King Baldwin IV "The Leper King" 1161 AD

The Crusader King of Jerusalem who defied the odds and fought through the incurable disease leprosy to defend God's holy land from Saladin and the infidels...

1. Deus Vult

Don’t you love vacations, maybe you like the beach, maybe you love the mountains, maybe you prefer the desert! Well, most people today probably aren’t yearning to go vacay in the Middle East; but back in 12th century Europe those barren fields of sand were like modern-day Hawaii. Because nestled in the hills, lost in the sand, lay the most holy city in all of Christendom. Europe’s leaders would give everything to recover it. 

Unfortunately for the Europeans, the desired metropolis was already occupied by the Fatamid Caliphate. “No issue,” said Pope Urban II, as he decided that everyone’s sins would be magically forgiven if they went on an epic journey to forcibly apprehend the region. And so off the crusaders went, to redeem themselves, to redeem Christ, to the Holy Land, to Jerusalem.

The events previously described were the context for the First Crusade. An invasion of the Fatimid-held Levant by a coalition of Christian European powers to take control of the holiest Christian cities such as Bethlehem and Jerusalem. But not only holy cities, other strategically important cities such as Antioch, Aleppo, and Tyre were targets of the First Crusade.

The overall result of the First Crusade was a resounding Crusader victory. Jerusalem was captured and the Kingdom of Jerusalem was established along with other “Crusader Kingdoms” such as the Principality of Antioch and the County of Tripoli. 

Around sixty years later, Baldwin IV of Jerusalem was born and sent to William of Tyre to be tutored. Among the many things he learned while under William's care, the most important was learning that he had developed an incurable disease known as leprosy (not fun). Leprosy is a disease that completely deforms the face and body, also dramatically shortens lifespan. 

Depiction of King Baldwin IV adorning his usual mask to cover his deformed face 

Those who had leprosy were generally disgraced and cast out from society, largely because for most of history people didn’t know how it was contracted. So, naturally, society began making guesses on the cause such as it was an STD or it was God’s punishment, etc… This alienated those with the disease and effectively ruined their lives. With modern technology, we now know that it’s just a bacterial disease, but unfortunately 12th-century medical prowess could not yet put that together. 

Baldwin’s father and current King of Jerusalem, Amalric, tried to hide his son's disease from the public. But, the secret couldn’t remain hidden once Amalric died in 1174; it was Baldwin’s time to ascend the throne at the ripe age of just thirteen. His condition cast doubts about his ability to rule but Baldwin would soon get his chance to prove the haters wrong, he would take on Jerusalem’s biggest enemy, Saladin.

Meanwhile, Saladin, another important character in our story, pronounced SAH-LA-HOO-DEEN (don’t ask how) was in his mid-thirties and had just recently arisen as the ruler of the Fatamid Caliphate. Which he then changed to the Ayyubid Dynasty after his father, Ayyub.

Saladin was a very competent military general and administrator; he was originally sent to the Fatamid Caliphate to oversee the upbringing of the young caliph al-Adid. However, after gaining the young Caliph’s trust Saladin undermined his authority and established his own regime, in which he was the de facto ruler. 

2. “When I Was 16 I Won A Great Victory...”

One of King Baldwin’s first projects was an invasion of Egypt. For which he sent envoys to Emperor Manuel of the Byzantine Empire for naval support, resulting in a Christian coalition to fight Saladin. However, due to other Latin crusaders mistreating the Orthodox Byzantines, Emperor Manuel withdrew their support and the coalition collapsed.

This rough blow for Baldwin was only compounded when a leading nobleman, Phillip of Flounders, withdrew his army from the city to help the County of Tripoli with an invasion of Syria. This left Jerusalem’s army in tatters. For Saladin, it was like a shark smelling blood, and so he mustered his army and set off to Jerusalem.

Although Baldwin had been experiencing devastating sickness, he still mustered his army to meet Saladin at Ascalon. But, when Baldwin saw how hopelessly outnumbered he was, he retreated into the city. Saladin opted to go straight to Jerusalem instead of bother besieging what was, in his opinion, an army so small it posed no threat to his vastly superior force.

When Saladin reached a place known as Montgisard while on his way to Jerusalem, he dispersed his army to forge for food and pillage the countryside. It was an understandable move, as far as he was concerned, Baldwin’s tiny crusader army posed no threat to his advancing host.

In a few days Saladin would reach Jerusalem and the holy city would be in the hands of Muslims once again. But, Baldwin had other plans. In a reckless, desperate, and completely unexpected gambit; Baldwin sallied forth from Ascalon and hurriedly marched on Saladin’s position. Saladin felt that the Crusaders were so little of a threat that he didn’t even bother to post scouts around his camp; making him unaware of Baldwin’s approach. Something he would pay for dearly. 

Saladin would have hardly been able to believe his eyes when he looked up on the ridge shadowing his camp to see King Baldwin praying at the feet of the holy cross (the cross that Jesus is said to have been crucified on); before mounting his horse and, although only being able to fight with one hand due to his leprosy, charge down the ridge right into Saladin’s completely unaware army. 

The slaughter was great, most of Saladin’s men weren’t even wearing armor or carrying weapons, and they definitely weren’t in battle formation. Baldwin’s heroic cavalry charge quickly put Saladin’s army to flight. Saladin’s nephew, Taqi ad-Din, was quickly slain and Saladin himself abandoned the army completely, fleeing back to Egypt. Baldwin and his men pursued Saladin’s fractured army until nightfall. 

