The Leper King and His Heirs

Klappentext 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. Zusammenfassung Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (1174-85) suffered from lepromatous leprosy! the most deadly form of the disease. This book challenges the traditional negative views of his reign and shows how! despite his illness! he gave his people good military leadership and presided over a vigorous and self-confident society. Inhaltsverzeichnis 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.

Klappentext

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.

Zusammenfassung
Baldwin IV of Jerusalem (1174-85) suffered from lepromatous leprosy, the most deadly form of the disease. This book challenges the traditional negative views of his reign and shows how, despite his illness, he gave his people good military leadership and presided over a vigorous and self-confident society.

Inhalt
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.