Historian Steven Tibble believes that the king wished to deny an outlet to the sea to the powerful Principality of Galilee.
The lords owed 10 knights to the royal army and enjoyed privileges of barons such as the right to dispense justice and use a seal.
[4] Yet, like the lordships of Blanchegarde and Scandaleon, Haifa held the status of only a rear-fief to the royal domain at Acre.
[5] The lords of Haifa ranked relatively high among the Franks, but had a limited role in the affairs of state and were content to administer their own lordship.
They were supporters of Emperor Frederick II in his struggles against the other nobles after the Sixth Crusade, and one scion, Reynald of Haifa, was appointed to govern Jerusalem.
[6] Although Pagan exchanged these for a money fief in 1168,[7] the lords of Haifa retained significant lands in the Principality of Galilee up to the later half of the 13th century.
[4] In 1129 Emperor Frederick attempted to revoke several fiefs in Acre, including that of the lord of Haifa, Rohard, but they successfully appealed to the High Court.