Baldwin 4

Disease Leprosy affected the king's face and limbs. Some of his physical features: A disfigured face. The skin is dry, thin, and stretched, most of the nose has disappeared, and the lips and chin are distorted. Emaciation. The king looked like a living skeleton. I had to wrap my face in a translucent cloth. Wear gloves continuously to cover the sores. Before his illness worsened, King Baldwin IV was a handsome man. As a child, he closely resembled his father, evident in their shared gait and voice. However, over time, illness (leprosy) affected the appearance of Baldwin IV.

Baldwin was born in Jerusalem to King Amalric I of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and Queen Agnes de Courtenay. He grew up at his father's court. When he was only two years old, his parents' marriage was annulled due to close consanguinity. In 1170, the nine-year-old boy's upbringing was entrusted to William of Tyre, one of the most renowned historians of the 12th-century Crusades. He contracted leprosy early in life and suffered from the disease throughout his short life. One of the early symptoms of leprosy was loss of skin sensitivity. On July 11, 1174, Amalric I died, and on July 15 of that year, Baldwin was crowned as the new ruler of Jerusalem. Since he was only thirteen years old at the time, the kingdom was governed by regents for three years. Politics In 1174, the young king set out to war against the Arabs, attacking Damascus to prevent Saladin from gaining a foothold there. No sooner had the king left the city than the regent concluded a truce with Saladin. In 1176, the regency ended, and the king was officially declared of age. His first act was to refuse to confirm the treaty with Saladin and order a raid on the outskirts of Damascus, leading the attack personally. In 1177, Saladin marched against Jerusalem, capturing several cities on the southern border. A counterattack by limited but well-trained crusader forces at Montgisard resulted in victory over the Muslims. By 1179, success had abandoned the crusaders, and they concluded a temporary truce with the Saracens. Throughout all his campaigns, the king personally participated in combat: despite illness, he was knocked off his horse several times, but he remained steadfast and led his warriors into the attack.