Baldwin IV (1161–1185), known as the Leper King, was the king of Jerusalem from 1174 until his death in 1185. Baldwin ascended to the throne when he was thirteen despite having leprosy. He launched several attempts to curb the increasing power of the Muslim ruler Saladin, though much of his life was marked by infighting amongst the kingdom's nobles. Throughout his reign, and especially at ...
Baldwin IV (born 1161—died March 1185, Jerusalem) was the king of Jerusalem (1174–85), called the “leper king” for the disease that afflicted him for most of his short life. His reign saw the growth of factionalism among the Latin nobility that weakened the kingdom during the years when its greatest adversary, the Muslim leader Saladin, extended his influence from Egypt to Syria ...
Baldwin IV of Jerusalem was one of the most interesting and tragic figures of the 12th century. Born in 1161 and diagnosed with Leprosy at age nine, Baldwin IV became king of Jerusalem at thirteen when his father, Almaric, passed suddenly of dysentery. Although he was a child, Baldwin was a brave and determined ruler
The Life of Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, the Leper King - History Defined
Known as the Leper King, Baldwin IV ruled Jerusalem from 1174 to his death in 1185, despite battling an increasingly debilitating case of leprosy.
Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (1161–1185), famously known as the “Leper King,” ruled the Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1174 until his death. Despite his debilitating leprosy, he became a symbol of resilience and leadership in the Crusader States. Admired by contemporaries and historians alike, Baldwin’s reign was marked by military strategy, internal political maneuvers, and an unwavering ...