The Leper King and his Heirs: Baldwin IV and the Crusader Kingdom of JerusalemThe 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. |
Contents
Prologue | 1 |
CHAPTER I The sources for Baldwin IVs reign | 6 |
CHAPTER 2 Baldwins childhood | 23 |
CHAPTER 3 The kingdom | 44 |
CHAPTER 4 The international status of the kingdom | 63 |
CHAPTER 5 The kings minority | 84 |
CHAPTER 6 Western aid William of Montferrat and Philip of Flanders | 109 |
CHAPTER 7 The victor of Mont Gisard | 132 |
CHAPTER 8 Prince Reynalds initiative | 159 |
CHAPTER 9 The dying king | 186 |
CHAPTER 10 The heirs of the leper king | 211 |
Epilogue | 235 |
An evaluation of the leprosy of King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem in the context of the medieval world ... | 245 |
| 259 | |
| 280 | |
Other editions - View all
The Leper King and his Heirs: Baldwin IV and the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem Bernard Hamilton No preview available - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
Agnes of Courtenay Aimery al-Maqrizi Aleppo Antioch appointed army Assassins attack Baha al-Din Baldwin IV Baldwin IV's reign Baldwin of Ibelin became Beirut Bohemond brother Byzantine Cahen campaign castle CGOH Christian Chronicle Constantinople count count of Tripoli crown Crusader Kingdom Damascus death disease Edbury Egypt emperor Eracles Ernoul Flanders Frankish Franks Gesta Guy of Lusignan Hamilton Hattin Heraclius High Court Holy Land Ibid Ibn Jubayr Islamic John of Ibelin Joscelin Kamal ad-Din Kerak King Amalric king's Kingdom of Jerusalem knights Latin East Latin Kingdom leper leprosy Livre London lord Lyons and Jackson Manuel marriage married Mayer MGH SS Montferrat Morgan Mosul Muslim of®ce of®cial Paris patriarch Philip Prawer Prince Reynald Raymond of Tripoli regent Reynald of ChaÃtillon RHC Lois Riley-Smith Roger of Howden royal rulers Saladin Sibyl siege sultan Syria Templars truce twelfth century vassals vols western William of Tyre XXII