Baldwin IV Jerusalem

He was the last great light of the Latin East, fading in the shadow of betrayal, discord and death. With the passing of Baldwin IV, not only the king's star faded, but also the hope of a world built on the cross and the sword. A king whose body was eaten away by disease, but whose will was stronger than steel, and whose heart burned with the flame of faith and justice. - Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. Leprosy, a mark that would have broken anyone else, became his crown as a martyr and a warrior.

He knew that his time was short, but in every moment of his life he burned like a candle before an altar: dazzling and noble.

• Sit down, - a calm voice sounded, slightly muffled because of the mask. The king slowly walked to his table, on which a chessboard with royal chessmen was conveniently located.

You, the healer, did not contradict the king's request and in a few seconds found yourself near the table, and then followed His Majesty's example, sitting opposite him.

-Do you play chess? - asks Baldwin, putting the pieces in place.

-I play, Your Majesty, - You, the king's personal young healer, answered submissively and quietly. You understood what the question was about, and the king made it clear: he wanted to play. Not for anything, just a game.

And it began. They played in silence: Baldwin played skillfully, did not think long about the moves, because behind his wounded shoulders lies a long experience in playing chess. He always knew his "opponent's" move in advance, he always won even in such small games. You, on the contrary: played slowly, thought over each move carefully, frowned every time you took a chess piece and moved it to another place. The king watched you closely, your tactics, your attentiveness; you felt everything, but did not look back at him.

• Your Majesty, but I have to change your bandages now, we can't deviate from the regime, your body can get out of the habit of the usual treatment at the same time, - the healer quietly and carefully objected after another move on the chessboard, raising her green eyes to the king. - I know, - Baldwin said critically calmly, emphasizing your name, examining the chessboard, raising his bright blue eyes to you, like a clear ocean, only they were visible from his entire crippled face, which he hides year after year behind an iron mask made by royal craftsmen, - But nothing will happen if the treatment procedures begin 10 minutes later, - he spoke too calmly and too convincingly, therefore You obediently nodded your head, seeing the Emperor's new move.

• I was 16 when I defeated Saladin, - Baldwin spoke again after a short time, he wanted to share this with his doctor. With a person who sees his disgusting wounds on every part of his body every day, who does not shy away from him, like all the other doctors, servants, and even his own sisters. Who treats him with a serious face, and there was never pity in her gaze. Only the desire to help, - Then I thought that I would live forever. Now I know that I will not live to see thirty, - on the last word he made his move and smoothly raised his gaze to the innocent eyes of his healer, leaning forward slightly.

• We are not able to guess ahead. The king can demand obedience, the father - obedience, but remember: whoever the Sovereign, the Lord, is the only one responsible for your soul. When the Lord calls you, you will not be able to say that you blindly followed the order, without thinking about the consequences, about honor, about valor. Remember this, - he suddenly fell silent, and seemed to freeze, looking into her eyes. Yes, exactly like that. Very often, when the healer carried out her healing procedures, Baldwin would look into her eyes and an association with a precious stone would involuntarily pop up in his mind. He repeated this to himself several times, without realizing it.

The same thing now. You listened to your Sovereign, the one who literally trusts his entire body every day, trusts and gives it over for "therapeutic executions." You did not take your eyes off his, sometimes briefly examining his mask, his white robes, his hands in snow-white gloves, under which terrible, unimaginable wounds were hidden. In an instant, a strange smile began to appear on your face, expressing either embarrassment or slight malice, but in your eyes, as if little devils flashed.

The king's face showed bewilderment.

Baldwin IV the Leper (1161–1185) — King of Jerusalem from 1174, son of Amalric I and Agnes de Courtenay.

In 1177, Baldwin came of age and began to take an active part in state affairs, gradually pushing the regent from power. Deciding to follow in his father's footsteps, he planned an invasion of Egypt.

The confrontation with Saladin and the dynastic strife of recent years finally undermined the king's health, and on March 16, 1185, Baldwin died at the age of twenty-four.

He had a fairly happy childhood. One day, when he was playing with his friends and got into a fight, his teacher Godfrey, Baron of Ibelin, noticed that he did not react to the pain in his hand after a cut, and conducted additional research, unfortunately diagnosing the child with leprosy. However, this did not stop Baldwin, and he continued to do great things. In particular, he won a battle at the age of sixteen. At the same age, he went on vacation with his older sister Sibyalla, a memory he treasured for many years. Soon after, he was appointed King of Jerusalem. During his reign, leprosy progressed, and his face became disfigured and his limbs became covered in ulcers. He became very weak and began to wear a mask at all times to avoid disgusting his people. He reigned peacefully and for a long time, and even earned the respect of Saladin Yusuf ibn Ayyub, the ruler of the Middle East, who had concluded a very shaky peace treaty with Jerusalem. After Godfrey's death, Baldwin was sad but happy to meet his son Balian, with whom he quickly became friends, giving him lands that had belonged to his father and accepting him into his close circle of friends.

He tells Saladin that he will punish Raynald for what he has done, and asks that they both take their men home, not wishing for any unnecessary bloodshed. In turn, Saladin looks sadly at Baldwin, realizing that his condition is worsening and that he will soon die, and promises to send him his best doctors to help. Baldwin expressed his gratitude, and the two rulers returned home. As soon as he returned, he immediately went to Raynald, before the latter bowed to him and "kissed in peace" his wounded hand. Raynald complies and begins to kiss Baldwin's wrist, before the king begins to lash him with a whip in disgust. A weakened Baldwin passes out from the punishment, and several guards rush to his aid, returning him to his chambers as Tiberius sentences Raynald to death. With these matters taken care of, Baldwin realises that his time is short, and so asks Balian to meet him and Tiberius, asking the latter to marry his sister when he is gone, knowing that they were in love anyway and that this would make Balian king, unlike Sibylla's current husband Guy of Lusignan, who also shared Raynald's xenophobic views and thus could lead to the kingdom's downfall and a peace treaty. However, Balian refused out of "chivalrous honour", and Baldwin accepted, despite Tiberius' insistence that Balian change his mind.

Baldwin was an incredibly wise, calm, gentle, empathetic, and peace-loving man who always had the welfare of others in mind. He was known among his peers as a kind and compassionate man, but he was not above using force when necessary, such as when he punished Reynald for attacking a Muslim camp.

Despite suffering from leprosy, Baldwin did not seem to complain about the worsening of his condition, shortened lifespan, and disfigurement, best seen when he calmly asks his sister to simply remember him as he was before his death.

Baldwin was known for his brilliant mind, tactical ability, and strategic thinking, as well as his reputation in battle. He managed to win his first battle at the age of sixteen, and even after his condition worsened due to leprosy, he was still respected for it.

King Baldwin was fully dressed from head to toe in a variety of outfits depending on the situation, but he usually wore his royal attire, a snow-white robe with gold embroidery and a matching headdress. His hands and feet were completely bandaged, but he also wore white gloves to hide his sores, and perhaps his most distinctive feature was the silver masks he wore to hide his leprosy-disfigured face.

According to his sister, he was a handsome young man as a child, but leprosy left him severely disfigured, especially his face, where much of the skin was dried, wrinkled, and stretched, and his nose, lips, and chin were deformed. He apparently had blond hair, but this was never shown on screen because his entire body and head were completely covered. He also had blue eyes.

He had several masks, but the two most noticeable ones were pure silver, smooth, and one was covered in a paisley pattern. When he rode, he wore traditional armor under his regular clothes.