The Leper King and his Heirs
Baldwin IV and the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem

A vivid revisionary account of the reign of Baldwin IV of Jerusalem.

Bernard Hamilton (Author)

9780521017473, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 7 July 2005

316 pages, 11 b/w illus. 2 maps
23.3 x 15.5 x 1.8 cm, 0.445 kg

' … Hamilton's evaluation of Baldwin is convincing and compelling.' Journal of Ecclesiastical History

The reign of King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (1174–85) has traditionally been seen as a period of decline when, because of the king's illness, power came to be held by unsuitable men who made the wrong policy decisions. Notably, they ignored the advice of Raymond of Tripoli and attacked Saladin, who was prepared to keep peace with the Franks while uniting the Islamic near east under his rule. This book challenges that view, arguing that peace with Saladin was not a viable option for the Franks; that the young king, despite suffering from lepromatous leprosy (the most deadly form of the disease) was an excellent battle leader who strove with some success to frustrate Saladin's imperial ambitions; that Baldwin had to remain king in order to hold factions in check; but that the society over which he presided was, contrary to what is often said, vigorous and self-confident.

Prologue
1. The sources for Baldwin IV's reign
2. Baldwin's childhood
3. The kingdom
4. The international status of the kingdom
5. The king's minority
6. Western aid: William of Montferrat and Philip of Flanders
7. The victor of mont Gisard
8. Prince Reynald's initiative
9. The dying king
10. The heirs of the leper king
Epilogue
Appendix by Piers Mitchell: an evaluation of the leprosy of king Baldwin IV of Jerusalem in the context of the medieval world
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], Asian history [HBJF]