Philip of Novara's account of the war between Frederick II of Hohenstaufen and the Ibelins

Philip of Novara, a writer of Frankish Outremer, is notable primarily for the variety of his works, in which he gives ample evidence of a close acquaintance with a large body of medieval French literature. His aesthetic concerns stand him in good stead when he comes to construct his history of the wars between Frederick II of Hohenstaufen and the supporters of John of Ibelin, for the narrative he produces is remarkably coherent and well-organized. However, such is his interest in imaginative literature in particular that on occasion he chooses to neglect his responsibilities as a historian. In his account Philip includes a number of poems, and it would seem that the real circumstances of their composition have been obscured in order to justify their presence in what is supposed to be a record of authentic, experienced events. Similarly, in certain of the speeches Philip attributes to John of Ibelin, historical truth is sacrificed even more readily than is usual in favour of purely literary considerations.