Who was the Leper King?

One of the most fascinating kings in medieval history is undoubtedly King Baldwin IV, dubbed the Leper King. I was fortunate enough to make Baldwin a central theme of my PhD thesis, and he has left a lasting impression on me. I have since written several academic articles, as well as articles for general readership on this fascinating medieval monarch. This post aims to give a brief biography of King Baldwin IV and give some indication of who he was.

Birth and Early Years

Baldwin was a direct descendant of King Baldwin II, his great-grandfather, who was a participant in the First Crusade. The dynasty had survived for almost six turbulent decades when Baldwin was born in 1161 in Jerusalem, the only son born to King Amalric and his wife, Agnes of Courtney. Baldwin spent little time with his mother, for when his father became king in 1163, one of the conditions of his coronation was to divorce Agnes. He would not see her again until he became king.

Baldwin was raised at the royal palace and received a first-class education under the tutelage of William, archbishop of Tyre. The Prince was educated in the liberal arts, reading and writing in preparation for his eventual role as king. William was appointed the task of compiling a dynastic history of the kingdom and undoubtedly read history, in particular, the history of his predecessors, to his young pupil.

The Discovery of Leprosy

It was under William’s care that it was discovered that the Prince was a leper. One day in the palace, Baldwin:

“was playing one day with his companions of noble rank, when they began, as playful boys often do, to pinch each other’s arms and hands with their nails. The other boys gave evidence of pain by their outcries, but Baldwin, although his comrades did not spare him, endured it altogether too patiently, as if he felt nothing. After this had occurred several times, it was reported to me. At first, I supposed that it proceeded from his capacity for endurance and not from lack of sensitiveness. But when I called him and began to inquire what it meant, I discovered that his right arm and hand were partially numb, so that he did not feel pinching or even biting in the least.”

William tells us that Baldwin only began to show signs of the disease once he approached puberty. He also adds that Baldwin’s father, Amalric, was informed. This indicates that the discovery was made before Amalric’s death, which occurred in 1174 when Baldwin was 13 years old. This suggests that Baldwin suffered from lepromatous leprosy, the most severe form of the disease, which only manifests once the patient reaches puberty.

A full diagnosis was not made until after Baldwin became king in 1174. The delay in diagnosing Baldwin was probably motivated by the fear of misdiagnosing the prince and then king with an illness that would have significant ramifications for the dynasty and the kingdom at large. Yet despite reservations regarding the nature of the illness, Baldwin’s coronation was celebrated, and there is no evidence that it was contested.

The Accession of the Leper King

Baldwin ascended to the throne at the age of 13. As a minor, a regent was appointed to rule alongside him. That role fell to Raymond III of Tripoli, the king’s paternal cousin.

Yet even as a minor king, Baldwin showed incredible strength and bravery, frequently participating in military campaigns and raids.

Baldwin took over governance of the realm in 1176 once he reached the age of maturity in the kingdom which was 15. From this time, he undertook full responsibility for the kingdom, including military command.

Once the leprosy began to manifest, it was evident Baldwin would be unable to ride a horse in the traditional way. Therefore, he was taught to ride a horse using only his knees, leaving his right arm free to wield a sword as his left arm was rendered useless.

The Battle of Montgisard, 1177

Baldwin’s first major military test came in 1177 when he faced the might of Saladin. Saladin had invaded the kingdom of Jerusalem and threatened to march on the Holy City itself. In response, Baldwin mustered a force; his numbers were limited due to other military campaigns within the kingdom.

Despite being heavily outnumbered, Baldwin went out to meet his Muslim foe. But numbers were less important than familiarity with the terrain and an unnerving, courageous spirit.

The two forces clashed, and Saladin barely escaped with his life. The sultan looked back to see his troops slaughtered as he evaded capture riding on a racing camel away from the battlefield.

The Reign of the Leper King

The Leper King led his troops into battle throughout his reign. He was a formidable military commander and was well respected by his subjects and his army.

By 1183, Baldwin’s sight had begun to fail. His limbs were also beginning to rot away, and so he was unable to ride a horse. Refusing to succumb to the illness, Baldwin instead was carried at the head of his army in a litter. Thereby, he still retained a position of strength and earned further respect from his men.

The Succession

Baldwin’s leprosy mean her would be unable to marry or father children, and so the succession was settled by his elder sister, Sybilla. Sybilla was married to William Longsword, by whom she had a son, confusingly named Baldwin. Longsword died before the child was born, and Sybilla took a second husband, Guy of Lusignan, in 1180.

Baldwin found Guy to be an unsuitable successor, and so he had his nephew crowned alongside him as Baldwin V in 1185.

The Death of King Baldwin IV

Unfortunately for Baldwin, leprosy would cut short his life. Since 1180, he had been seized by a succession of severe illnesses, brought on by the disease. In 1186, he finally succumbed to leprosy at the age of 24 and was buried in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre close to his father. He would be succeeded by his nephew, Baldwin V.

His life may have been short, but his legacy has endured throughout the centuries. Brought to a popular audience by the 2006 movie ‘The Kingdom of Heaven’, students and history buffs continue to be fascinated by this remarkable character. One who refused to succumb to his bodily limitations and strove to rule a kingdom in a volatile region.