Baldwin V of Jerusalem contested between Baldwin IV's sister and their younger half-sister Isabella. Their extended family and leading nobles were divided in support for the two heiresses. Raymond III of Tripoli, first cousin of their father Amalric I of Jerusalem, had been "bailli" or regent for Baldwin IV while the latter was a child, but once the king came of age in 1176 his power began to recede. He had a claim to the throne in his own right, but his childlessness hindered him advancing it. Instead, he acted as a power-broker, and aided the interests of the Ibelin family. Amalric's widow (Isabella's
Baldwin of Forde heir, Prince Richard, who had rebelled against his father. After Henry's death, Richard sought and obtained absolution for the sin of disobedience to his father from both Baldwin and Walter de Coutances, Archbishop of Rouen. Baldwin, along with Coutances, was with Richard on 20 July 1189 at Rouen when the king was invested with the Duchy of Normandy. Baldwin crowned Richard at Westminster Abbey on 13 September 1189 in the first English coronation for which a detailed description survives. After the death of Henry II, and the accession of Richard as king, the monks of Christ Church Priory petitioned Richard