Baldwin IV, Leper and crusader, was one of the outstanding commanders of his age, and during his life, posed a worthy challenge to the valorous Sultan Saladin. In this titanic struggle, Saladin had considerable advantage – he controlled the territory around Baldwin’s tiny kingdom, and he had far larger armies at his disposal. What’s more, the young King also suffered from a grave illness – leprosy. Despite his disease, and despite the fewness of his men, Baldwin the Leper rode at the head of his knights, sword in hand, battling Saladin’s legions on more than one occasion. Today, we’ll delve into the life, struggles, victories and defeats of this truly remarkable youth. This is Real Crusades History – the life of King Baldwin IV, the Leper King of Jerusalem.

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Narrated by: Tom Wylde and J Stephen Roberts
Animated maps by: Daniel Weiss and Denys Rodionov
Written and edited by: J Stephen Roberts

Voice actors:
Carl Hughes as William of Tyre
Ahmed Al-Bardweel as Ibn al-Athir
Emma Stace Darling as the pilgrim witness to Montgisard
Philip Rowe as Ernoul, Squire of Balian of Ibelin

Sources:
-Arab Historians of the Crusades, trans. Francesco Gabrieli, (Barnes and Noble Books, 1993)
-Baha ad-Din ibn-Shaddad - The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin, trans. D.S. Richards, (Ashgate, 2002)
-Barber, Malcolm - The Crusader States, (Yale, 2014)
-Ehrenkreutz, Andrew - Saladin, (State University of New York, 1972)
-Hamilton, Bernard - The Leper King and His Heirs, (Cambridge, 2005)
-Ibn al-Athir - The Chronicle of Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period, Part 2, trans. D.S. Richards (Ashgate, 2005)
-William of Tyre - A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea, Vol. II, trans. Emily Babcock and A.C. Krey, (Columbia University Press, 1943)

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