Baldwin’s initial charge was made up of a mere 350 knights, with 4,000 infantry following behind. Saladin’s army was over 20,000 strong, a 1:5 ratio. Nonetheless, the Crusaders carried the day in a stunning victory. But, the price was steep: 1,100 dead and another 750 wounded. Saladin, however, fared far worse. Although the sources aren’t exact, we know that almost all of his army was killed, with only a small group escaping and reuniting with Saladin in Egypt.

3. Take A Break, Fix Everything, Fight Again

Fortunately for Saladin, Baldwin lacked the resources to pursue him into Egypt. So instead, Baldwin uses this moment of rest to begin the construction of a fortress along the Jordan River. Saladin wasn’t a fan of this construction because it fortified one of the easiest entrances into the Kingdom; he offered Baldwin money to halt the construction but Baldwin refused.

Turmoil in the city between the religiously discriminant knights and the Muslim/Jewish population, paired with the nobles’ conflicting opinions on Baldwin's successor, convinced Baldwin to sign a two-year truce with Saladin, who eagerly accepted.

Baldwin solved the issue of succession by hurriedly marrying his sister Sibylla to the unpopular Guy of Lusignan. Sibylla’s previous son Baldwin V was chosen to succeed Baldwin IV. 

This solved the problems in Baldwin’s court. But, his problems with Saladin were reignited when the bloodthirsty Raynald of Chatillon attacked a Muslim merchant caravan a year before their truce was set to expire. This made Saladin furious, so he mustered his forces and marched into Jerusalem just to get sent packing once more by Baldwin and his knights at the battle of Le Forbelet.

4. Decline, Miracle, Victory

After Saladin was soundly defeated and back in Egypt, Baldwin returned to Jerusalem. His condition had declined so rapidly he became unable to blink, which eventually led to blindness, he had also lost the ability to use his hands, and the power to stand on his own. He was effectively dead. Because of this, he made Guy regent for the adolescent Baldwin V, and then retired to the countryside, assuming he was going to die in the next few weeks. 

Saladin heard about Baldwin’s declining state and decided to take his army and crash Baldwin’s half-sister’s wedding at the indispensable Kerak Castle. But, a miracle from God came to the Crusaders; against all odds, Baldwin miraculously recovered from his illness and returned to Jerusalem.

Just as he entered Jerusalem, word reached the city of Saladin’s attack. Recognizing that the importance of his half-sister and Kerak Castle couldn’t be left to a buffoon like Guy, he kicked that bum out of office and retook command of Jerusalem’s army to the cheers of his soldiers. The Leper King was on the move.

Baldwin led his host towards Kerak with great haste. Ayyubid scouts reported the approaching army to Saladin, who was eager to crush Jerusalem’s field army while it was being led by the inexperienced Guy of Lusignan. You can only imagine the chills Saladin got when he learned that the approaching army wasn’t being led by the deplorable Guy of Lusignan; but rather by the Undead King, The Scourge of Islam. 

In fact, regardless of outnumbering the Crusaders almost 3:1, Saladin opted for a hasty retreat once he was informed that Jerusalem’s army was being led by the seemingly resurrected King Baldwin IV. Baldwin then returned to Jerusalem where he again contracted a heavy fever, but this time no miracle was coming.

Baldwin died of his illness in March of 1185. He named Raymon of Tripoli as regent for his successor, Baldwin V who was just 7 years old. Unfortunately, Baldwin V died just one year after Baldwin IV, leading to a succession crisis that ended with Sibylla naming Guy as king. 

Guy and his army would go on to get obliterated by Saladin at the battle of Hattin just two years after his coronation. Jerusalem fell to the Ayyubids later that same year. So, in short, all of Baldwin’s work was for next to nothing. 

5. Do You Believe In Miracles? 

On February 22nd, 1980, the United States of America’s Olympic hockey team performed one of the greatest feats in sports history. A fully amateur team that no one even expected to make the Olympic finals, defeated the undisputed best team in the world, the Soviet Union. 

As the seconds were winding down, and victory was certain, Al Michaels made one of the most iconic calls in sports history: “Do you believe in miracles?! YES!” The completely unexpected victory sent shockwaves through the U.S. and Soviet Union and is still regarded today as one of the greatest upsets ever. 

King Baldwin’s story is much like this. He was born with an incurable disease that hindered not only his physical ability but also his public appearance. When he ascended the throne everyone expected for him to swiftly bring the Kingdom of Jerusalem to ruin. But it never happened.

Despite everyones low expectations: Baldwin soundly defeated the vastly larger Ayyubid army numerous times, solved the succession crisis, which was a big deal for he could not have children due to his disease—Baldwin V died after he did, so as far as he knew the succession was secure—and he fortified many weak points in Jerusalems border. 

He was a fantastic king by every measure, and it’s truly a shame all of his accomplishments were effectively smashed over the head with a table by a big brolic man.

So now it’s your turn to take up the mantle, to go perform massive feats. It doesn’t matter if you’re already expected to perform well. Perform better. It doesn’t matter if the work seems boring. Do it anyway. It doesn’t matter if no one else is doing their part. Do yours. And if you do all this, one day, when you look back on all you’ve accomplished, you might just think to yourself “Maybe I do believe in miracles…”