The Leper King - Baldwin IV

The Leper King

A Warrior, a crusader, a champion, a leader, a leper, a one-armed king who was immensely loved by his people, and a young boy who had to ascend the throne at the age of 13, A king who deserved a better ending, a king who showed how to fight against your weaknesses, a king who showed to be courageous even when nothing goes in your favour. One of Jerusalem's most prominent and interesting kings in the 12th century, Baldwin IV – the Leper King. With knowledge about history, warfare tactics and wisdom about God, the courageous young warrior had to take charge of the kingdom of Jerusalem only 4 days after his father’s death. 

Source: From the movie “Kingdom of Heaven”. 

Baldwin IV was a king who had his reign in Jerusalem from 1174 till his death in 1185. The leper king was born in 1161 to his parents Amalric I and Agnes Courtenay. Amalric I born in 1136, ruled Jerusalem from 1163 until his death on 11th July 1174. Amalric I passed away due to dysentery during his campaign in Egypt. When he was alive he took good care of his son, Baldwin IV. Amalric sent Baldwin to William of Tyre, who himself is a historian, churchman, and chronicler. Under William’s training, Baldwin learnt crucial things about history, war, religion and God, during this process at the age of 9, William found out that Baldwin’s right arm and right hand didn’t have feeling or sense. Amalric being informed about it realized Baldwin is being affected by leprosy and wanted to keep it disclosed and secret as he feared what would happen to Baldwin if this news became public. On the contrary, people did know about Baldwin’s condition and despite all the stigmatization which was regarding leprosy at that time, his people fully supported him. People respected him for his courage and leadership which he displayed during his reign. The greatest battle he won was the Battle of Montgisard on 25th November 1177, where Baldwin IV and his army chased Saladin’s forces for about 12 miles outside Montgisard. One of the greatest things only Baldwin could do was, Baldwin used to ride the horse, hold the sword and battle, all with only one hand. He got used to it during his training.

But Baldwin understood that he wouldn't be able to become a father due to his disease. So to build a structured strong kingdom and continue the stability in future, he made his sister Sibylla marry William of Montferrat. William himself is from a well known powerful Italian family. But due to William facing critical illness in June 1177 couldn’t live long and he passed away when Sibylla was pregnant with a child who later on got named as Baldwin V, the successor of the Leper King.

Baldwin IV knowing his disease, didn’t give up but recaptured the city of Ascalon, which was previously under Saladin. This led to southern Palestine getting back under Christian control in 1177. Moreover the king always stood against Saladin, which made Saladin face 5 unsuccessful attempts to invade Jerusalem.

The Leper king knew his time was near as his disease kept worsening so to ensure the loyalty of his people and ensure the stability of the kingdom he got his sister Sibylla married to a French Poitevin knight named Guy de Lusignan as her 2nd marriage. The king made Guy de as a regent over the kingdom of Jerusalem, which later on made him realize it was a mistake. Guy de Lusignan was an ineffective and improper leader who was not responsible with his power and post. He did not consult any legal framework or officials including the king before taking decisions. This detrimental behavior by the regent made him to rebel against the rules and statute made by the king Baldwin IV. So the Leper king appointed his nephew Baldwin V to take up the throne and protect his kingdom. The Leper king wanted to come to a conclusion after finding solution regarding Guy de’s issue but before he could come up with anything he passed away in 1185, at a proper young age of 24. Baldwin V, successor of Baldwin IV The Leper king, ruled the kingdom for an year and passed away due to unknown causes. Baldwin V reigned till 1186 that is he lived for approximately 9 years. After which Guy de Lusignan ascended the throne. Due to his ineffective rule there was a battle with Saladin, eventually Saladin invaded the city of Jerusalem and won the Battle of Hattin in 1187, which ended the dominance of Christian military dominance in the Holy land.

This is how a tragic death of Baldwin IV led to an ineffective, unbalanced situation for the whole kingdom of Jerusalem. Baldwin IV was an courageous leader who was extremely loved by his people, he always kept the loyalty of his people, he was an effective ruler and a crusader. A part of his life was covered in a movie called “Kingdom of Heaven”, with some of very influential dialogues like “A king may move a man, a father may claim a son, but remember that even when those who move you be kings, or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God, you cannot say, But I was told by others to do thus. Or that, Virtue was not convenient at the time. This will not suffice. Remember that.” Baldwin IV is such an influential person in history who still managed to not just ascend the throne but to be a successful king even after having a deadly disease. He always knew his end was near, he knew he wouldn’t live long but he never gave up. He gave his 100% full effort in keeping his people happy and safe.

“When I was sixteen, I won a great victory. I felt in that moment I would live to be a hundred. Now I know I shall not see thirty. None of us know our end, really, or what hand will guide us there.” Source: from the movie “Kingdom of Heaven”.