the skills of a blacksmith, soldier, architect and siege engineer. He also resents the fact that the head of the local clergy who is the priest's own superior - favors Balian because of his usefulness. The priest even resents Balian for his humility and piety, and tries to convince him that these qualities somehow make him a filthy sinner anyway. Balian even recognises that the priest only wants him to go on the crusade so that the he can take over Balian's land and property.
Sinister Minister: More of a massive prick, but yeah.

Village Sheriff

The Village Sheriff

Played By: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

The sheriff of Balian's village and his cousin.

Avenging the Villain: Justifies his attack on Balian and Godfrey by claiming he's under order to arrest Balian for the murder of the town priest.
Evil Nephew: He's in on his father's plot to have Godfrey and Balian killed to have their lands in the Middle East.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Attempts to flee when most of his men are killed. It doesn't go well.
Your Head A-Splode: Godfrey slams his sword on top of his head, smashing it like a pumpkin.

Characters / Kingdom of Heaven

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